Conservatives miss the trick Liberal Democrats announce that they will submit a fatal motion with regards to the Statutory Instrument intended to facilitate dramatic cuts in tax credits for working people. In response, the Conservatives say that the future of the House of Lords is in jeopardy. Many Liberal Democrats respond, "And the problem is?"... Something to listen to Never let it be said that we are without culture, here at 'Liberal Bureaucracy. Here's a little something from the works of Stefano Landi... On this day... in 2011 I was, much to your surprise, no doubt, thinking about a constitution ...
David Boyle is worried about what will happen when people protest against the new Chinese-financed Hinkley Point nuclear power station: "What does the government do? Treat these demonstrators in a tolerant English way and risk offending our Chinese paymasters? Or will the government be required, by some secret or assumed agreement, to behave in a far more heavy-handed Chinese way towards them." Sarah Noble says the Women's Equality Party promises a surveillance state in the name of liberal feminism. Abuse is killing Twitter, says Umair Haque. Mimi Matthews on the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show. "London's waterways are audibly part ...
In January 1966 the Spencer Davis Group, fronted by a 17-year-old Steve Winwood, knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts with this song, which was written by Jackie Edwards. It was recorded on 21 October 1965, which means it is exactly 50 years old. I like to think it does not sound dated in the way that a song from 1915 must have done in 1965, Or am I just getting old.?
Congratulations to Liz Barker, named this evening as Peer of the Year by PinkNews. The winners are not yet on the organ's website yet, but Liz's nomination says: Baroness Barker has continued to be a strong advocate for LGBT rights within Parliament. Late in 2014, she led a debate on the health of lesbians which uncovered key areas where NHS provision should be improved. She has contributed to other debates on LGBT rights and is a frequent commentator on PinkNews. Having a former Liberator Collective member as a peer always seemed remarkable, so this may well be a sign that ...
The Lib Dem team in the House of Lords has announced that it will table a so-called "fatal motion" to the government's proposed tax credit reductions. Zahida Manzoor, our work and pensions spokesperson, will table the motion, which would decline to approve the regulations. If passed, the government will have to come up with a revised version of its proposals. The motion is additional to a motion by Labour peer, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, which would decline to approve the Tax Credit cut unless the Government puts in place transitional measures. Lib Dem peers will support Patricia Hollis's amendment but ...
The Women's Equality Party, the brainchild of Sandi Toksvig, officially launched to luvvie acclaim yesterday. But the cracks in the sheen were showing while the journalists were eating their canapés. Not only does their policy document not talk about trans women' equality needs at all - a major omission given the two mainstream parties with comprehensive policy, one with developing policy, and one with a Select Committee - their policy on sex work came out with a left-field proposal nobody is seriously considering: But freeing women from sexual exploitation also means providing safe alternatives for all those currently reliant on ...
At the beginning of the month, my better half and I managed to get away for a few days in Cyprus. There are a number of places that we always seem to go back to, with Pafos Castle (below) and Kourion (I've blogged about it here) high on the list. But if I'm being honest, you can definitely have too ...
Blood test 08.00, haematology appointment 10.00, saw the consultant 10.50. Blood results last 9 readings 21.10 5.10 18.09 10.09 3.07 17.06 9.06 27.05 25.03 Normal Hb 107 95 106 81 104 107 93 96 98 130-180 WBC 1.8 1.95 2.53 2.39 2.85 2.85 2.55 2.91 3.15 4.5-10.0 N'phils 0.8 0.87 1.05 1.02 1.16 1.17 1.14 1.3 1.57 2.0-7.5 Plt 202 225 2.41 2.41 249 232 296 342 369 150-450 As platelets were down slightly it was thought safe to reduce hydroxycarbamide from 3 times a week to twice a week. With luck this could prevent or slow down fall in ...
Too many of Labour's leaders, some of them even in the shadow cabinet, are vying to dissociate themselves from Jeremy Corbyn's policies. Could it be that they don't want him to succeed? Could it be that Corbyn's success would demonstrate that New Labour under Blair was, not necessarily all but mostly, a terrible mistake? Norman Warner, a Labour member of the House of Lords, this week went further than most and actually left the party, claiming that under Corbyn Labour "hasn't a hope in hell." Lord Warner is a former civil servant in the Department of Health and (presumably after ...
I am delighted to announce that Ben Williams will be joining my Leader's Office team as my permanent chief of staff. He joins my PA, the brilliant Christine, Sam who helps me with me correspondence and my press officer Paul to fully staff my office. Natasha sadly leaves us at the end of the week but will, I am in no doubt, go on to bigger things. Ben was the standout candidate and brings a wealth of experience at all levels of the party from council campaigner to Head of Liberal Democrat Whips' Office and latterly a Special Adviser. Everyone ...
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
A new book, which charts the remarkable transformation of Arizona State University, offers lessons for university leaders in the UK. Last month's publication of the latest Times Higher World University Rankings triggered the usual flurry of activity by university spin doctors. And for good reason. As the influence of league tables grows on prospective students, their parents, policymakers and the wider public, universities are keen to celebrate their rise, or defend their fall, in an increasingly competitive higher education environment. Debates continue about the merits and methodologies of such ranking exercises. Stephen Curry wrote recently in the Guardian about the ...
The prospect of the Government being defeated in the House of Lords over cuts to tax credits has apparently provoked some angry Conservatives to threaten drastic action against the upper chamber. The Independent reports that Government sources have told the Huffington Post that they may suspend the House of Lords or flood the chamber with Tory peers to ensure the cuts, due to come into force next April, are passed. An 'insider' is reported to have told the website: "If they do this, they will turn this from being a matter about tax credits into a huge constitutional issue of ...
Earlier this month, Nick Clegg wrote for Spanish newspaper El Pais about the need to totally change the way we deal with drug use. Liberal Youth Scotland co-president Hannah Bettsworth, a final year Spanish student, has kindly translated it for us. On 19th April next year, United Nations member states will hold a special session in New York to discuss the future of the world's drugs policy. The starting pistol for government negotiations around the summit was fired last week, in a meeting at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. The last time an event of this importance was ...
13,500 families across Stockport borough will lose out under Conservative plans to cut tax credits. Figures produced by the House of Commons Library show over three million low income working families currently in receipt of tax credits will see their entitlement reduced, as part of the Government's proposals. The change will mean a total loss of over £14m to families across Stockport, with the average family losing £750 a year. Despite claims from the Conservatives that those affected will benefit from plans to increase the minimum wage, the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has said Tory figures don't stack up. ...
[IMG: ALDC's campaign pack encourages local campaigners to make the most of the Localism Act in their communities] The Localism Act contains a huge number of opportunities for Liberal Democrat campaigners and councillors to work with the communities within their wards to improve the area. There are three things that are probably the best for campaigning purposes: 1. Ability for community and voluntary groups to bid to run local services if they wish. [...]
I have blogged here many times at the way that the minority Welsh Labour Government have been let off the hook over and over again as a result of the failure of the three opposition parties in the Assembly to work together. Yesterday's approval of the Local Government Bill was a classic example of that failure. The Welsh Government had earlier withdrawn this pointless Bill because they could not guarantee that it would be passed. The Bill facilitates voluntary mergers of local councils but the likelihood of any coming forward is now zero, following the rejection of three bids earlier ...
[IMG: Back to the Future film series logo] This is a post aimed at those of us who were around in the '80s when the Back to the Future films first came out. Today, of course, is the day Marty McFly and Dr Emmett Brown arrived in the future. People are marking the occasion in all sorts of ways. One of my favourites was Ayrshire Police's post this morning – although it was in fact 12 hours early, it was a savvy use of social media. They posted on Facebook: About 0728 hours today, Wednesday 21st October 2015, police received ...
So ..... building work has started on a new primary school on the former hospital site on Thorpe Road, Peterborough. Although technically, it's NOT a new school, as the new building will house West Town Primary Academy who are relocating from Williamson Avenue. The Council says the new building will open in 2016 (presume September?) and provide places for [...]
[IMG: Europe-campaign] With the referendum on the UK's continued membership of the European Union (EU) likely to take place during 2016 the party launched its EU campaign at Federal Party Conference. We will be running our own Lib Dem campaign and working alongside the cross-party Stronger IN campaign. A number of ALDC members have asked for guidance [...]
4,600 families in Dulwich & West Norwood will lose out under Conservative plans to cut tax credits. Figures produced by the House of Commons Library show over three million low-income working families currently in receipt of tax credits will see their entitlement reduced, as part of the Government's proposals. The change will mean a total loss of over £6 million to families in Dulwich & west Norwood, with the average local family losing £750 a year. Despite claims from the Conservatives that those affected will benefit from plans to increase the minimum wage, the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has ...
Wed 21st
12:55
Farron and Davey attack Tories' "systematic unravelling" of our commitment to tackle climate change
Tim Farron and Ed Davey have written to Davey's Conservative successor as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd to challenge her on her record so far of undermining practically everything the Liberal Democrats brought to the table. They warn her that her actions jeopardise the UK's chances of meeting legally binding climate change targets. Their full letter is published below: We are writing to you regarding our concerns for the future of Britain's renewable industries and our global leadership on climate change. We are utterly appalled at the systematic unravelling of the renewables industries that is ...
At the start of the month I reported that the Duke of Rutland was standing in a rather esoteric by-election - one to fill a vacancy for a hereditary peer to sit on the crossbenches in the Lords. Mark Pack has the results. The Duke was one of 12 candidates not to get a single vote. The winner was Lord Oaksey, who must be the son of the racing broadcaster. Lord Bonkers adds: One mustn't gloat. Oh dear me no. There will be no gloating here over the fact that the Duke failed to get a single vote. No gloating ...
[IMG: Cllr. John Dodd] Cllr. John Dodd Southport Lib Dem Meols ward councillor John Dodd, who has been raising concerns about the savage cuts that are being proposed for Merseyside Police Force, has sent me the letter below which is sobering frightening and extremely worrying all at the same time. John received the letter from Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy. ***** 13th October 2015 Dear Colleague It is with great disappointment that I am writing to let you know that Merseyside Police are being forced to consider cutting PCSO jobs, disband the mounted section and the basic command ...
As today is, as everyone who has access to the Internet is aware, the date on which Marty McFly arrives in the future from 1985 in Back to the Future II, I was reminded of my one real problem with the Back to the Future films by a conversation about this with Philip Purser-Hallard. To [...]
After nine years of government attacks on Canadian research, the science community is looking forward to a fresh start under Justin Trudeau. There was a palpable outpouring of relief from Canadian scientists as the Liberal Party won a majority on Monday night, bringing to an end nine years of escalating hostility by the Harper government towards its own research base. Drastic cuts to funding and constraints on scientific freedom have significantly damaged Canadian research and its capacity to develop science-based public health and environmental policies. Harper's assault on science was extensive: with government scientists censored, budgets chopped, data monitoring programs ...
Editor's Note: The party is currently running an essay competition for members of the Liberal Democrats, to submit 1000 words on the theme "What it means to be a Liberal Democrat today." The deadline for contributions is 2nd November. If you would like us to publish your submission, send it to voice@libdemvoice.org.uk. What it means to be a Liberal Democrat today, to me, is about fairness, equality and freedom. Freedom for all us to be who we wish to be and to develop our talents to the full. Equality that no matter who we are, our origins, our abilities or ...
[IMG: Screenshot_20151021-084814] This weekend we did a lot of driving around areas where we've never been before. I use Google Map for my navigation including the OK Google voice search from the lock screen for ease of use. As I tend to view Google Maps with the satellite layer it comes on when using navigation. Yesterday I got my bill from Vodafone, and whilst logged in I took a look at my current usage and it said: Data 1.16 of 4GB used You'll get a new allowance on 16 Nov 2015 This meant in four days I used over a ...
I am left pretty exasperated. I first became interested in politics around 2008. Since then the standing of ideals and principles I hold dear has diminished greatly, and the politics of this country has gone down a path I could neither predict, nor in good faith call healthy. Most of us who take a keen interest in politics do so because ultimately we genuinely care (true of those with opposing views too), which is why it's so hard to watch all of this happen.
Back during the General Election our then Conservative candidate said this to the local paper: Which of your parties specific policies do you LEAST agree with? Will Quince (CONSERVATIVE): "I PLEDGE to be an independent-minded MP and will always put my constituents first. If that means voting against my party, then so be it. There will always be difficult decisions to take but I will never forget that the people of Colchester are my boss." As I noted at the time, this was a prime example of not actually answering the question. Rather than actually mentioning Tory policies he disagrees ...
It is an odd quirk of the British political system that the alternative vote (AV) is used for electing members of Parliament – it's just that it is only use in by-elections for hereditary peers. Hence this recent glorious contest in which 10 of the 17 candidates received zero votes. Download this document
Norman Baker on what it was like to work with Simon Hughes (and reminding me of the occasion when I was working for the party and managed to turn up to a meeting on the right day, at the right hour and in the right room – just in the wrong month): [IMG: Norman Baker on working with Simon Hughes - extract from Against the Grain] From Norman Baker's very readable new political memoirs, Against the Grain which I'll be reviewing in the near future. To make sure you don't miss the review, sign up for my blog digests by ...
Once upon a time 'everyone' agreed that only aristocrats and landowners, of the male and pale persuasion, were fit to be in Parliament. Then we had a very British set of polite revolutions. Firstly, we agreed that middle class men could do the job, and after a struggle middle class women. Then we let a few well-connected working class people in. And every so often, we didn't get too bothered when a few BaME folk got involved – although not too many. That's a fairly roughshod run through of a few centuries of British political history, but we hope you ...
I described a kind of nightmare scenario yesterday where the UK leaves Europe and sells off its social security system, rather as England did in the 1530s. It is a strange repeat of history, this time as farce, starring George Osborne as Thomas Cromwell and, I suppose, David Cameron and Boris Johnson as Henry VIII (it takes two of them). But the truth is that the coming European struggle is not nearly as clear-cut as it ought to be - and I fear I am going to upset my regular Lib Dem readers (if there are any) by my quiet ...
The Wellcome Trust today unveils its new strategy, with a commitment to spend more and spend smarter in areas where it can make the biggest difference. A month out from the November spending review, Britain's scientists are braced for bad news. Rumours continue to swirl about another five years of flat budgets, a likely merger of research councils, and the culling of other funding bodies. Next Monday, the pressure group Science is Vital is hosting a rally at Conway Hall in London where prominent voices from across the research community will spell out the case for public investment. So in ...
As one who grew up in Canada, I was heartened to see this week's election got some attention in the UK. Most of this seemed to revolve around those on the centre-left praising the fall of Harper and the rise of Trudeau Jnr. While I can agree with them that seeing the back of Harper is good for the world, I do wonder about some of the comments on social media I've read. "A victory for the Left the world over" is one as is, "if Corbyn's policies were packaged inside a Justin Trudeau lookalike the media would be less ...
Now that Parliament has returned after the summer recess, the process of introducing the new Peers has come. And, to allow LDV readers to keep up with the new intake, here is the list of new Peers and when they are to be introduced; 26 October – Shas Sheehan (Baroness Sheehan) 27 October – Jonny Oates (Lord Oates) 5 November – Sir Menzies Campbell (Lord Campbell of Pittenweem) and Don Foster (Lord Foster of Bath) 10 November – Lorely Burt (Baroness Burt of Solihull) 19 November – Sir Malcolm Bruce (Lord Bruce of Bennachie) 23 November – Sir Alan Beith ...
From the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 : SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of crane lifting works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Abbotsford Street (from its junction with Seymour Street to approx. 100metres east), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Monday 26 October 2015 for 2 working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.Parking will be restricted for the duration of the work. Alternative routes are available via Seymour Street / Blackness Road / ...
There is good news for Ludlow's heritage with yesterday's announcement from Historic England that the Buttercross has been removed from its risk register. When last year's register was published, I said I was disappointed that the Grade I listed building was still considered at risk. Now, the Heritage at Risk 2015 Register confirms, by its [...]
Making the old even better off at the expense of the young is morally bankrupt | Conservative Home Didn't expect this from this source! (tags: ukpolitics ) Is the UK marginalised in the EU? Not particularly; but data only goes up to 2008... (tags: ukpolitics eu ) Jeb Bush's epic implosion: Why it's high time he gave up his presidential fantasy Gosh. (tags: uspolitics ) Distressed, ashamed and hopeless - the experience of being 'fit for work' British Govt's war on the poor. (tags: ukpolitics )
Osborne is all for renationalisation - so long as the nation isn't Britain Theresa May is putting at risk the 'fundamental values' she seeks to protect Manchester United stars Neville and Giggs tell hotel squatters: stay for winter [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
If you're pregnant, you should have the flu jab, regardless of the stage of pregnancy you've reached. Pregnant women are more prone to complications from flu that can cause serious illness for both mother and baby. Contact your GP today: http://goo.gl/qqwurd [IMG: pregnant flu]
Two posters from the police to put in your window on Halloween – one if you're happy for trick-or-treaters to call, the other if you'd prefer they missed your house out. If you've a colour printer, you can print out the one you want, or you can contact the police to get an original. Hello, trick-or-treaters welcome poster Sorry, no trick-or-treaters here poster The Police have issued advice for Halloween: Halloween Trick or treating? Go with an adult, visit those you know and respect others. Don't go alone, damage property or intimidate people. You don't have to open the door ...
