I have big issues with this article. This article focusses wholly on fees, rather than the marketisation of Higher Education and the impact that this will and already does have on universities and students. Yes the fees debate has clouded the wider debate around marketisation, but I'd suggest that Cameron waited to announce the HE Green [...]
My colleague Cllr Sonya Hawkins asked me to take the photos of the Swalwell Remembrance service on Sunday. So at 9.30am I was at the war memorial with camera. Photos can be seen on the album above. The timing was perfect as it allowed me to get to the Whickham Remembrance Day parade which was meeting up next to Front Street School. I handed over the camera to David. He was to take the photos
I posted part 1 the other day.
John Dilley, former editor of the Harborough Mail, is using the archive of that newspaper and its predecessor to paint a picture of the town during the First World War. His latest article has reached November 1915 and the debate on conscription: In one story headlined 'Mr J W Logan MP and the call for men', the Harborough MP who presided over a recruiting meeting at Enderby once again argues against conscription in favour of voluntary action. The report says: "He was, as he always had been, dead against conscription, but the best way to prevent it coming was to ...
Whilst we are unlikely to win the Oldham West and Royton by-election, we must fight it as though it were a target constituency and make sure that we put in the financial and human resource that this approach implies. How we perform in this by-election matters more than people think. We must take this early opportunity to demonstrate our ability to bounce back from a crushing general election result and remind the electorate that we still exist. It's an opportunity to experiment with our new 'core' campaign messages and take on board any learning that arises from that. We have ...
Shropshire History has some good resources on the county's old mines, particularly the lead mines around the Stiperstones that have long been one of this blog's obsessions. Take this account of the politics of the lead-mining country: Local political feeling ran strongly at times and elections were occasionally accompanied by violence between bands of rival villagers. The Hope Valley was a Tory stronghold whilst Snailbeach was staunchly for the Liberals. The supporters of each party were in the habit of attempting to prove their superiority by punching the heads of their supposed inferiors.
In August, as it was becoming clear that Jeremy Corbyn was going to win Labour's leadership election, I blogged about five consequences of that development. It is early days, but the predictions I made there seem to be holding up reasonably well. One, however, needs to be revisited. I wrote: Whether the Liberal Democrats like it or not, they will be seen as a centre party.But so far it hasn't turned out quite like that. In part this is because the campaigns the Lib Dems have taken up under Tim Farron - cuts to tax credits, refugees, government surveillance - ...
Give Cameron credit. He bows deep. To a regime that beheads gays and exports extremism that threatens our citizens. @OwenJones84
For too long UK corporations have dogged their taxation duties. Corporations want stable successful societies and the successful economies that result. This relies on taxation to fund key parts that ensure we have a civilised caring successful society. But they want everyone else to pay taxes to make this possible. As a Lib Dem I'm clear that our policies to ensure everyone takes their rightful place in funding public services by: Introducing a general anti-avoidance rule outlying contrived structures of companies designed purely or largely to avoid tax. Implementing the planned new offence of corporate failure to present economic crime, ...
A sequel to The Time Monster, featuring the Sixth Doctor, Mel and the Ainley!Master, and a host of other references to other Who stories, the epitome of "fanwank" (a term Hinton himself invented). Actually rather good fun, which is impressive given how awful the original story is, with a high point being the splintering of the narrative into various potential parallel realities where the history of the universe has worked out differently. Hinton also does a good job of capturing the Sixth Doctor. The Home Secretary has the same name as a prominent Doctor Who fan, but when I checked ...
[IMG: cubbington pear] It was announced on the BBC Countryfile programme on Sunday evening that a 250-year old pear tree in Cubbington, Warwickshire had been voted as England's Tree of the Year 2015 in a public vote organised by the Woodland Trust. The ancient tree will have to be destroyed in order to build the HS2 line between London and Birmingham. Who cares, supporters of HS2 may cry? Isn't it the ultimate bit of nimbyism to raise a fuss about an old tree standing in the way of progress? The reason why the planned destruction of the Cubbington pear tree ...
Guy Verhofstadt heads the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament and is the former Prime Minister of Belgium. In the Independent he examines David Cameron's stance on Europe under the headline "EU referendum: David Cameron should spell it out. He wants a two-speed Europe". He writes: This week, or so we are told, the Prime Minister will set out his Christmas list of EU reforms to the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk. A broad agreement on the UK's renegotiation package is envisaged at the December summit of European leaders. There will be battles and setbacks ...
Gatley Station will see two small improvements over the next few months. The ticket office door will be changed to an automatic door. And a proper cycle stand will be installed for bike parking. These are both small things, on top of other improvements at the station over the last few years. While it's good news, it doesn't take away from the need for a new Cheadle station, an orbital tram-train route including Cheadle and Gatley and a more frequent train service.
Meols Ward Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton and Jo Barton are holding their next advice centre on Saturday 14th November from 11 am to 12 noon at St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in. We also hold a monthly advice centre in Churchtown, at Cafe Moo Moo on Cambridge Road (by the junction with Preston New Road, next to Boots) on the fourth Thursday of every month (except December) from 10:30 - 11:30 am.
I was personally impressed by the article in last Wednesday's Guardian by Labour's Pat McFadden MP, which challenged the Brexiters to spell out just what life would be like for us if we chose to leave the European Union. Coupled with the recent sensible remarks from his party colleague, everyone's favourite ex-postie, Alan Johnson MP, and the furious back tracking of Messrs Cameron and Osbourne, it gives me hope that all like minded people WILL bury their differences and show a united front against forces both political and popular that seem to think that we can throw our weight around ...
[IMG: Kate Parminter] Kate Parminter has written in the Huffington Post about her campaign against puppy farming. Under the headline "Parliament Must Do the Right Thing and Do What It Takes to Bring the Horrific Practice of Puppy Farming to a Halt" she writes: Our nation's love of dogs and the way we care for our pets often brings out the very best in human nature. But sadly when it comes to breeding, it can also bring out the worst. For most people, care for animals is instinctive, coming from a deep understanding of their vulnerability and need for love ...
Yesterday, The Daily Mail ran an article entitled, "Ukip on brink of going bust: Party hit by huge fall in members after flop election", which sort of did what it said on the tin. While one should always be careful not to take too much account of what the Mail might say about anything, the relevant facts the article points out, such as UKIP's notable drop in membership since the general election (a quarter of members departing), and a significant drop in funds from donors compared to pre-election (which makes some sense given they would have expected to get the ...
Not that long ago there was a rail connected Container Base in Bootle served by the presently mothballed North Mersey Branch line which runs between Aintree Station and the Liverpool – Southport line between New Strand and Litherland Stations. At one time this line ran all the way down to the docks and at the Aintree end on to Fazakerley and beyond. Oh how those planning for the vastly increased freight traffic from Peel's River Berth at Seaforth must be regretting the loss of each end of what would now be a very useful railway line. As I say the ...
Support for multilevel governance seems a prerequisite for any Lib Dem. Devolution from the centre to the periphery, from Westminster to Holyrood and the Welsh Assembly is one example. There has also been devolution upwards to the supranational institutions such as the EU Statesman are no longer the preserve of government; governance is now very much a fixed concept. However, there has been devolution or delegation to other institutions besides devolved bodies and the EU. The Bank of England's independence is an interesting point in case. If LDV readers do support Central Bank Independence as a theoretical concept in the ...
[IMG: Alistair Carmichael speech Jan 2014] Today the Election Court will be sitting in Edinburgh to hear witnesses in the legal challenge, as we explained here. It is expected to carry on for 4 days. At the end of the process the court will report to the House of Commons, and any action will be decided by them. The hearing will not be in public this time, apart from the summing up. Apparently tweeting has been banned. Back in May, Alistair issued this statement.
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
The long-awaited revamp of St Albans City Rail Station hinges on a crucial funding decision that will be made next month . Station operator Govia Thameslink Railways (GTR) has applied for £5 million from a special Department for Transport (DfT) fund. The money would provide more than two-thirds of the finance required to carry out [...]
[IMG: Lib-Dem-logo] As part of the Agenda 2020 policy process, the party is holding an essay contest asking for 1000 words on 'what does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today?' This is my entry to it, written in a rush as the deadline came near, and you can see other people's efforts on Liberal Democrat Voice. Liberal Democrats want to give more freedom to everyone to enable them to live their own lives. However, we also know that freedom for individuals is not enough, and that it must be combined with breaking down the unaccountable powers of the ...
I have mentioned before, perhaps too much, my conversation in 2000 with a prominent minister in Tony Blair's cabinet about my book The Tyranny of Numbers. I told him I was writing a book that was sceptical about numbers and counting. But what else can we do, he asked? I remember his look of confusion. It was as if he would have liked to approve but just couldn't. Since then the controversy about targets has almost left me on the winning side, yet somehow without anyone taking on the basic argument about measuring the unmeasurable with numbers. It's a paradox, ...
These bungalows at 94/96 London Road are owned by the Council. They appear to have been empty and derelict for some time. The plan is to use the site to build a block of Council flats in line with a target of 500 new homes by 2018. There are several other developments in the pipeline, so [...]
Tonight sees another milestone in the short history of Football Club United of Manchester, or FCUM for short. When they line-up against Chesterfield live on TV this evening in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper it will be the first time that they have staged a cup-tie against Football League opponents at their new... More FC United Show The Way For Fan Ownership
A key part of the new cycle route – to allow quiet and off-road cycling from Gatley to Cheadle, Stockport and into Manchester – is being put in shortly after negotiations were completed with the landowners. Here is the information the Council is sending out. https://www.scribd.com/doc/289079980/Brentwood-cycle-path
Whilst I write this, I sit in a classroom near central Cairo along with a group of 25 mostly Egyptian students. As part of a Model United Nations conference, they are discussing terrorism in Central and Western Africa. They do so not in their native Arabic, but in English - and across the corridor, there is a similar discussion being conducted in French. They have researched the countries they are representating, they are speaking confidently and knowledgeably about the topic, and they show more respect for each other in their debating skills than many of their adult counterparts. Their ages ...
This article over on the Times website by Isabel Hardman is aimed at analysing the freedoms that backbenchers have taken for themselves under Jeremy Corbyn's chaotic and ultra-relaxed leadership style. What it also does is demonstrate how the Corbynistas have virtually given up trying to run the Parliamentary Labour Party and are seeking to exercise their influence in the constituencies instead. Isabel Hardman starts by pointing out that Jeremy Corbyn doesn't really use the formal parliamentary office allocated to the leader of the opposition. It iss now a friendly meeting area, while he works in a smaller room near by. ...
There was one hold and one loss for the Liberal Democrats in principal council by-elections last week. The party successfully held it's seat in Clifton and Maidenway ward in Torbay (UA), as former local MP Adrian Sanders secured an impressive 26.5% swing from the Conservatives to take victory with 69.2% of votes cast. However, the party could [...]
[IMG: ALDC getting stuck in at Oldham West and Royton] The campaign for Oldham West and Royton got underway this weekend with Tim Farron launching the campaign to a large crowd of Lib Dem activists! Jane Brophy, ALDC member and Councillor in Trafford, is the candidate for the Lib Dems and is an absolutely fantastic campaigner. If you are interested in seeing the buzz for [...]
The Federal Policy Committee is searching for members with an interest and/or some relevant expertise in the issues around Trident and nuclear weapons to join a policy working group. At Federal Conference in Bournemouth, Conference passed this amendment to the Trident motion: 1. Commission a Policy Working Group to develop policy on the future of Britain's nuclear deterrent, if any, following a full consultation within the party. 2. Include within the remit of the working group consideration of: a) A full assessment of potential strategic threats to the UK. b) Prospects for the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and ...
[IMG: The LGA Lib Dems support Liberal Democrat council groups across the country] If you have not already been made aware the allocation of around £9billion in EU funding is currently being distributed to the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) around the country. This to fund projects that focus on issues such as youth unemployment & skills, supporting SMEs, driving a low carbon economy and combatting access to IT. [...]
RightsInfo has produced a great set of posters setting out our human rights and the background to them. Here's the one about right to liberty: [IMG: ECHR Article 5 poster - large] See the full set of human rights posters here.
[IMG: The LGA Lib Dems support Liberal Democrat council groups across the country] Tim Farron's Housing and Planning Bill Speech In case you missed it, you can see what Tim Farron had to say last week over the Government plans to decimate our social housing stock here during the second reading of the Bill: http://www.libdems.org.uk/tim-farrons-speech-housing Government Plan to give control of Fire Services to Police and Crime [...]
Do you know someone who could be Dundee's Citizen of the Year? The City Council welcomes nominations for the award and you can use the form to put forward the name of someone you think deserves the title. The Citizen of the Year award is likely to go to someone who has provided outstanding service to the community, normally on a voluntary basis. The judges will be looking in particular for selfless service to a voluntary body or the community or someone whose service brings distinction and quality to everyday life in Dundee. There is no age barrier, but if ...
This post may seem like the work of a complete egomaniac, so let me make something clear upfront — I don't expect any significant number of award nominations (by which I mean any more individuals nominating me than I can count on one hand). But three friends of mine have told me they intend to [...]
Meet King Bansah: Part-Time Monarch, Full-Time Auto Mechanic Modern monarchy. (tags: ghana germany ) To the parliamentary staffer upset about our new charges A lesson in online economics. (tags: ireland internet politics ) Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution at the National Maritime Museum I'll go to this if I can. (tags: pepys history ) Ukip is 'on the brink of going bust' Oh *dear*. (tags: ukpolitics )
If you can't read the text (taken from a poster on the rear end of a speeding bus in Kingston) it says: Above the picture of a boy and pilot "Speed on the wing. For a life in the air." Above the picture of a girl and woman "Testing materials. For a life in fashion." You can presumably find out more about their equal opportunities policy at www.stgeorgesweybridge.com
This artist's illustrations of monsters teach us a valuable lesson about empathy. Why your phone battery is rubbish Solidarity with my trans sisters & brothers & bollocks to the petition to drop 'T' from 'LGBT' Maybe TERFS should disassociate themselves from the LGBT community FBI's flawed forensics expert testimony: Hair analysis, bite marks, fingerprints, arson. No, Spooning Isn't Sexist. The Internet Is Just Broken. Ukip is 'on the brink of going bust' - oh what a terrible tragedy [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are vowing to bring transparency to Labour's Welsh Government by publishing ministerial decision reports, a service previously scrapped by Labour's First Minister. The Government's decision reports were often used by journalists and opposition parties to scrutinise decisions made by Labour Ministers. When Welsh Lib Dem Leader Kirsty Williams challenged the First Minister in the Senedd when the service was scrapped in September; he claimed the decision was made because not enough people were visiting the site. The Welsh Lib Dems have begun obtaining statements that would have otherwise been published by the Welsh Government under the ...
