Yeah. Up until about half past seven everything was fine. Then in short order a great number of stressy things happened and now I am close to meltdown. To give but three examples: I have deactivated my twitter account - probably temporarily, but at this point, who knows? - because life is too short to put up with being called scum by people you considered friends. Things may well have just gone tits up with my new job. And the Calderdale liberal Democrats are being their usual selves. Still, it could be worse, right? Well it IS worse, but I ...
The good people at Virtual Shropshire are now licensed to offer commercial drone photography and video services. Which may mean we can look forward to more footage like this.
This doorway across one of the arches beneath Leicester Central station may not look much, but their is an exciting story behind it. Railway Archive tells that story: The Blackfriars tessellated Roman pavement was believed to have been constructed between the years 70 and 85 AD., during the period of rule under the Governor, Julius Agricola. It remained hidden until 1832 when it was uncovered in the basement of a house at 53 Jewry Wall Street. This house was later demolished to make way for the Great Central Railway's Leicester Central station, but a special chamber was built around the ...
An ambition realised. At last I've found a clip of the World of Sport opening with the planes. Now I just need to find the longer version where they start the planes up at the beginning....
Commenting on the budget last night Jonathan Calder wrote: Tax credits are a way of subsiding bad employers from the public purse and are a move towards the intermeshing of the power of the state and the power of capital that Belloc warned about in The Servile State. There is new interest in the ideas promoted by Chesterton and Belloc in The Servile State that became known as Distibutism. The list of Liberals who have been influenced by them includes Elliot Dodds (and the Ownership for All movement) Jo Grimond who launched many of the ideas that fuelled the Liberal ...
IMHO. The secret is in the xylophones. And the brass. Number three. Thames TV 1984: Number two. London Weekend Televison 1978 Number one. ATV 1969-1981. There will never be a better ident. Ever. Period.
The European Parliament has backed the conclusion of talks over an EU-US trade deal (TTIP) that could boost the UK economy by up to £10 billion a year, with 436 MEPs voting in favour and 241 against. MEPs have demanded that the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) be replaced by a transparent and accountable form of investor protection that protects the right of governments to regulate in the public interest. The Parliament's resolution also calls on negotiators to ensure that EU environmental and consumer standards are not lowered, public services such as the NHS are excluded and the transparency of ...
"I'd definitely recommend the experience to new members, even if you aren't sure whether you align yourself with the SLF ... It's a great way to understand what's important to different people within the Lib Dems and to benefit from the wisdom and experience of people who have been a force for positive, liberal change in society through their activism and campaigning. " Tom King enjoyed attending the Social Liberal Forum Conference. Peter Black says universities must justify a situation where more than 70 per cent of graduates are now leaving university with a first or upper second class degree. ...
A great clip from a special Spotlight in 1996 which features a radiant Sheila Tracy:
It was an inspirational move by John Cherry, a former curator at the British Museum and a member of the Friends of Ludlow Museum. It led to an award for £250,000 to catalogue the precious geological collection in our Museum Resource Centre. After the major banks were discovered to be rigging inter-bank lending rates (Libor) [...]
The Liverpool Echo has the story but I think they missed the real issue here which is agglomeration! What? Yes, agglomeration! What does that mean? According to an on-line dictionary it means:- 1. The act or process of gathering into a mass. 2. A confused or jumbled mass: – To avoid the problems of large urban agglomerations, the state decentralised...... Now lets go back to what the Echo article was all about i.e. George Osborne's budget and what it means for the north and Liverpool City Region's troubled debate about having a City Region Mayor (Joe Anderson?) and devolved ...
The two issues are not the same: one is about who can get married, the other is about the nature of marriage. The increasingly feeble efforts of opponents of equal marriage to find (apparently) non-homophobic grounds for their belief often seem to lead them to a slippery slope argument: if we allow gay people to marry [...]
Fern Britton must have been under 24 years old (she was born in 1957 and Westward Television ended in 1981) when she did this closedown on Westward Television.
Just about now, people across London will be thinking about how on earth they are going to get home. The underground system, on which so many rely, is shut down for the day due to a strike. What is the liberal approach to sorting the situation? I am not often out late partying in London. Just over a year ago, I was down for the fantastic wedding of Ed Fordham and Russell Eagling. I was really shocked that the tube stopped running as early as it did on a Saturday night. I mean, public transport doesn't usually run 24/7, but ...
A little after the Budget, Peter Sigrist, one of the organisers of #LibDemPint, tweeted the following: Are there other @LibDems like me who, while recognising that it is the job of the opposition to oppose loudly, think this is a good budget? — Peter Sigrist (@psigrist) July 8, 2015 This led to a long discussion [...]
It was a very successful budget. It did what it set out to do. It was a very political budget from a political master. George Osborne doing what he does best - wrong footing the opposition by fixing the narrative in his terms and burying inconvenient facts. The tax threshold rise is good but not as progressive as a rise in the NI threshold would have been. The National Living Wage is also a good thing, but I have not yet seen an analysis of who will gain what after reductions in tax credits and housing benefit are factored in. ...
[IMG: tim farron norman lamb square5 by Paul Walter] Historically leaders have been announced very formally, with an audience of party grandees listening to the party president read the results. Not this time. Next Thursday, about this time, we'll all be refreshing our Twitter like idiots waiting for news for this time the result will be announced on social media at some point in the "late afternoon." Then, at 6pm, there will be a members' rally at a Central London venue where the new leader will make his first speech. As I write, members are being emailed details of how ...
Under the Department for Communities and Local Government 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' of March 2012, local authorities are obliged to 'use a robust evidence base to establish accommodation needs' and to 'set pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation needs of travellers in their area'. Many local authorities have been avoiding their statutory obligations under these rules since 2012. At my request Dr Simon Ruston of Ruston Planning has produced a report showing that Dorset local authorities will not have produced a Joint Development Plan ...
Please sign our petition at Botanic Gardens café, Churchtown, Southport against the Labour run Sefton Council proposal to put pay and display in Botanic Gardens car park, Verulam Road/Balmoral Drive.
Never forget what Chris Grayling said to SNP MP Pete Wishart on Tuesday night. Here's the exact quote from Hansard: Let me also say to him and his colleagues that I regard their presence in the House as a great asset. I would much rather have them than 57 Liberal Democrats. That would have nothing to do with the Liberal Democrats spending five years making life very difficult for the Tories and stopping them from brining in the sorts of measures that give to the rich while taking from the poorest and youngest at the most difficult stages in their ...
A couple of months ago, I told you about the members of my family who were walking 100km in a day for charity, and thanks to those of you who supported them on that. Now, inspired by seeing them do it, my partner Karen is giving it a go herself and will be doing the London to Cambridge Challenge at the end of August to raise money for DEC's work in Nepal following the earthquake. If you've got a spare few quid, you can sponsor her here, and every donation will be very gratefully received as she works towards her ...
So, after Alistair Carmichael's use of a parliamentary device to deliver a whomping defeat on the Government over their attempt to railroad through English Votes for English Laws, Chris Grayling has announced that he's not going to put the matter to a vote on Tuesday after all. During the 3 hour debate instigated by Alistair, the Government's case became even more incoherent. The Herald has the story: Ministers were facing potential defeat in the Commons vote on 'English votes for English laws' – due to be held next week. Labour, the SNP, the Lib Dems and the DUP were all ...
Howard Davies's Airports Commission recently delivered a massive blow to residents in Ealing and West London, when it gave the go ahead to expand Heathrow. Only the Liberal Democrats have been resolutely against expanding Heathrow, locally, regionally and nationally, as we see our quality of life worsening if there is an increase in air traffic. The additional air and noise pollution will make our lives worse. I recall visiting a school in Hounslow where the pupils could not play outside due to the planes that there already are. Anymore and we will be causing problems for not just how our ...
The budget does make clear where society's priorities lay. Cuts to incomes and services of the youngest and poorest, yet tax breaks and protected services for many of the oldest and wealthiest. Tax credits, housing benefit, student grants all sacrificed to reduce the deficit, yet inheritance tax, fuel allowances and state pensions are deemed too important to feel the knife. Why? The answer of course, is that old people vote in record numbers. None of us who spend time trying to win elections doubt the wisdom of bending to the grey vote, but it is hard to defend. Today's retirees ...
The Times reports that, as expected David Cameron is planning to hold a vote on the hunting ban. What was less expected is that he is planning to do so next week. In truth, the amendment to the Hunting Act is quite a crafty one. The plan is to allow landowners to use a full pack of hounds to flush out a fox before shooting it. Only two hounds can be used at present. This move would bring England and Wales into line with Scotland, making it harder for the SNP to vote it down. The paper adds that it ...
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament, has set out a potential solution to the Greek crisis in an article for Politico. He makes it clear that there are faults on both sides and both sides need to take constructive action to resolve the crisis fairly for everyone. We are in this mess because the Greeks never made a real reform package, or a clear break with their mistakes from the past. But also because Europe has followed wrong policies — policies of pure accountancy that slowly but steadily choked the Greek economy. Everybody can ...
Rachel Wallace. Image from Marketing Stockport. Rachel Wallace, head of the We are Stockport campaign, writes: We think Stockport deserves to shine Stockport gets a bad wrap sometimes, and frankly, we can't see why. From where we're sitting, we've got a lot to be proud of, whether it's our people and places, our heritage and sporting prowess, our community spirit, our iconic landmarks or our thriving business landscape. Sat between the Peak District, the Cheshire Plain and the UK's fastest growing city, Stockport is filled with award winning businesses, exciting developments and passionate people. We are Stockport is a new ...
We can all now see the things that Nick Clegg prevented We expect bad things for the poor from the Tories. They like the idea of their being an underclass whose can be exploited for low pay and poor conditions. ... Continue reading →
Yesterday's budget certainly had plenty of surprises. But it says something about the state of our politics that not allowing sensitive information leak ahead of the budget speech counts as a political success. Because surprises — rabbits out of hats — are not the same as radicalism, whatever much of the media, or Osborne himself, would have us believe this morning. The budget, when looked at more closely, was notable for its timidity, not its profundity. In identifying the nonsense of those on low wages paying relatively large amounts of tax, only to receive it back with interest in tax ...
Essentially abolish and start again with 'a rate graduated according to the size of the bequest and the existing wealth of the legatee, this would encourage the splitting up of large fortunes without state intervention.' This policy grew out of the Liberal Party Report 'Ownership for All' chaired by Eliot Dodds published in 1938. This policy was part of a wider approach which sought to radically redistribute wealth/ownership including taxation on land values, profit sharing, as well as graduated death duties levied depending on the wealth of the recipient not the giver. This is the alternative approach to equality not ...
After a series of catastrophic election results, the Liberal Democrats [IMG: 80-20] are indulging in some deep thinking about the party's future. The one silver lining from the party's disasters is that it is left with the nearest it will ever get to a blank slate on which to rewrite what the party is. Into this debate comes an important pamphlet. The 20% strategy: building a core vote for the Liberal Democrats by former Cambridge MP David Howarth, and inveterate blogger Mark Pack. I would urge anybody interested in the party's future direction to read it. The jumping-off point is ...
Even George Osborne's staunchest critics couldn't help but admire the political genius of yesterday's Budget. Osborne announced key measures that were straight out of the Labour Manifesto, including headline policies of a new Living Wage and a crackdown on Non-Doms. His political mastery came by announcing the Living Wage, whilst cutting in-work Tax Credits, which&ellipsis;Read the full post »
In a couple of weeks time, my 11 year old son and I will be competing in the UK Transplant Games for the very first time. As my friends among LDV readers will know, my son is a remarkable boy in many respects. Some say he is a 'chip off the old block'. I rather think he's in a league of his own. His story is dramatic, yet sadly not unique. Three years ago, around his 8th birthday, he was suddenly diagnosed with kidney failure. It was the second time in that he faced a battle for life. As a ...
Plaid Cymru seat. Cause:Resignation No LD Candidate.
SNP seat. Cause: Resignation. No LD candidate.
UPDATED DETAILS Labour seat. Cause:death. LD candidate- Sue Tait. Contact Details- Paul Smith (01424 715176) and Nick Perry (07714 330642, ndsperry@yahoo.co.uk)
UPDATED DETAILS Conservative seat. Cause:Resignation. LD Candidate- Gary Spencer-Holmes. Contact Details- Paul Smith (01424 715176) and Nick Perry (07714 330642, ndsperry@yahoo.co.uk)
UPDATED DETAILS Labour seat. Cause:Death. No LD Candidate.
UPDATED DETAILS Labour seat. Cause:Resignation. LD Candidate- Joe Bourke.
UPDATED DETAILS Labour seat. Cause:Death. LD Candidate- Stewart Rayment. Contact Details: Paul Smith (01424 715176) and Nick Perry (07714 330642, ndsperry@yahoo.co.uk)
UPDATED DETAILS Labour seat. Cause:Resignation. No LD Candidate.
2005. Despite Blair's falling approval ratings and the Lib Dems nibbling away at their support over Iraq, Labour won the general election. In fact, it was never seriously in doubt. The Tories seemed unable to break through at all; Labour and the greater Left seemed to have cornered the national debate. People began asking if the Conservatives could win a majority ever again. 2015. The Conservatives have just won that election no one thought, right up to polling day itself, it could. Osborne, at last free of those pesky Liberal Democrats, announces an emergency budget, essentially a replacement budget for ...
I have, in the past, noted my view of Guy Verhofstadt, the Leader of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament, as a passionate European, and his not entirely warm relationship with Nigel Farage. But, in fairness, his passion has wider application. Yesterday, the Greek Prime Minister came to the European Parliament and Guy took the opportunity to offer Mr Tsipras a little advice...
[IMG: ABC in a dictionary] Chatting to some new members of the Liberal Democrats, it struck me that an ABC guide to some of the terminology in the party might be useful. So here's a very brief start. What other terms would you add to it? Want to know more about the party? See my poster on what the party believes and sign up to receive Liberal Democrat Newswire. ALDC: the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners focusing on supporting grassroots campaigners, especially councillors and those who wish to be councillors, and also helping Liberal Democrat council groups. It ...
A couple of months ago I highlighted a potential pitfall for the Lib Dems of assuming the post-Coalition Tories would "revert to type, that their swivel-eyed, nut-job element will triumph": For the past five years, David Cameron has been forced to moderate his policies because of the Lib Dems. Who's to say he won't now choose to moderate his policies — indeed, that he won't find it easier to be himself a moderate because it will now be Tory ministers implementing small-l liberal measures? ... if Mr Cameron is able to stick to his guns, then 2020 may prove an ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33425743#_=_ The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above No wonder Network Rail is in so much hot water with the Government and the plans to modernise and electrify our railways are going to take so much longer than we were promised. [IMG: _84102213_hops045]
So works are finally underway to improve the junction of North Cross Road with Lordship Lane. NCR_LL Junction Improvement Scheme Proposals It should dramatically improve the entrance to NCR, slow traffic and improve the look and feel of this gateway into our local street market. It will also reclaim some dead space from Lordship Lane from cars that don't use it to pedestrians who will use it. Lastly, the bus stop currently doesn't work – with parked cars blocking buses getting to the kerb. The two car parking space are being relocated and buses will be able to pull in ...
This is my 4th and for the moment last posting about the huge house building problem that will seemingly be foisted on the Borough of Sefton and more precisely on Maghull, Lydiate, Aintree and Melling if our Labour rulers can't find an out of Borough solution. My last posting is available via the link below:- The report of council officers to our Sefton Labour rulers says 'in order to meet a significantly higher land requirement it would be likely that land would have to be identified in adjacent Boroughs'. Those adjacent Boroughs are West Lancashire (which Sefton has by ...
The latest Sunday Bandstand Concert on the Magdalen Green Bandstand takes place this coming Sunday at 2pm. The Arbroath Instrumental Band will be playing - more details here.
Please sign this open letter to @bbcnews about the way they discuss "migrants" by @Aremay James Naughtie appointed Special Correspondent for Radio 4 - this is a relief I'd heard he was leaving Today, but not why I am a recovering racist: I was somehow taught hate as a gift of love "That horrible, disgusting hateful thing is part of me, too, entangled with the rest. And often it keeps me from seeing my own racism when it rears its benevolent, entitled head." - yep. Gonna keep trying though. The Social-Network Illusion That Tricks Your Mind How To Cast Jane ...
The sacking of Anthony Jenkins as the Barclays CEO is a loss. It is also a commentary on his own belief that he was changing the culture of banking. As it turns out, he wasn't - though he certainly tried. Clearly his board didn't really want him to. It also puts into perspective the failure of the political system to shape an effective banking system that is capable of supporting the real economy. This is, it seems to me, one of the big failures of the coalition years. Because the political elite- and this involves all the parties at Westminster ...
I occasionally scout around on the Sky box for documentaries to store up to watch when my girls are out. When I downloaded "Play it loud: The Story of the Marshall Amp" I expected this would be one recording I watched for a few minutes then got bored. In fact the programme is absolutely fascinating. I just assumed that the Marshall amp was created in America somewhere. But, in fact, it was created in West London in a shop frequented by the likes of Pete Townsend and Eric Clapton when they were young. It is now made in Milton Keynes. ...
Across research, the metric tide is rising. An independent report published today argues that we have the opportunity to influence how it washes through higher education and research. Yesterday's Budget brought good news for those vice-chancellors who have been lobbying to raise student tuition fees above the current £9,000 annual cap. But it came with a sting in the tail: George Osborne said that fees could rise in line with inflation only for those universities "that demonstrate excellence in teaching". This will be assessed through a new Teaching Excellence Framework, or TEF, to be introduced alongside the Research Excellence Framework ...
For Liberal Democrats, this is obviously a difficult day. Our party spent five years preventing the Conservatives from implementing policies that we felt were unfair, as well as introducing distinctive Lib Dem policies that made our recovery fairer and more sustainable. Sadly, yesterday's budget shows the real difference that Liberal Democrats made in government, and are no longer able to make after May's elections. Welfare Cuts - The first of an excessive £12 billion in cuts which will fall disproportionately on the poorest. Also, limiting child tax credits and universal credit payments to only cover the first two children in ...
