The end of our latest visit to Rutland's most celebrated fictional peer. I must thank him for the confidence he expresses in me here. My secretary does not get up to That Sort of Thing I see the Duke of Rutland has had the rozzers crawling over his Estate after one of his employees turned out to be a former Conservative MP with a conviction for caning rent boys. This shows, I feel, the importance of insisting upon references before offering someone employment. I have every confidence that my own Secretary does not get up to That Sort of Thing. ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

We read that much of the former Liberal Democrat support, dismayed by our performance in government, is transferring itself to Labour. In her interesting account of her time in parliament, Green MP Caroline Lucas sums up very well why we need to be cautious. Time and again - 1931, 1950, 1997, 2008 - Labour have been in power, yet have been seduced by the bankers and financiers, or backed down in the face of their threats. Where communities and whole cities have pinned their faith in Labour it has led to cronyism and corruption, and the local equivalent of one-party ...

Posted by Peter Wrigley on Keynesian Liberal

Two more photographs from the University of Leicester Special Collections. These were taken in 1965. As far as I can make out, the Ragged School stood on the corner of what are now Bedford Street North and Upper George Street.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Earlier today, I took part in the new Dundee fleet launch of the Co-wheels community car club that took place in the City Square. Co-wheels is a public access car club that is run as a social enterprise and now has a Dundee fleet of 15 vehicles, including low emission, hybrid and electric cars and a vehicle suitable for wheelchair use. It's a really exciting initiative that allows local people to use a pay-as-you-go car club where you can get access to a vehicle as and when you need a car. You can find out more about the scheme at ...

Last summer, when tales of a peer who faced accusation of the sexual abuse of children but might escape justice because of dementia began to appear, I blogged about the case of Michael Collingwood. In that post I quoted a 2010 report from the Western Morning News: A Devon man has been found guilty of abusing six under-age girls in a trial held in his absence at Exeter Crown Court. Jurors yesterday unanimously found that Michael Collingwood, now 69, of Tedburn St Mary, near Exeter, committed 23 sex offences, including raping one girl. Judge Paul Darlow instructed the jury to ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Good: Lib Dems will demand an immediate review to look into reinstating EU search and rescue programs in the #Mediterranean http://t.co/f9TJPJb2Mh — Catherine Bearder (@catherinemep) April 20, 2015

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Lib Dems Believe Wordle 32 Freedom - realising your potential

Liberal Democrats exist to promote the freedom of the individual within a society in which all can achieve their potential. Liberal Democrats have a fundamental belief in the equality of all regardless of income, wealth, status, gender or gender identity, disability, personal capacity or sexual preferences - and that this should be enshrined and supported in law. Liberal Democrats believe the role of the State is to facilitate the ability of individuals to reach and exceed their potential and to provide an underpinning of support for those who fail to do so. They believe that spending to meet these aims ...

For as long as I have been visiting Stamford, my first stop has been at the specialist railway bookseller Robert Humm. First stop, because it is housed in the town's railway station. Now comes news that their lease on the station buildings is running out and they are moving to premises elsewhere in the town: The process will take most of this year; we hope to be fully established in our new shop by the start of October. There will be a spell during the summer when neither Station House nor the new shop will be open, but we mean ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Party President Sal Brinton appeals to supporters in and around Devon to go and help Nick Harvey's campaign, It certainly looks lovely, warm and sunny there. Here are the ways you can help out or if you can't make it in person, you can donate to Nick's campaign here. * Newshound in training. I'm sweet and full of mischief, just like my stories.

Posted by Newspuppy on Liberal Democrat Voice
YouGov
Mon 20th
20:12

Education

As I secondary school teacher myself I know that a good education is key for every young person to get on in life. There is a direct link between achievement at school and the background young people are coming from; the gap starts even before children start school. Liberal Democrats have introduced the Pupil Premium [...]

Posted by werahobhouse on Wera's Blog

Headline of the Day goes to the Telegraph. An honourable mention to the Standard for: Mysterious model of Taj Mahal made out of toast discovered on south London street corner

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

24 days ago, I wrote that We're heading for a Labour minority government backed by the SNP. Since then, there have been thousands more people polled, millions more pounds spent on campaigning and millions more words written/said about the election. So, I now have a ++BREAKING NEWS++ update! We're still heading for a Labour minority government backed by the SNP. The Guardian's Poll Projection (other projections are available and, more or less, agree), which sucks in and uses all nationwide and constituency polling, shows that, based on current polls, the only feasible bloc of parties which would form a majority ...

Posted by Paul on Liberal Burblings

Question: what is the closest to a election that a party has released its manifesto? Because I'm pretty sure that outside of snap elections called at breakneck pace, the SNP choosing today to launch theirs must be one of the latest. Indeed, judging from some of the comments I've sen, it may be a real first in a party delivering its manifesto after votes had started being cast – some places had their postal ballots arrive at the weekend. That's something that could raise an interesting discussion – what if you cast a postal vote for a party and then ...

Posted by Nick on What You Can Get Away With
Mon 20th
17:22

Birtley Hustings Meeting

Last Thursday evening brought us the first hustings meeting of the Blaydon campaign. Held at the St Joseph's Catholic Club in Birtley, it is something of a tradition, having been held at every election since 1992. All 5 candidates were invited but the Greens and UKIP didn't turn up. So it was me, David Anderson (Labour) and Ali Griffiths (Conservative). It was the first time I had met her. She

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

The 2015 Parliament could witness the greatest transfer of power from the Executive (and Whitehall) to the Legislature (and the people's elected representatives in the House of Commons) in the history of our countries. Tony Greaves has written here and here seeking to explore how this Parliament might operate. It takes me back to an afternoon in Winchester in 1986. Hampshire County Council, run by Tories for over 100 years, is about to set its budget. The Tories, until that morning, have the slimmest of majorities, thanks to the Chair's casting vote, but news swishes through the corridors of County ...

Posted by Bill le Breton on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 20th
16:30

A message from Lynne

 

Posted by Gary Fuller on Gary's Garbled Gabblings!

For a significant period of time I have been the subject of misogynistic online trolling and harassment of the most personal and unpleasant kind. In response to that I made a series of tweets that I realise now have caused offence. I have now deleted those tweets and apologise to those I have offended, whether in my own party or members of the public. I am also grateful to those in the party who have handled this fairly and promptly. I will release a longer statement in the coming days.

Posted by Sarah on The Other Sarah

FBI overstated forensic hair matches in nearly all trials before 2000 - this is horrific (tags: ) the best reaction to the hatefulKatie Hopkins I have ever seen from a mainstream news outlet (tags: ) Awesome, AWESOME scifi ideas via @Linothel - I love the one right at the end about the hatchling (tags: ) Top of the Pops set for comeback with Dermot O'Leary and Fearne Cotton as hosts I suggest we all go out and buy Top of The Pops by Rezillos if this actually happens (tags: ) Lib Dems complain BBC reneged on TV debates deal with ...

* Europe: the dog that doesn't bark At the East Midlands Liberal Democrat conference in February Sal Brinton's advice was not to make Europe a campaign issue. Subsequent events have proved her right. My agent urges caution as UKIP did well in this constituency in the European elections. Ed Milliband ran it up the flagpole at the start of the short campaign by pointing out how destabilising a referendum would be for business, but but no-one saluted. Tony Blair mentioned it and had a similar non-response. On the doorsteps it's barely figured. A handful of people have voiced strong anxiety ...

Posted by Mark Argent on Liberal Democrat Voice
eUKhost
Mon 20th
15:10

Lindsay's office

 

Posted by Eric Avebury on Eric Avebury

@julianhuppert Thanks for helping to keep government sensible! #reason #science #libdems http://t.co/egPylxcd9y pic.twitter.com/i5PaZxCGtG — Bristol Uni Lib-Dems (@LDSocBristol) April 19, 2015

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

[IMG: May2015] In this run up to the election we have been bombarded with opinion polls on who is going to win the election - or not to win it, as it now seems. Looking at the May2015.com website, which tracks polling results, in the month to 18th April, 53 polls were published, an average of almost two a day. On 9th April for example five separate polls were published. I don't know if the same people have been asked several times, but the results seem amazingly consistent! I, like some others, have some concerns about this plethora of polls. ...

Posted by Judy Abel on Liberal Democrat Voice

For text click here: Manifesto 2015 The Liberal Democrats in St Albans have today launched their manifesto for the District Council elections in St Albans which take place at the same time as the General Election on 7 May. The manifesto, entitled 'Time for a New Approach', contains details of the Party's programme for the local [...]

Posted by chriswhite on Chris White » Chris White

[IMG: Quinton Colour] Well organised parliamentary hustings last Thurs in Tring. Lib Dem Nigel Quinton did well. Click here to view the video by Dee TV showing snippets from 5 questions asked on the night. To see full answers to each question please click here http://www.deetv.tv/events/hustings-2015-sw-herts/, you can also hear the opening and closing remarks from each candidate . Berkhamsted Hustings are on Wednesday 22 April at the old town hall.

Posted by Nick Hollinghurst on Tring Liberal Democrats

[IMG: Tim Farron MP speaks at the rally] In an article for the New Statesman Tim Farron writes: The tragic deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean this week must force us to change direction. Immigration is one of the major issues of this election and Labour and the Conservatives continue to portray all immigrants in a negative light. But immigration is not an issue which can be solved by Britain on our own. Or by oversimplifying and stoking fears based on one stereotype. The Liberal Democrats' manifesto will not ignore the plight of refugees playing a lottery with their own ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 20th
13:00

Care Act - Success

Knowing that you will receive the best care possible means the world to everyone who finds themselves or their loved ones in need of social care. Lib Dem Care Ministers Pail Burstow, Norman Lamb and other Lib Dem colleagues we have worked hard to reform our badly out of date care system. This April we reached a major milestone with the Care Act coming into effect. As the independent health charity the Kings Fund put it, "the coalition has made more progress [on care] in five years than the previous government did in thirteen". The Care Act creates new rights ...

Posted by James Barber on James Barber » James Barber
Mon 20th
12:58

Is sin trendy?

It appears pretty clear that – in the Western world at least – once you get past childhood, the younger you are the less likely you are to attend church. The Church cannot rejuvenate itself without reversing that trend. This subject is the focus of the Atlantic's interview with Rachel Held Evans about her new book. She [...]

Posted by Mark Mills on Matter Of Facts

Spare a thought for a moment for the hapless policy wonk. I don't really speak as a represetative of the guild, so to speak - I am far too opinionated. But I have enough policy wonk in my genes to know what they are going through, and two weeks from a general election is an absolute nadir. The general election campaign has reached its height. Those interested in policy have waited for this moment for five long years when, at last, the issues would be aired and hammered out effectively, and decisions would be reached, contradictions revealed and we could ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

That statement has perhaps never been as boldly underlined as it was this week, with the continent-wide consciousness being collectively appalled at the unfolding horror in the Mediterranean. The horrific events have mobilised a pan-European discourse of outcry in a way that other EU issues often fail to do, primarily because it highlights the need for European collaboration, and the human cost of our failure to do so. It is also perhaps because it underlines to us the extent to which Europe is viewed as a single entity, or collective, by the rest of the world. Immigration, regional and international, ...

Posted by Guy Russo on Liberal Democrat Voice

Our thanks to everyone who attended our ALDC-Team 2015 Manchester Phone Bank on Thursday. Every week, we have been happy to welcome some new members, alongside some familiar faces. We made calls on behalf of a number of campaigns across the North of England and succeeded in finding local Lib Dem voters, new helpers, and more volunteers to [...]

Posted by Craig Whittall on Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors

 

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

I have had a hustings with students at Edinburgh University and a meeting with the Edinburgh University Students' Association. They have produced a manifesto and I will detail my response. They have asked for a phasing out of tuition fees and better support for the diverse needs of post graduate students. Obviously I couldn't commit to the former, But I would like to point out that raising tuition fees was a Conservative policy, one that the Lib Dems could not block! As more coalitions are formed, I'm sure the British Public will recognise the limitations of individual manifestos as well ...

Posted by Pramod Subbaraman on Liberal Democrat Voice

I know, I know. The only "new" electoral registration figure you're allowed to report is old data from December, and even then you're only allowed to report it wrongly and you mustn't mention the newer data about it going up. So ignore this graph showing the volume of electoral registration applications made centrally via Gov.uk, because we're all doomed, democracy is dying and the world's about to run out of chocolate. [IMG: Online electoral registration applications] P.S. Today is deadline day to get on the electoral register in time for the general election. So do register now if you haven't ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

The surprise of the election campaign thus far has been the fact that Labour seem to still be slightly ahead in the polls. As things stand, unless there's some sort of late surge towards the Tories, Ed Miliband will be in prime position to form the next government. This is a position for which he and his party seem, from the outside anyhow, to be utterly unprepared for. And by that I don't mean the trappings of power or the burdens of the executive - I mean simply that the Labour Party appear utterly unready to interface with the parties ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com
Mon 20th
09:33

I'm sorry but.......

For the time being this blog will not be getting updated! As you may know by now, I'm standing for election to Parliament on May 7th? Did you know it's nearly 100 years since our city had an MP representing them who was actually born in the city? As you can imagine, the campaign is [...]

Posted by Cllr Darren Fower on Cllr Darren Fower

24 days ago, I wrote that We're heading for a Labour minority government backed by the SNP. Since then, there have been thousands more people polled, millions more pounds spent on campaigning and millions more words written/said about the election. So, I now have a ++BREAKING NEWS++ update! We're still heading for a Labour minority government backed by the SNP. The Guardian's Poll Projection (other projections are available and, more or less, agree), which sucks in and uses all nationwide and constituency polling, shows that, based on current polls, the only feasible bloc of parties which would form a majority ...

Posted by Paul Walter on Liberal Democrat Voice

Just out is the latest version of the Electoral Commission's guide for (Acting) Returning Officers on how they should rule on doubtful ballot papers at the general election. The new guide includes examples using the new design of ballot papers introduced for this election. One particular point is worth noting, even for (perhaps especially for) experienced count attendees. The guidance in 3.11 is that a ballot paper marked 1,2,3 etc. should count as a vote for the candidate with a 1 next to their name. Fans of hanging chads will, however, be disappointed by page 6. Download this document

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Here's something interesting I noticed in the Tory manifesto over the weekend. In a section headlined 'We will build on our Olympic and Paralympic legacy' on page 42, tbere;s a commitment to support elite sports funding along with a list of big events happening in Britain over the next few years and then this: We will support new sports in the UK, in particular through greater links with the US National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, with the ultimate ambition of new franchises being based here. It's curious that this turns up in a section ...

Posted by Nick on What You Can Get Away With

The European Union's Supreme Court is to scrutinise the UK government's compliance with laws limiting air pollution, after campaign group ClientEarth took legal action against Britain over excess nitrogen dioxide emission. The Times covered this story. With thanks to the LGiU for the lead to this story. [IMG: images] The results of this scrutiny will be interesting. We would all hope that Britain would be meeting safe nitrogen dioxide emission targets but there is clearly some evidence to say that it is not doing especially in some of our major cities.

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus » Sefton Focus

Readers of this blog will know that I am a big supporter of our railways and in particular the campaigning activities of OPSTA our local rail lobbying group for Southport and West Lancashire. Below is an article from Rail User Express about the recent activities of OPSTA:- [IMG: opsta logo new] Ormskirk, Preston & Southport Travellers' Association - operator continuing with improvements OPSTA has now been involved in meetings with all three of shortlisted bidders for the Northern franchise. There are only about 14 months left to the end of the current franchise, so OPSTA finds it encouraging that Northern ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus » Sefton Focus

[IMG: Votematch] * Voter Advice Applications. I have been drawing your attention to a number of websites which either tell you who the candidates are in your constituency or help you to decide who to vote for, such as Unlock Democracy's VoteMatch. MySociety has produced a list of the latter types under the snappy title: A list of Voter Advice Applications - AKA 'who should I vote for?' tools - for the UK General Election. It lists a dozen or so sites, and others are mentioned in the comments. Now although it is comforting to prove that you think like ...

Posted by Mary Reid on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 20th
08:30

West End Ward Surgeries

With the school holidays over, it is back to West End Ward surgeries tonight. These are : • Mitchell Street Centre - Mitchell Street (The Base) - Mondays - 4.20pm (prompt) (except school holidays) • West Park Centre (Old Mansion House Reception Area) - Mondays - 4.50 pm (prompt) (except school holidays) • Blackness Primary School (Staff Room) - Thursdays - 6.15 pm (prompt) (except school holidays)

Mon 20th
07:51

How not to canvass

For those heading out on doorsteps tonight, here is a masterclass in how not to canvass, care of the Labour Party:

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black