After a while off to allow me to post the Multiversity posts, recover from the election, and copy-edit Head Of State, the Batposts are back. There's a short new one on my Patreon (about a story about which there's not much to say, so only 1000 words — the next one will be longer), and [...]
One of Justine Greening's leaflets delivered in Putney during the 2010 general election campaign.
Wed 1st
22:41
In full: Norman Lamb's speech to the IPPR: Liberalism needs to be history's chosen instrument to bui...
Both leadership candidates have given speeches to the Institute of Public Policy Research recently. We covered Tim Farron's last week. Here is Norman Lamb's. I want to thank the IPPR for inviting me to speak here today. The IPPR has been a leading progressive think-tank since I have been active in politics. Under the leadership of Nick Pearce it has consistently shown a thoughtful and challenging perspective on the issues of the day, not least in the field of health. I have been particularly impressed with the emphasis on the quality of care and the commitment to making decisions locally. ...
The View from Creeting St Peter is far from impressed by Liberal Reform's attempt to give the Liberal Democrat leader a veto over party policy. "Shropshire Council is busy transferring many of its staff and services to its wholly owned company, ip&e. This company still must respond to freedom of information requests, in almost the same way that Shropshire Council does even if those requests are 'bizarre' in the eyes of council leader Keith Barrow." Ludlow's Andy Boddington fights the good fight. It easy to forget how consistently good Stumbling and Mumbling is. Here he argues that a powerful state ...
Could it be that the much-needed revival of Liberal Democrat thinking has reached the blogosphere? Last month eight (count 'em) new blogs were added to the LibDemBlogs aggregator - many thanks to Ryan Cullen for sending me the list. Here are the eight: A Liberal Renewal (written by David Shaw) went to its first two Liberal Democrat meetings at the start of June and has not blogged since. I hope those two facts are not connected. A Liberal Take (written by Mike Brown) first appeared last year and has recently come back to life. What really catches the idea is ...
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of calling by the 30th birthday celebrations of the One World Centre, Dundee's learning centre dedicated to social justice and learning for sustainability. Over the past 30 years the centre has supported schools and community groups in Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross to engage in global citizenship through active learning. Sandra addresses tonight's meeting This evening, it was a pleasure to be at the monthly meeting of Community Spirit Action Group, the community group for the "north" part of West End Ward, covering Pentland, Tullideph, Ancrum and the Cleghorn area. The meeting ...
Wednesday: The badly-wounded Greek economy lurches between survival and final total collapse. When the Greek Syriza Government - elected on an unfulfillable promise to end austerity AND settle with their creditors - hit the brick wall of reality, they abdicated responsibility, punted it back to the people in a referendum where not even Nobel Prize-winning Economists understand the choice, and seemingly killed any chance of a last-minute rescue. But now, as he's already over the brink, Prime Minister Tsipras appears to accept the demands of the people trying to save him. Update: or would he rather his people voted no, ...
Last week on Lib DemVoice I remarked that when great social reforms had been enacted liberals had the support of many Christians. I was thinking of Roy Jenkin's Homosexual Law reform,when Michael Ramsay was in the front line of supporters and David Steel's Abortion Act passed at a time when he was regularly introducing Songs of Praise. This was not just a phenomenon of the 1960's you could go back to Josephine Butler's work on the Contagious Diseases Act. My point was that such Christians who are today working to celebrate same sex marriages in churches and for women to ...
[IMG: EMLD Diversity Hustings chaired by Simon Woolley] At last! A departure from the standard stump speeches by Tim Farron and Norman Lamb at the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats (EMLD) hustings last night. It wasn't all change, especially as this time there was a decent reason for Tim Farron's habit of staring at the ceiling. An intriguing collection of celebratory (birthday?) balloons lodged in its furthest, highest corner. And studded through Farron's speech and later answers was many familiar mini-riffs from the campaign. The contrast with Lamb's speech was familiar too - Farron stronger on the personal stories and passion; ...
From the Manchester Council of Mosques, including Cheadle Muslim Association: In the wake of the violence in France, Kuwait and Tunisia on 26 June 2015, Qadir Ahmad Chohan Chair of Manchester Council of Mosques says,"We are all resolved to defeat terrorism and terrorists, we condemn the callous killing of innocent people in France, Kuwait, Tunisia and America. We send our condolences to the families and loved ones of the bereaved, and we will continue to do all that we can to continually promoting a peaceful and tolerant society. The Muslim community vehemently rejects any suggestion that such murders can ever ...
At some time back in the nineteenth century most of Europe realised that putting debtors into prison was not an effective l method of enabling them to pay off creditors. Unfortunately today's European politicians have not, with respect to Greece, yet learned the lesson. In a post in January this year I argued that the Greeks Greece should be allowed to adopt a Keynesian solution to their economic problems: granted a moratorium on debt repayments for, say five years;allowed to borrow further at market rates; revived their economy and tax take, initially by growth stimulated by public infrastructure projects; sort ...
If the easy popularism of UKIP disturbs you then pause to think how much damage David Cameron's obsession with his own popularist ideas can do now that he is a position to implement them. By far the most dangerous of these ideas is English votes for English laws. In principle I have no issue with any part of the UK determining its own fate when it comes to issues that are most appropriately decided at a national or regional level. However, the best way to do that is through a democratically elected National or Regional Parliament, or by devolving responsibility ...
I have to say that I am incandescent with rage at a profile of the only Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder which has appeared in the New Statesman. The implied conclusion of both the journalist and the several Liberal Democrat sources quoted seems to be that Catherine is a lightweight who needs the back-up of a group of men. She's criticised for not pursuing their agendas and her own concerns, on massive issues like wildlife and human trafficking are dismissed by the journalist as pet projects. Yes, that's right, protecting vulnerable people from the brutal exploitation of modern slavery somehow ...
Iain writes in the Cheadle, Gatley & Cheadle Hulme Mail about why Northern Rail's failure to properly collect fares on our trains simply isn't good enough. [IMG: fumings]
After a resident contacted us, the Lib Dems asked Network Rail to repair the pigeon netting under the Gatley Road railway bridge by Gatley Station. We're pleased to report that the work is happening this week. Please be advised that contractors working on behalf of Network Rail will be repairing the pigeon netting at the railway bridge near Gatley Station on Gatley Road, Gatley. The work is scheduled to take place overnight form 9pm 02/07/15 to 6am 03/07/15 under temporary signals.
It's taken me ages to decide and if I'm honest it probably isn't the decision I thought I would make. Norman has managed to win me over and has convinced me to cast my vote for him. to be leader of the Liberal Democrats. The truth is, I would happily see either as leader but...
From today's Evening Standard: While Labour's leadership election has hogged the limelight, the Liberal Democrats are also choosing a new leader too. There are just two candidates: Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, and Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk. Party members are voting now, with the result on July 16. The winner faces a formidable task: on May 7, the Lib-Dems crashed from 57 MPs to just eight. Mr Farron, the favourite, is seen as the more Left-wing. In truth, little separates the two men ideologically. The key is their view of the coalition years. Mr Lamb was ...
Gunboat diplomacy was often the way that Britain asserted its presence on the global stage in the 19th Century, and even as late as 2003 in Iraq, thanks to Tony Blair. But the predominant school of thought in London these days is that "soft power" can be a more effective way of winning friends and [...]
[IMG: Diversity Hustings Glasgow] In a normal election, hustings can be a great place to spot key differences between candidates and find where they stand on various areas of policy. Internally, however, there's often a lot of overlap between the candidates' values and hustings can become a little 'same old, same old'. For this reason, Scottish Lib Dem Women teamed up with Ethnic Minorities Liberal Democrats, Liberal Youth Scotland, and LGBT+ to organise an event in Scotland that wasn't about policy but was about one specific area instead: diversity, both within and outwith the party. This is a topic seen ...
On Friday members of the Transport for Greater Manchester Authority will be meeting to consider a consultation that T4GM has undertaken on the issue of dogs on trams. At present only assistant dogs are allowed (hearing and sight dogs). The consultation with the public and Metrolink Users found that 71% of people were in favour of allowing dogs on trams, some of whom felt that there should be some sort of restrictions (e.g. child ticket, off peak). Metrolink is extremely unusual in NOT allowing dogs on board. Dogs are free to travel on buses in Greater Manchester, are free to ...
ALDC has gathered together its guidance for newly elected councillors and By-Election victors. To make it all easier to access we've put it in one place in the "On the Council" section of AskALDC section of the ALDC website. Each article is preceded with "New Councillor" make them easier to search for. Posts include: [...]
I read somewhere that it takes 30 days to make a new habit. By all accounts, predictable behaviour is what the old brain likes. When it sniffs out something new, something out of the everyday ordinary, it'll fire up the fragile in us and persuade our will power into a quick surrender. Any attempts to break with our norm will be wrestled from us. Until 30 days. At 30 days, the brain tells itself.... hold on, I recognise this, this thing you're doing – carry on, nothing to see here. 30 days for the reluctant plodder to transcend into the ...
Aintree once had a huge steam shed, known as 8L to supply the local rail network with motive power in the form of steam engines. Once a year it would be inundated with engines when the Grand National was on but it was a busy shed anyway right through until the 1960's. Not so long ago I received a card and on it was a black and white photo of a steam engine 'on shed' at Aintree so I thought I would share the photo which I have scanned from the card. [IMG: Loco 45529 Stephenson at Aintree Shed] Loco ...
Stood on Maghull railway station ('train station' is an American terminology) the other day and what do I hear but fluent French being spoken. On turning around I see a young lady on her mobile phone having a conversation in French. I never got beyond the odd French word and the railways of France myself at school, much to my shame, but at least I was happy to hear a European language being spoken in Maghull. If it had been a 'kipper hearing this it would have been a call to UK Boarder Force with demands to deport I assume! ...
[IMG: This is not the end of the journey. So why not sell you a ticket all the way through to the end?] This is not the end of the journey. So why not sell you a ticket all the way through to the end? Getting to a station or an airport is rarely the point of a journey. It's only part way to your destination. Which makes it rather odd that when you are buying your tickets for the journey, you then have to go somewhere else to reserve and pay for the rest of your trip rather than ...
Having just done the roundup of the most popular posts for the last three months, it occurs to me that many of you reading this are election junkies just like me and are no doubt getting pretty jittery awaiting your next fix. Well, in the spirit of helping someone avoid going full cold election turkey, allow me to point you several thousand miles west, where Canada will be holding a general election in October which is currently promising to be a classic for fans of close polling performance turning into bizarre electoral results thanks to the electoral system. Like the ...
The Liberal Democrats has had, for many years, interest groups representing the thoughts of different opinion groups within the party. The Social Liberal Forum has been seen by some as representing the left of the party and Liberal Reform (LR) as representing the right of the party. These positions can be misleading as LR promotes [...]
Tim Farron has been writing for Politics.co.uk about his desire to see the party change its policy on fracking. The headline is entirely misleading, because what he actually does is show respect to the party's processes by saying he'll ask the Federal Policy Committee and Conference to reconsider the issue. But why? The UK should not be pursuing another fossil fuel source, when there is so much potential for renewable generation from tidal and hydro that is still untapped. I would like the party, through the federal policy committee and the conference, to think again about our existing policy on ...
Being the most popular posts on this blog for the last three months. Be warned, some of these links seemed incredibly relevant at the time, but the post-election landscape now makes them quaint relics of an earlier more innocent time. 8) On Milifandom and politics fandom in general – "Most political parties are just organised fandoms for a political ideology or slice of political history, it';s just that they've been around so long people treat them as something different and respectable." 7) Hampstead and Kilburn: Election not postponed – For a few hours at the start of the campaign, it ...
Many thanks to Robin Bennett from St Andrews for sending us this from the Scottish Highland Games Association website: Running from the scratch mark in the 1600 metres handicap Scott McDnald, Central AC thrilled the crowds as he worked his way through he field before going on to snap the worsted in 4:28.42., the previous weeks Newburgh winner Dean Whiteford took 2nd place with Jordan Taylor, Hawick in 3rd. McDonald was thwarted in his bid to land a double when he had to settle for he runners up spot in the 3000 metres handicap behind none other than LIb Dem ...
Much has been said about the Lib Dem's parliamentary party being too 'pale and male'. That is, of course, true, but I think that easy soundbite description misses an important point - it's not so much that it is 'too' anything so much that it 'isn't enough' something else! The parliamentary party is not sufficiently 'diverse' - that is the key point for me. It's all about 'diversity'. The reason I think that is such a key point is that considering it to be 'too' something can all too easily lead us into attempts at 'quick fix' solutions that might ...
So at York we have an event called policy speed dating the premise behind which is quite simple. Each person in turn has 10 minutes to pitch a policy, on any topic, then it gets voted on. So as today this seems relevant (and not at all controversial) I'll repost one of my contributions about expanding the [...]
I am one of nature's political optimists. But 2015 is one of those years where it is all going wrong. The Lib Dem near wipe out in this year's UK General Election, for one thing. The rise of Islamic State is another – along with the spread of vicious Islamophobia promoted by such outfits as Britain First. Meanwhile state after state in the Middle East and Africa is failing, with vicious dictatorships taking hold in other countries. This gives Israeli hardliners the cover they need advance their own brand of apartheid, and the ghettoisation of Gaza. Any attempt at finding ...
Waking up to the miserable and depressing conclusions of the Davies Commission, that there should be another runway at Heathrow, reminded me of the biggest cost-benefit analysis ever carried out - to somehow calculate where to build the third London airport. I tell the story in my book The Tyranny of Numbers and it casts a sad shadow over the current debate, with its bogus talk of 70,000 new jobs. Back in 1969, the government had rejected the preferred site at Stansted and, for the next two and a half years, the commission chaired by the senior judge, Mr Justice ...
Clifton Road car park in Prestwich will become a short-stay car park on Monday 13 July as previously reported. Parking will be free of charge, but restricted to a maximum of two hours, between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday (except Bank Holidays). Bury Council has taken the move, following consultation with residents and local businesses, to help shoppers who have struggled to find a parking space. Notices are now going up on site informing drivers of the upcoming changes. Please note – drivers will need to obtain and display a free ticket from the machine which is being installed ...
Wed 1st
08:55LibLink: Norman Lamb: It would be easy for our party to shelter in our comfort zone but it would be ...
Norman Lamb has been writing for the Huffington Post about his vision for the future of the Liberal Democrats. The next few years can't just be about making ourselves feel better; we must be far more ambitious than that. That means broadening our policy and political thinking, daring – once again – to be radical and challenging. It is why I am proposing a renaissance in our approach to political action and debate, reaching out to include the many – particularly young people – who share our values and instincts but are put off by closed party structures and, even ...
Last night, Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats held a hustings for the two leadership candidates, Tim Farron and Norman Lamb. They covered the event brilliantly on Twitter. Covering an event like that is really challenging – things move on so quickly and you can easily make a mistake. I know that. I once tweeted that Vince Cable was in favour of low pay when he had very clearly said the opposite. So it was good to see that they corrected a very similar error that they had made last night. They had tweeted that Tim had said that equality was immoral ...
John Woodcock, who is openly supporting Liz Kendall for leader, has said the following regarding Cooper and Burnham: "If those who seek to take his place think the route to victory in the leadership contest is Continuity Miliband with a different accent or gender, or with a higher level of emotional connection, they will consign Labour to another defeat. If that happens, Britain will face another decade of Tory government from here, not just another five years." Ouch. The fact that everyone word the Rt Hon Woodcock said above was 100% true does not change the fact that it was ...
Here are the five posts on this blog that recorded the most hits between April and June 2015: Why is Owen Jones so annoying? (4th July 2013) Selling off social housing (14th Apr) Labour, leadership and the catastrophic benefit cap (11th Jun) Social liberalism and the Liberal Democrats (26 May) Liberalism redux (12 May) So my venerable 'Owen Jones' post continues to attract plenty of traffic. In fact, this may have been its biggest quarter so far. For the first time in a long time 'Uncertain Terrain ...', also from 2013, dropped out of the top five posts for the ...
On Friday, Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner was confirmed in office as the (interim) Mayor of Greater Manchester. Don't worry, you didn't miss the election. The post was appointed by the ten Council Leaders from across Greater Manchester. I have nothing against Tony. I have no doubt he worked hard in the 29 years he served as Labour MP for Manchester Central, I have no doubt he has worked hard in the two years since he became our Police and Crime Commissioner. But I'd never vote for him. Personally I don't agree with many of his political ...
Residents have raised with me concerns about road safety at the Bankmill Road/Milnbank Road junction, with vehicles coming along Milnbank Road having to pull in at the junction to give way to vehicles heading along Milnbank Road in the opposite direction. I raised the concerns with the City Council and the City Council's Head of Transportation has now updated me as follows : "From a recent site inspection and information provided by yourself the vehicles travelling along Milnbank Road are unlikely vehicles exceeding the 30 mph speed limit but due to parked vehicles and the narrow carriageway width they may ...
Bury's 'Walking Rainbow' event returns on Sunday 12 July 2015. The event, now a regular part of the calendar in Bury, is a walk organised by young people to celebrate diversity, promote equality and say no to homophobia. The walk takes place on Sunday 12 July 2015, meet at 12.30 at Bury Town Hall, then walk half a mile to Kay Gardens where there will be information stalls, speeches, music and 'fun'! More information from Tony or Lisa on 0161 253 5663. [IMG: BOmx97gCcAAjgVB]
EU Moves To Create Internet Fast Lanes, Pretends It's Net Neutrality By Redefining Basic Words Top tips for interacting with visually impaired guide dog users No, Most U.K. Homes Do Not Get More In Welfare Than They Pay In Tax ... unless you count not just pensions but the NHS, education, and public transport subsidies as benefits. Even counting pensions it's still only a third. and if you don't count pensions, as most people don't when they talk about welfare, I bet you it's maybe 1 or 2% [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The number of children and young people waiting over 14 weeks to access psychiatric services has risen by 372% in just two years. In April 2013 282 children had been waiting over 14 weeks. However, the most recent figures show that there are now 1,332 children waiting longer than that period. The then Children's Commissioner, Peter Clarke, warned in his annual report in 2005-2006 that children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were "in crisis across Wales". However, the waiting lists continue to grow. The Welsh Liberal Democrats would enshrine parity of esteem between mental and physical health on the ...
From the Telegraph obituary for Ian Allan: Ian Allan, who has died the day before his 93rd birthday, triggered the post-war explosion of trainspotting as a British pastime by publishing the first booklet of engine numbers in 1942 and starting a club which had 230,000 members by the time steam gave way to diesel.Perhaps he did not invent the pastime - I have a friend whose father remembered collecting locomotive names before the war - but he certainly codified and popularised it.
