"The [rights included in] ECHR are British rights. Human rights are British, European and international" – @SimonHughes #ldconf — Freshta Sharif (@FreshtaSharif) September 22, 2015 Here is the speech in full: Can I start by offering sincere thanks to everyone who supported me in the leadership election. And to those who didn't – I bear no grudge! I must be honest, the weekend after the general election, I went through internal torture trying to decide whether to stand. But I'm so glad I did. Travelling across the country to take part in hustings – all 27 of them – and ...
It's the last evening of conference and that means......the glee club, an event in which Lib Dems take the piss out of other politicians, but most importantly, out of ourselves. Self-deprecation is the sort of thing never to be expected from sour faced socialists, or callous Conservatives. Nevertheless, there's only so much of the glee club I can cope with before feeling the need to return to
News from Richmond: A Liberal Democrat councillor has defected to Labour in support of Jeremy Corbyn, becoming Richmond's first Labour councillor in more than 13 years. Teddington Councillor Jennifer Churchill, partner of the borough's former Lib Dem leader and fellow Councillor Stephen Knight, said new party leader Tim Farron "doesn't seem to stand for anything". She also criticised her former party for "parroting Tory economic propaganda". Stephen Knight is also a member of the Lib Dem group on the London Assembly. Voting has now finished in the (re)selection of Lib Dem candidates for the London Assembly list although the results ...
For the first time in a decade, I was merely a day-tripper to the Lib Dem federal conference, speaking at a full-to-bursting Resolution Foundation meeting on social justice. (I'll try and post my thoughts on that tomorrow.) And, obviously, catching up with a load of people, as you do, even in the brief few hours I was there. Here were my key take-homes... Now leaving #ldconf. Impressions: 1) LibDem members are cheery (honest!). Feels more like members event: less media/lobbyists. Comforting. — Stephen Tall (@stephentall) September 22, 2015
Do you live in or near Abbotswood? Or maybe you shop at Abbotswood, or use the doctor, the dentist, the vets or the takeaways? Perhaps you attend the church, or members of your family go to groups or clubs at St Nicks? Then you will find the Abbotswood Action Group meeting this Thursday (24 September) interesting and useful. Abbotswood Action Group is a voluntary organisation that is working hard to improve Abbotswood and the surrounding area. At Thursday's meeting, as well as some brief business (it's their AGM) there will be workshop sessions to find out what you think about ...
Leading Cambridge Liberal Democrats have accused the Tory Government of selling out millions of vulnerable people in order to give tax cuts to the super rich. Party Chair, Dr Spencer Hagard and County Lib Dem Leader, Lucy Nethsingha told the party's Autumn Conference that elderly and long-term disabled people will have to sell their homes and face financial ruin after the Tories backed out of a cap on care costs. They accused Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor, George Osborne of breaking their cast iron pledge in their election manifesto to implement the much-awaited recommendations of the Dilnot Report. Their ...
Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have expressed their "grave fears" for the future of the NHS following the shock news that Cambridge's Addenbrooke's and Rosie Hospitals have been put in special measures. They claim the plans by the Tory Government to cap public sector pay at one per cent for the next five years will only add to the problems of the country's straining health service. Lucy Nethsingha, Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader and a member of Cambridgeshire County Council's Health and Well-being Board said: "The news that these hospitals have been put in special measures is a shock but has not come ...
Here is the old brute's foreword to the newly controversial Liberator Songbook published for tonight's Glee Club at the Liberal Democrat Conference. Bonkers HallTel. Rutland 7 I don't know about yours, but here in Rutland our election night party Fell a Bit Flat. It was barely past midnight when the band struck up the Dead March from 'Saul' and things did not get much more cheerful after that. When they invited requests, the pick of the pops proved to be 'Nearer My God to Thee' and 'The End of the World'. Not even my anecdote about Roy Jenkins and the ...
Faced with an annoyingly upbeat and united Liberal Democrat Conference, the press is doing its best to manufacture a row over references to Charles Kennedy in the Liberator Songbook. This is sold every year to people attending the Glee Club at Conference. A couple of experts have been phoned up and duly condemned us, including Jackie Ballard who really should know better. The Birmingham Mail spoke to John Hemming, who gave a more sensible response: Mr Hemming said that the songs had been written many years previously and it would be wrong to remove them from the songbook now. He ...
[IMG: Lib Dem YouTube channel] Sssshhh! Don't tell anyone. This is a secret and we need to keep it that way. If you want to watch any bits of conference in "catch up mode", head over to the party's YouTube channel here. As well as specific parts of conference, all the sessions are there in full. You may have to do a bit of playing with the bottom slider to see the bit you want, but it is all there. It is a fantastic resource. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist in Newbury and West Berkshire. He is ...
Iain Dale's excellent* list of the most influential Liberal Democrats is out again. You can read his commentary here, and the table is below. * Cynics may wish to factor in that (a) I'm up, and (b) he's my publisher. 1. (+4) Tim Farron Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2. (+28) Sal Brinton President of the Liberal Democrats 3. (+5) Norman Lamb Health Spokesman and defeated leadership candidate 4. (-3) Nick Clegg Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats 5. (+20) Jim Wallace Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords 6. (+15) Kirsty Williams Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats ...
A Labour MP has been charged with attacking a woman at a polling station weeks after a previous trial collapsed after an apparent blunder by prosecutors. Marie Rimmer, 68, allegedly assaulted Patricia McLeish at the entrance to Shettleston Community Centre in Glasgow's East End last year, on the day of the independence referendum... Rimmer went on trial last month accused of assault. But, the case collapsed midway through after sheriff Brian Adair noticed the word "Glasgow" had not been listed on the charge. [The Herald] Interested in more stories about how our elections are run? Follow my dedicated election law ...
Here are the voting figures for the three big set piece debates over nuclear weapons policy at Liberal Democrat conferences in recent years. In each case the winning side was the multilateralist one, the losing side a unilateralist one. 2015 Bournemouth autumn conference: 579-447 (56%-44%, 1,026 votes) 2013 Glasgow autumn conference: 322-228 (59%-41%, 550 votes) 2007 Harrogate spring conference: 454-414 (52%-48%, 868 votes)
Or at least, the funniest that didn't involve pig jokes.. The BBC's Daily Politics team tried to get Alistair Carmichael to choose between David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn. Not a wise move... Alistair Carmichael, when asked "Cameron or Corbyn?" by BBC "Why would you care?"#ldconf pic.twitter.com/GVXFoN8jtR — Caron Lindsay (@caronmlindsay) September 22, 2015
It is occasionally easy to forget that seven years ago, Ros and I were in the midst of the incredible campaign that culminated in Ros's glorious victory in the contest for the Party Presidency. And so, it seems appropriate to come to Bournemouth to announce the start of a new campaign. In November, the Congress of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe takes place in Budapest, and culminates in the election of a new President and five, possibly six, Vice Presidents. And, with Graham Watson standing down from the Presidency, the Party have decided to nominate a candidate ...
Conference hall was packed this afternoon for a moving tribute to the late Charles Kennedy. Introduced by Ian Wrigglesworth, a video of his political life was shown. There were not many dry eyes in the hall. A great personality. Britain is the poorer without him.
I raised with Welsh Ministers this afternoon my concerns about the takeover of the Local World media company by Trinity Mirror. I am not expecting much press coverage for this initiative for obvious reasons so I thought I would highlight it here as well as on my main website. Local World is the parent company of the South Wales Evening Post, the biggest selling Welsh daily. I understand that takeover talks are at an advanced stage, and that if they proceed then Trinity Mirror will control three of the four dailies in South Wales, the Daily Post in North Wales ...
Here is the text of Sal Brinton's Presidential address to Conference. She talked about the threat to our democracy from the Tories' massive spending on election campaigning and their plans for boundary changes. She talked about getting the party in the right shape for that fightback, to "give our country a democracy that works for all'. Here's her speech in full: The last couple of years have shown us that traditional assumptions about politics are useless. Our world is being turned upside down, and, unpredictable even to the pundits. So much so that Lloyd George's famous comment "The world is ...
Tue 22nd
14:30
In Full: Willie Rennie's speech to Conference: Our liberal, radical offer to create real freedom for...
Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie gave his speech to Conference yesterday. Unlike Kirsty, he didn't dwell on the coalition years. He did, however, offer a devastating critique of the SNP Government, citing its illiberal and centralising instincts. He set out his agenda for the elections to the Scottish Parliament next May: Our election campaign will be about liberal values. At our heart we want every individual to achieve their potential. So we will bring in childcare and the pupil premium for children who need it, wherever they live in Scotland. Giving opportunity to every child to get up and get ...
There is a common assumption that altruism is always a good thing. This puzzles me, because one can do wrong out of love another as well as out of love for oneself. A second assumption that tends to follow the first is that, if altruism is always a good thing, the more we have of it the better. There is an article in the Guardian today by Larissa MacFarquhar about those who are inspired by this idea. It reminds me inescapably of Mrs Jellaby in Bleak House, who is obsessed with educating the natives of Borrioboola-Gha ("on the left bank ...
Tue 22nd
13:44
Syrian Refugees Explained – A You Tube video – Well worth watching for some clear facts ...
www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=RvOnXh3NN9w Please take the time to watch this short video as it very clearly puts before us all some facts in a straight forward way. I certainly feel better informed since I have watched and listened to it.
I just got back from two days at the Conference in Bournemouth. The absence of discussion of strategy was deafening. However, no less than three people either said to me or mentioned from the dais the reduction of seats from 650 to 600 "which the Tories are going to do". I have bemoaned the lack of psephological nous in the party before but, really, some members seem to like to wallow in misery and fantasy. It is true that the seat reduction as proposed was set to disadvantage us and Labour at the Tory benefit. That is a given. However ...
I'm currently working through the fifth of my modules on the occupational psychology masters - on training and development. It therefore seems appropriate to write about the way I'm thinking about my own development. If you're not keen on spiders you may not want to read the final paragraph ... For me one of the most important things I do ...
GENESIS OF BUREAUCRACY Once upon a time there was a king who wanted to go fishing. He called the royal weather forecaster and enquired as to the weather forecast for the next few hours. The weatherman assured him that there was no chance of rain in the coming days. So the king went fishing with his wife, the queen. On the way he met a farmer on his donkey. Upon seeing the king the farmer said, "Your Majesty, you should return to the palace at once because in just a short time I expect a huge amount of rain to ...
Click below to watch this excellent example of Liberal Democrat debate from yesterday: * 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.
Tue 22nd
11:55Kelvin Mackenzie offers Stephen Tall £5000 to fulfil his pledge to run down Whitehall naked...
Remember that pledge of Stephen Tall's that he'd run naked down Whitehall if we were down to 24 seats in the election? Well, he has been reminded about it every time he's appeared on the Daily Politics since. Back on the programme yesterday, he was put in an awkward position when former Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie offered £5000 to charity for Stephen to do it. So long as the legal issues can be overcome, there doesn't seem to be a way he can get out of it now. From the Telegraph: Stephen Tall, co-editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, was asked ...
A section of Gospel Lane will be closed for a day towards the end of October (likely to be one day in week commencing 26th October) for lining works. The closure, which will affect the section between Olton Boulevard East and Thornfield Road, will take place during the daytime, between 9.30am and 4pm.
Tue 22nd
10:54Controversy over Glee Club Song Book, in connection with Charles Kennedy - the full story
PoliticsHome reports: Campaigners have criticised the Liberal Democrats over songs mocking Charles Kennedy's alcoholism just three months after his death.The offending lyrics are contained in a songbook for the Lib Dem Glee Club, which takes place at the party's conference in Bournemouth tonight. ...(Two) songs have been sung at the annual event for the past decade. But critics questioned whether they should have been included in this year's line-up, given Mr Kennedy died in June following a long battle with alcoholism. Dr Peter Rice, the chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems told The Herald: "We are making a ...
We hope you've spotted the open thread on the action taking place in the main auditorium today. In comparison, this thread is for you to talk about fringe meetings, the exhibition and all the other things going on around the main business. Today's highlights At 7:45 tonight, Norman Lamb is interviewed by Helen Duffett, the editor of the party's all member Ad Lib magazine. She'll be asking him about his plans for the future. Norman will also be on a panel at lunchtime with our Stephen Tall at a Resolution Foundation fringe meeting discussing the need to rethink the Liberal ...
Lib Dems: We will defeat the Government in the House of Lords One of the Liberal Democrats' most senior figures has boasted the party can defeat the government at will in the House of Lords and may "misbehave" by repeatedly changing laws to provoke reform. Lord Newby, the party's chief whip in the Lords, said the Lib Dems could force through "umpteen" changes to laws every day despite having just eight MPs because there are so few Tory peers. He also pledged to join with Labour and give 16- and 17-year-olds a vote in the EU referendum despite the proposal ...
If you feel that your wardrobe is looking a bit dated, call in at the exhibition area of conference where you can splash out on the latest Lib Dem catwalk fashion accessories. And for you lucky people, here are a few photos. If you don't want to stand out in a crowd by wearing lovely Lib Dem yellow, try pale green: And if there is anyone of a Jeremy Corbyn disposition, you can
Tue 22nd
09:47In Full: Kirsty Williams' speech to Liberal Democrat Conference: A Britain without liberalism is a B...
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams gave her keynote speech to Conference yesterday and she did not mince her words. She was candid about the failings of the coalition, saying that it looked like we'd never even tried to keep the pledge on tuition fees, and that our identity had been lost. She also said that one of the best ways to improve gender balance in parliamentarians was to help in Wales to make sure the Liberal Democrats did well as female candidates had been selected in many winnable seats. She also set out her stall for the elections: We ...
I was up and about this morning before most people had woken. The staff at the Marlins Hotel were very good about it and let me have breakfast early. My plan was to get some photos of the pier and beach for my travel blog. The surfers however had hit the beach long before I got there. I wasn't the only early bird. Tim Farron was on the Global stand in the exhibition hall doing an
[IMG: Audience at Lib Dem conference. Photo courtesy of the Lib Dems (CC BY-ND 2.0)] In the dark about what will happen following the OMOV vote? Here are the details. Yesterday, Liberal Democrat conference voted to implement the rule changes to bring in one member one vote (OMOV). What does this mean? Federal committee elections Starting from the next round of elections in autumn 2016, party committees such as the Federal Executive, Federal Policy Committee and Federal Conference Committee will be elected by all party members. Federal conference Starting with Spring 2016 in York, all party members coming to conference ...
[IMG: Campaigner Awards] The winners of the ALDC Campaigner Awards 2015 were presented at the ALDC AGM held in Bournemouth at Federal conference by Simon Hughes, celebrating the best campaigning teams from across the Country. This year's awards were handed out to Best Member engagement campaign Winner- Mid Dorset and North Poole We were impressed by the wide [...]
[IMG: Man in an orange room looking at a computer Photo courtesy of http://startupstockphotos.com] One issue which regularly came up during the Saturday morning conference consultation session on the Liberal Democrat policy process was the London-centric bias of many policy meetings. As is often the case, several people said the answer is better use of conference calls – phone, Skype and so on. It sounds sensible, but the enthusiasm for conference calling does not sweep me away immediately. That is because my own experience of conference calls both in and outside work is that once you get up more than ...
If you are involved in politics at all, then you will have spent some part of your waking life over the last few days on social media either reading or inventing ham and bacon related puns and/or general gags. My favourite so far has been the infamous Ed Miliband bacon sandwich picture accompanied by the caption: "Ed finds out what was done to the pig he's eating". Which is mostly funny because it makes you realise how many Westminster missteps by major politicians in recent times have literally involved swine. But what will the lasting affect for Cameron be of ...
Whether you are physically in Bournemouth or are following what is happening from home, this is your place to talk about the public face of the Conference – in other words, all the debates and speeches that are going on in the main auditorium. Please use the comments below to add your reports on policy and constitutional debates or to draw readers' attention to ones in the pipeline. We will be running a similar thread each day, so please confine your comments today to what is actually happening today. Tomorrow's instalment will appear at 8.30am tomorrow morning. We will also ...
The original caption is misleading, as the photograph shows Dundee's Scouringburn, whose layout was incorporated into the new Hawkhill section of the city's inner ring road system in the 1970s, here seen leading westwards, Session Street to the right. Mrs J. McManus, the general dealer, is first listed at No. 13 Scouringburn in the Dundee Directory for 1888-89. The 1893-94 edition has John Finnigan as the owner of the public house at No. 15, the Celtic Bar. James P. Casey is described there as 'dealer in furniture, left-off clothing, antiquarian and general bookseller, and licensed broker'. Their advertisement says Mr ...
Myles Jackman - Obscenity Lawyer - on #piggate. His conclusion makes some pretty brutal points. A serious article about #piggate and what it reveals about power structures in this country [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
(This was my first attempt at writing secondary-world fantasy, rather than SF or magic realism, just to see if I could do the genre...) The sun had hardly begun to poke above the horizon when Surlan was woken from his sleep by a boot nudging him in the ribs. "Wake up you lazy fool! We [...]
Shropshire Council has executed a partial U-turn on its cuts to funding for arts and festivals across the county. This is welcome. In a statement to BBC Radio Shropshire, the council said: We are now reconsidering our position in relation to this matter. We recognise the importance of the arts sector and the additional value [...]
[IMG: The ideas that built the Liberal Democrats] Politics rest on beliefs. Political parties that operate without a philosophical framework stand for little more than personality and populism. But equally, beliefs must rest on thought - they must be continually defined, tested and debated rather than simply inherited unquestioningly. That's part of what the Federal Policy Committee's Agenda 2020 process is all about; I've written about the various elements of that already on Lib Dem Voice. But of course the party doesn't start from scratch in this respect. The political ideology of the Liberal Democrats draws on the philosophies of ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34195309 The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above No Merseyrail services on this list but with the number of folks using our local railway network increasing virtually year on year how long will it be before one does?
I am in 'that London' again, although I'm only really passing through. Luckily, there was an opportunity to stop in at 'Zeitgeist', a German bar near Vauxhall, for dinner. It offers an excellent range of proper German and Czech beer but, of particular salience, a spectacular array of pork-based meals - schnitzel, wurst of many kinds, frikadelle - all of which are properly excellent and to the correctly heroic Germanic scale. We were meeting up with friends and family, which is always nice, even if it is someone else's family. And catching up over beers and the sausage platter (comes ...
