I may not have been in Bournemouth (starting a new job after months of subsidence living) for this Autumn's Liberal Democrat conference. But the bits I saw on TV before heading to work have been encouraging. On the night after the General Election I wrote: "I know our party will come back strong again because the essence of what we believe in does bring about fairness and opportunity for everyone. It may be a few election cycles, a few years or even a few months before voters realise this. David Cameron and his unfettered Conservatives could well be the ideal ...
Yesterday I gave my second speech at Lib Dem Conference, on Human Rights. I fear it was better on paper than in delivery - and as the video is not yet online, I've opted to share the text of what I (largely) said. Conference, Later today there will be a consultative session on our Governance Review. One of the things being asked in that is whether the preamble to our constitution fully reflects our values and beliefs. I'm sure that many of you can quote the extract from the preamble that is printed on membership cards. I have mine here: ...
This feature heads into Scotland for the first time. The result is well worth the long queue for the customs formalities. Tradition - one I really wish I had not begun - demands that I list all the previous videos in this series. So: Devon, Bedfordshire, North Lincolnshire, East Sussex, Leicestershire, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Cumbria, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Cornwall, Rutland. Northumberland, Shropshire, Suffolk, East Riding of Yorkshire, Norfolk, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Durham.
It is no surprise that Tim Farron can make a decent speech. It's what he does. Today, though, he took the tried and tested formula for leaders' speeches. You know the Rules, where they slag off the other parties, they carefully talk about a few issues considered to be the key interests of the electorate, utter a few platitudes, tell a few jokes and end on a high note. It's all a bit contrived sometimes, way too polished, and leaves the listener wanting a bit of genuine discourse and emotion. Not today. Liberal Democrats are not known for their deference ...
The traditional end to conference is the leader's speech. Today was Tim Farron's first and it was one of the best I've heard from a Lib Dem leader. A great call for the need for liberalism, a great rallying cry.
The other day I brought you the exciting news that Kevin Whatley's grandfather was rector of St Laurence's, Church Stretton, in Shropshire. Talking of which, I do not remember the heyday of Inspector Morse - I suspect it fell in that happy period when I did not own a television. Watching it today, I just don't believe in Morse as a character. By contrast, Whatley's Lewis, however - a working-class copper who gets promotion late in his career and finds he is brighter than he realised - seems to me entirely credible. Yet neither of them are among the two ...
When Tim Farron was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrats earlier this year there were many, both inside and outside the party, who wondered whether he would be able to cut the mustard. From his period as President we knew he was a brilliant speaker, and that he was the perfect warm-up man for rallies, [...]
Just a day after the proposed 'hobbit house' on the Linney was refused planning permission, council planners have refused permission for a modern house at 81A Corve Street (15/01251/FUL). I said when the application was submitted: The proposal is a perfect horror that will cause significant harm to the conservation area and the setting of [...]
I'm really sorry about this, but the judges' decision is final/ BBC News wins Headline of the Day.
I've been back to the hospital today for my 'watch and wait' appointment. On the whole, it seems like good news as my bloods are much the same as they were three months ago. However, the lump on my neck has definitely become a little larger – the consultant estimated it to be around 4cm in diameter, up from 2.7cm ...
So the Autumn conference has been and gone. And I had the most amazing two days. It was a privileged to meet to many Liberal Democrats like myself who share the same views and passion for liberal values. Was also an amazing honour to have a few members approach me to say to say how [...]
View image | gettyimages.comLondon 1958: Boys play cleverball in the street Last night David Miliband mystified the nation. Interviewed on Newsnight about the refugee crisis he said: I don't think this is about hardball or softball, it is about cleverball.Yet Miliband 1 is not the first New Labour grandee to invent a new sport. In December 1997 Peter Mandelson told a puzzled House of Commons: The contents of the millennium experience, the dome, will attract people of all ages, although I suspect that playing surfball, the 21st century sport, will have an especial appeal to young people.If you visited the ...
Electoral canvassers will shortly be visiting homes which have not yet returned a completed household enquiry form. All households in St Albans District were sent household enquiry forms in July. Completed forms help the Council keep the electoral register up to date. Reminders were delivered last month to households that hadn't yet replied.. Over the [...]
It is with regret that I have to inform you that the following sites have unfortunately been postponed due to delays caused by the knock on effects of previous adverse weather, and will be reprogrammed as availability allows, within the current financial year. Once the new date has been established I will let you know. [...]
I have just joined the Liberal Democrats. It has been a long time coming, but I finally did it. The final straw was the brilliant Nick Cohen's piece in The Spectator titled "Why I've finally given up on the left". I agree with Nick, I too have left; I have found my proper political home. I used to vote Labour and I voted "Yes" in the AV Referendum in May 2011, I am a pro-European and I always identified as slightly centre-left. Then came 2015: the Conservative majority, the SNP landslide in my native Scotland, and the election of the ...
[IMG: Campaigning on Allotments web story] Whilst we may not all be allotment holders, protecting green space is a very emotive and safeguarding local allotments is a great to campaign for you to run. Here we have included Information on how to protect your allotments An example campaign plan Focus drop in Using endorsements Leaflet and petition ideas To look at [...]
As we countdown to Jeremy Corbyn's first Labour Conference the disquiet in his party's ranks are not dying down, In today's Western Mail the former Foreign Office Minister and retired-Pontypridd MP, Kim Howells warns that there may well be "a civil war inside the parliamentary Labour Party": Asked how he would respond to recent events if he were still an MP, Mr Howells told BBC Wales' Week in Week Out programme: "I'd be bitterly opposed to the current leadership of the Labour Party. "I'd be saying things that I believe about the need to win political power and a bunch ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34330676 The link above is the BBC's take on Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron's speech at his party conference today. [IMG: Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron ] Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron I voted for Tim in the leadership election and I am hoping that he will grow into a truly radical Liberal Leader because this country really needs one right now.
Former minister Jo Swinson has spoken of the "delicious" moment she was mistaken for a secretary by a senior government official. [IMG: Jo_Swinson] The ex-MP, an equalities minister in the coalition government, was speaking about the difficulties faced by women in the workplace. She said the official was mortified when he realised his mistake. The former Lib Dem MP, who lost her seat at May's general election, pushed through reforms allowing shared parental leave, seen as one of the biggest changes in employment law under the coalition. She spoke out against all-women shortlists at a Liberal Reform fringe meeting at ...
I have posted a number of times about the consequences of the Mersey river berth that will allow Post Panamax ships of an enormous size to dock at Seaforth. Below is an example of the type and size of ship that will be using the river berth:- [IMG: 11960201_961815140544892_8270652737917260902_n] Click on the photo to enlarge it To date the issues I have raised have been about access to and from the port by rail and road for the increased level of freight that the port will generate, the lack of preparedness of Sefton Council, Highways England and Network Rail for ...
When I was growing up my school didn't have a sixth form. I guess that's because most of us didn't do A levels. So I went to a separate sixth form college - Runshaw in Leyland - and, in my first week, I joined the Liberal Party. I also joined a band. I'm assuming you may have seen the photos. The only good thing I can say is that because the photos are pre-digital they are so low resolution that you can't make out the eye-liner. But I've got a worse confession. On a Saturday night, I watch X Factor...with ...
Wed 23rd
13:30
"Wow, that was the best leader's speech I've heard in just under 50 Lib Dem conferences"
So tweeted Dr Mark Pack, formerly of this parish: Wow, that was the best leader's speech I've heard in just under 50 Lib Dem conferences. #ldconf — Mark Pack (@markpack) September 23, 2015 Here's some other reaction: Bold & passionate speech from @timfarron. One of best. Clear statement of our values & invitation to all liberals to join #LibDemFightback — Caron Lindsay (@caronmlindsay) September 23, 2015 That was an impressive first conference speech as leader by Tim Farron #ldconf ambitious but he has to be to be relevant — Andy Bell (@andybell5news) September 23, 2015 Agreed https://t.co/3Mb3y8Rhrs — Emily Ashton ...
[IMG: Tim Farron at Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth. Photo courtesy of the Lib Dems CC BY-ND 2.0] Conference went well for Tim Farron Wow, that was the best leader's speech I've heard in just under 50 Lib Dem conferences. #ldconf — Mark Pack (@markpack) September 23, 2015 Here's his speech in full: When I was growing up my school didn't have a sixth form. I guess that's because most of us didn't do A levels. So I went to a separate sixth form college – Runshaw in Leyland – and, in my first week, I joined the Liberal Party. ...
Here's an op-ed I wrote for International Business Times ahead of the start of Lib Dem conference. Liberal Democrats set to gain from Jeremy Corbyn's incompetence [IMG: Tim Farron at Lib Dem Bournemouth 2015 conference. Image courtesy of the Lib Dems CC BY-ND 2.0] Just 24 hours after the electoral disaster which engulfed the Liberal Democrats in the general election, most party activists were happier - not happy, but happier - than they really had any right to be. The reason? A powerful farewell speech from Nick Clegg had trigged a wave of new members.Tracking the latest tally of new ...
Last night at 6:15, I chaired an event at Lib Dem conference with Tim Bale, Paul Webb, Mark Pack and Tessa Munt on the topic of political party membership as it stands and where it looks like it's headed. We learned a lot of interesting facts (UKIP voters see themselves as less right-wing on a scale of 0 to 10 than Tory members do, as a for instance), but coming right at the end of a conference that had already made me think about this area in a lot of detail anyway, it was especially fascinating. I spoke at a ...
Bury Council at it's last full meeting agreed changes to the three bus lanes that operate around the Bury Town Centre, following serious concerns about the flow of traffic and congestion causes in some places. [IMG: C_71_article_1470103_image_list_image_list_item_0_image] Three major changes are to take place as a result of the review: BOLTON ROAD In light of the current Lidl proposal to realign Bolton Road and Victoria Street that the sections of bus lane on Bolton Road are left in situ. The bus lane at Victoria Street will be realigned and the new layout should make the bus lane easier to negotiate ...
I admit it. I laughed at #piggate. But should I have? Four years ago, a scandal engulfed the newspaper industry. The News of the World was closed down, and News International reporters were arrested. Before, all politicians knew, if a major tabloid newspaper targeted them, they had good reason to be afraid. After, I remember the heady celebration of politicians who compared it to liberation from a police state. "Don't worry," one said, when asked if this kind of threat would return. "It's like when people stop being afraid of the secret police. If no one is afraid, they lose ...
[IMG: Jon Cruddas. Photo courtesy of Policy Exchange (CC BY 2.0)] Labour is becoming the toxic party. We asked voters a question about their voting preference. Did they, 'always vote' for a particular political party, 'sometimes vote for it', 'consider voting for it' or, 'never vote for it'. The toxicity score for each party is measured by the proportion of the electorate that say they will 'never vote' for it. Labour is now as toxic in the South as the Tories are in the North. Among the over 60s, 45 per cent say they will never vote Labour - and ...
Work is well underway to complete the new houses being build at Cheadle Mill – the site at the end of Mill Lane, past the Alex. [IMG: cheadle mill] Readers with long memories might recall that planning application was granted for 42 houses back in 2005. Building was slow (not helped by the 2008 crash) and the first houses weren't completed until 2012. Building work then stalled again, but looks to now be going strong.
Wells: Tessa Munt confirmed that she wished to stand again. Yeovil: Paddy Ashdown at #LibDemPint singled out one person – Daisy Benson – to say what an excellent candidate for Yeovil she would make.
Today is Bi Visibility Day - which, since 1999, has been a day to celebrate and recognise bisexuality (and pansexuality), the bisexual community and bisexual history. Initially set up by three activists in the USA - Wendy Curry, Michael Page and Gigi Raven Wilbur - to challenge what they considered to be "bi invisibility", Bi Visibility Day is now celebrated internationally and helps to raise awareness of the issues bi people face. Bi Visibility Day is more than a celebration - it's a powerful statement. And it's one that's as relevant today as it was 16 years ago. It's about ...
The right for everyone to have a decent home is emerging as one of the big themes of Tim Farron's leadership. It is the subject of his first Party Political Broadcast as leader, which you can view below. As well as packing a punch in terms of the theme, it is also a well presented broadcast. Tim is relaxed and seems normal. * 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.
Regular readers of my blog (both of you!) will know that I usually write a blog like this at the end of a Party Conference. Because I never feel that I have been to the same conference as the journalists. ... Continue reading →
Wednesday: In a change to our schedule, we managed to arrive at Lib Dem Conference twenty minutes early this morning! Almost abandoned, we found the BBC stall in the exhibition manned by... Sir Ming Campbell. That's the Lib Dem dedication to the BBC. Here's the speech I didn't get to deliver to the emergency motion "Protecting the BBC": Conference, we are like the Time Lords in Doctor Who: almost extinct but still saving the world I'd protect the Beeb for Doctor Who alone, but let me give you three other reasons to support them: 1 soft power2 economic growth3 ensure ...
It will no doubt come as an unpleasant surprise to my former New Economics Foundation colleagues, perhaps even a shock, but - as far as I can make out - green economics emerged, rather as neoliberal economics did, out of a resistance to conventional Keynesianism. The early pioneers of sustainable economics, Ralph Borsodi in the USA or Fritz Schumacher in the UK, were in flight from Keynes. Borsodi even wrote a book about what he called the 'coming Keynesian catastrophe'. This resistance was, in some ways, the spark that lit the counter-culture, the resistance to the idea of state planning ...
Wed 23rd
08:55
You won't believe what happened to this woman's cat when she found a pothole in her drive after watc...
[IMG: Kittens. CC0 Public domain] During an email training session at conference Cllr Iain Roberts made the point that email subject lines need to be good, but good may mean simple and straightforward – such as 'Local news from Iain' – rather than very clickbaity. The example he gave of a subject line you don't need to use was: This woman voted Liberal Democrat. You'll never guess the amazing thing that happened next. No cats? No Doctor Who? I think we can do a better clickbait job than that. The comments thread awaits...
Across Greater Manchester there are over 80,000 students. Over the coming weeks students will be starting at local colleges and universities, and many local young people will be starting college either nearby or away from home. Greater Manchester Police are urging new and returning students to stay safe as the new term begins. The police say: "Starting university is an exciting time for new students, and their arrival each year is what makes Greater Manchester such a vibrant and dynamic city to live in. Unfortunately, students are also susceptible to becoming victims of crime because each term they bring valuables ...
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 ...
Although, to date, I have featured West End Photopolis photographs, I'll now feature some City Centre ones. This Alexander Wilson photograph - below - shows the Dundee West Station (the third building on that site) with its distinctive clock tower in red sandstone. The goods yard stood to the south of the main station. To the right of the picture is Mathers' Commercial Hotel, Whitehall Place, built in 1898 to plans by Robert Hunter. Previously Mathers had had a temperance hotel in Whitehall Street, but increased trade required a bigger building. The Caledonian Railway's carting department was run by Wordie ...
The Mersey Rivers Basin Trust has been working to raise awareness about water quality / habitat / ecology issues around the rivers and lakes of our region. [IMG: Mersey-Area] The Trust is holding it's first "official" event this coming Sunday on the River Irwell at Dumers Lane in Radcliffe, everyone is welcome to join in and help keep our rivers clean. Start and finish times are 10.30am until 2pm. (please bring strong shoes, and wear old clothes!!) Sunday 27th Sept 2015- River Irwell river bank clean up session. Meet at River Irwell bridge at Dumers Lane, Bury, M26 2QJ Also ...
The Mersey Rivers Basin Trust has been working to raise awareness about water quality / habitat / ecology issues around the rivers and lakes of our region. [IMG: Mersey-Area] The Trust is holding it's first "official" event this coming Sunday on the River Irwell at Dumers Lane in Radcliffe, everyone is welcome to join in and help keep our rivers clean. Start and finish times are 10.30am until 2pm. (please bring strong shoes, and wear old clothes!!) Sunday 27th Sept 2015- River Irwell river bank clean up session. Meet at River Irwell bridge at Dumers Lane, Bury, M26 2QJ Also ...
Today is Tim Farron's first party conference speech as leader of the Liberal Democrats. As I had the privilege of helping Nick Clegg with his final party conference leader's speech, it seems like a good day to tell you about it. It started on Wednesday 12 November 2014, when mankind did something incredible. For two [...]
A new planning applications has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Application Number: 59107 Registration Date: 10/09/2015 Location: 127 Heywood Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1LF Proposal: Conversion of attached garage into habitable room with front bay extension and new window at side Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with this. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim
A proposal for a single house adjacent to the castle on the Linney has been refused planning permission (15/00459/FUL). The proposed development has been given the nickname 'hobbit house' by the press because it would have been partially buried. However, it was a development in the setting of Ludlow Castle. That proved to be its [...]
Scottish Liberal Democrat party broadcasts have previously been in the, shall we say, Blake's 7 school of production values. That's not to say that there wasn't great content, but it came across as homely. Well, all that's changed with the new broadcast being aired tonight. Here's a tiny snippet. You'll be able to watch it on tv and on here later. What do you think? * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
In England, Liberal Democrats are working on a coherent and robust plan for building 300,000 houses a year for many years to come.Welsh Liberal Democrats have also put housing at the top of their agenda. Peter Black AM writes:Labour's poverty of ambition is preventing many people from getting on the housing ladder. Yesterday in the National Assembly, Welsh Lib Dem Leader Kirsty Williams AM challenged the First Minister over his government's failure to build enough affordable homes. The Welsh Liberal Democrats is the only party with the ideas and ambition to tackle Wales' housing crisis.We have a plan to double ...
VAT on small hotels and holiday attractions should be drastically slashed to boost tourism. The party would reduce the tax from 20 per cent to just 5 per cent to further help the industry. This is part of a Liberal Democrat plan to make the UK more attractive as a holiday direction and create a jobs revolution in the sector. It means the UK would follow the lead of 25 of 28 EU member states who have cut VAT on tourist accommodation and attractions. The issue was proposed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats at the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference and ...
