Land reform and support for the rights of crofters and tenant farmers has for over a century been a keystone Liberal value; a symbol of what the party has stood for. "The Land" with its clarion call for reform is the anthem of Liberalism. Since the days of Gladstone, the party has stood up against landowner vested interests, backed invariably by the Tories. Until now. This week in a Scottish Parliament committee on the Land Reform Bill, Jim Hume MSP for the Liberal Democrats voted with the Tories against enhanced protection for tenant farmers. As Scottish commentator Lesley Riddoch put ...
UPDATED DETAILS. LD seat. Cause: Death. LD candidate- Richard Williams.
Lib Dem seat. Cause: Death. LD candidate: Maggie Allingham
UPDATED DETAILS. LD seat. Cause: Death. LD candidate- Janice Asman.
Conservative seat. Cause: Resignation. LD candidate- Ollie Purkiss. There will be an Action Day on Saturday 30th January from 10am to 5pm. Please contact Ollie Purkiss (07776 130031, libdems@purkissmail.com) or Heather Hullah (07706 075724, heather.hullah@zen.co.uk) for further details.
UPDATED DETAILS. Labour seat. Cause: Death. LD candidate- Christopher Glenn.
Labour seat. Cause: Death. Prospective LD Candidate: Hina Malik Hina Malik, an aeronautical engineer, former teacher of the local primary school and public relations professional (own company). Hina knows the Labour party well and is passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless. Labour has taken residents for granted for too long. She is campaigning for more youth facilities, against anti-social behaviour and for women's empowerment. You can join Hina's team this weekend between 2-5pm Saturday and Sunday, meeting at her house 1 Brunel Close, Cranford TW5 9RP. Contact phone number is 07958 277991 Email: hinamalik68@gmail.com
Labour seat. Cause: Death. Prospective LD Candidate: Gary Veevers Contact: Warren Fox warrenlfox@hotmail.co.uk
Conservative seat. Cause: Resignation. Prospective LD candidate: Laiqa Brown Contact Tessa Munt on 01934 440639 or text 07714 599669 or email tessa.in.touch@gmail.com
Last month I publish a video of Watford West in its final days. This one from Londonist shows that station and the whole branch as they are today, awaiting revival as part of the Metropolitan line.
[IMG: Spring Conference Agenda 2016] The full agenda and directory for the Spring Conference in York is out now. All the details of motions, training and fringe meetings are inside. A few points to note: The Exhibition, which had originally been cut, has been reinstated. Leave.EU and the Lib Dem InTogether campaign will be no doubt glowering atmospherically at each other across the room. The photos of the Federal Executive were supposed to be in the agenda, but seem to have been left out for some reason. People should know who their federal representatives are. However, there will be an ...
Time to catch up with one of this blog's heroes, At the start of the month Jonathan Meades had an article in the London Review of Books reviewing two books on Nazi Germany: Hitler at Home by Despina StratigakosSpeer: Hitler's Architect by Martin KitchenUnlike many earlier authors, neither Kitchen nor Meades tries to exonerate Speer of his crimes. Meades writes Speer's earliest war crimes were largely restricted to evicting Jews from properties that Nazis coveted or which might provide shelter for bombing victims. He also effected the demolition of many homes to make way for the bloated white elephant of ...
On the Today programme, Nick Clegg compared the "dragnet" approach of Theresa May's Investigatory Powers Bill to the way things happen in Russia. During the Coalition years, Nick had stopped the Conservatives from introducing a "snooper's charter." It's worth remembering that he was going to let it through until a conference call with some angry bloggers who understood the technology, and the intervention of people like Julian Huppert, made him think twice. But once he's changed his mind, he was good to his word and held May off for 3 years. The Guardian quotes him as saying this morning: He ...
All the documents for the forthcoming Liberal Democrat conference in York are now published, including the detailed agenda and the consultation paper about how the party is governed and structured. That latter includes the latest, slow but steady, progress on one of my long-standing issues – reducing the level of secrecy about the party's committee meetings and improving the reporting back to members about what is being done in their name. It also raises again the question of whether the Liberal Democrats should have an elected Deputy Leader – something which David Howarth and I put the case for, and ...
Embed from Getty Images 'Time and tide wait for no man' It comes. It goes. There's only three things certain in life: Death, taxes and "Farming Today" Moonlight. Jupiter. Mars. We eat. We drink. We "get on with it" We make the best fist of things We come amidst a blaze of glory Then we go It's that simple Complexity doesn't help Cheers old friend! "Good health!" Share
The Lib Dem team would like to thank everyone who supported the campaign to save Stockport Courthouse, which we've found out today has been successful. The case our local magistrates put, along with the strong support from residents across Stockport borough, has forced the Government to change its mind and save the courthouse. Had it closed, Police would have wasted time ferrying defendants to Manchester, families would have had to make long and difficult journeys for family courts and we would have lost the facilities we need in our borough. Thank you to everyone who signed Keith's petition last autumn ...
I got this from the authors (all three of whom are friends of mine) back in 2009 when it was published. At that stage there seemed to be an opportunity for a breakthrough in the Cyprus problem; the Turkish Cypriot president, Mehmet Ali Talat (full disclosure: I was advising him from 2007 to 2010) had been elected in 2005 on a platform of securing a solution, and the newly elected Greek Cypriot president, Demetris Christofias, was ostensibly committed to doing the same. A People's Peace for Cyprus, published by the Centre for European Policy Studies (where I worked from 1999 ...
[IMG: Ian Fletcher in W1A] A follow-up to the very successful Twenty Twelve, W1A sees Ian Fletcher move to the post of Head of Values at the BBC in another satire that deftly mocks the language of PR, the mannerisms of management and the foibles of office life. The use of the BBC's real offices in New Broadcasting House (and a frenetic diversion into Old Broadcasting House in one episode), along with BBC personalities appearing as themselves, gives the show's mock-documentary approach just the right look. But what really matters is the substance underneath, which is a set of scripts ...
To mark the publication of The British General Election of 2015, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) hosted a panel debate on the election and its consequences at the Mile End Institute on Tuesday. Professor Philip Cowley from QMUL, one of the authors of the book, was joined by: Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, QMUL (chair)Matthew d'Ancona, Evening Standard columnist and chair of Bright Blue Lord (Spencer) Livermore, Director of Labour's 2015 election campaign Polly Mackenzie, former special advisor to the Deputy Prime MinisterThe Liberal Democrats featured more prominently that you might expect and there were telling observations about all ...
[IMG: Kirsty More Nurses Bill graphic] Kirsty Williams has ensured that Wales is the first nation in Europe to have legislation to guarantee safe staffing levels on hospital wards. Her bill is only the second private members' bill to make it into law. The first was by her Liberal Democrat colleague Peter Black. At Welsh conference the other day, Kirsty explained how a visit to an admissions ward with a family member allowed her to see at first hand the stress that the nurses were under. There simply wasn't enough of them and Kirsty spoke to one nurse who had ...
Thu 11th
15:14
Shropshire's new council leader is determined your voice won't be heard at council meetings
Members of the public have always had a right to be heard at Shropshire Council meetings. Since the council was founded in 2009, public questions and petitions have been heard at the beginning of the meeting. That's going to change. The new council leader, Malcolm Pate, is determined to end any public participation in council... Continue reading Shropshire's new council leader is determined your voice won't be heard at council meetings →
Thu 11th
14:45
LibLink: Willie Rennie: SNP obduracy on using tax powers shows party is no champion of progressive p...
Willie Rennie's ambition for better education and health services in Scotland has been clear and so has his ambition to use the tax raising powers given to the Scottish Parliament. His plan for a penny on income tax for an almost half billion investment in education to introduce the Pupil Premium, extend nursery education and reverse cuts to college and schools funding. The SNP, having squealed blue murder for years about not having enough powers to do anything, fails to use them when they are given them. Willie often says these days that the SNP "talk left and walk right" ...
Yesterday I offered a sweepstake: the person who won could ask me to write 500 words on a topic of their choice. As it happens two people said exactly the same answer, so here is entry two of two. Kathleen asked me to write 500 words on "Top Gear lineups - past, actual, potential, ideal" The news today makes this a little easier; I have struggled to keep it near 500 words as it is. I've always loved Top Gear; I'm reasonably sure I watched it from birth. Angela Rippon is the first TG presenter I really remember, but I ...
Norman Lamb has commented on Jeremy Hunt's ill-advised decision to impose the controversial contract on junior doctors. He said: It is a mistake to force a new contract on junior doctors when there is clearly still such strong opposition to its terms. There is a serious risk that large numbers of junior doctors will leave the NHS to go and work abroad, which will have serious consequences for the health service and patient safety. Growing demand for services, coupled with a funding settlement which doesn't keep up, are the fundamental problems facing health and care and yet the Government is ...
[IMG: Dave Howel (the chap on the right of the photo) displays his historic Hornby tinplate collection at Christ Church, Waterloo not so long ago.] Dave Howel (the chap on the right of the photo) displays his historic Hornby tinplate collection at Christ Church, Waterloo not so long ago. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35538800 The BBC web site has the story – see link above Shares in model rail company Hornby tumbled by 62% after the firm warned of mounting losses following a "disappointing" start to the new year. The group – whose brands also include Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi – said recent UK ...
[IMG: Van Oord - Artemis in the Mersey] Van Oord – Artemis in the Mersey www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03j1dp0 This short BBC video (see link above) is well worth watching for a bird's eye view of Liverpool's waterways. The photo above is amongst my flicker shots at:- www.flickr.com/photos/86659476@N07/
Yesterday I offered a sweepstake: the person who won could ask me to write 500 words on a topic of their choice. As it happens two people said exactly the same answer, so here is entry one of two. Adelle asked me to write 500 words on "why you blog and what you get out of it OR puddings". Tempting as puddings are, I'm going for the former... First, a definition: as far as I am concerned, blogging does not just mean "writing a blog". That's part of it, certainly, but just as vital are reading other people's blogs, commenting ...
Following on from UKIP losing their only Welsh Councillor the BBC report that a petition calling for Nathan Gill to be removed as UKIP Wales leader has been sent to the party's ruling body. The BBC say that the petition claims there is "no coherent plan" to fight the campaign and "no effective leadership" in Wales. Apparently, more than twenty members had signed the petition, six of whom were general election candidates: "It is understood by all that UKIP in Wales is operated on the basis of mutual respect and understanding," the petition states. "In light of the extraordinary circumstances ...
Thu 11th
12:37Lord Paul Strasburger writes...Report shows that nobody thinks Home Office is right on investigatory...
Today the Joint Committee published its report on the draft Investigatory Powers Bill. This follows hot on the heels of the Intelligence and Security Committee report which was surprisingly critical of the serious shortcomings of the Bill given its previous rather relaxed approach - what a difference a new Chair makes, you could say. I was the only member of the Joint Committee that also sat on the Committee that looked at Theresa May's last attempt to legislate on surveillance powers – the ill-fated draft Communications Data Bill. The previous committee had twice as long to look at the Bill ...
Last week I was looking for something I had written a few years ago, and I found two essays that I had written in 2008. I was trying to clarify my thinking on economics, using the device of explaining the discipline to a non-economist. They were meant to be the start of a longer series, but alas the rest of life intruded. I have decided to publish them through this blog, and to try and extend the series. My blog posts are long enough (over 1,000 words a piece, usually), but they are not long enough to develop thinking properly. ...
I met with Bhante from Forest Hermitage on Sunday after his visit with Lyulph and Sue to the graveyard near Orpington. Bhante told me when he arrived at Flodden Road that he considered the graveyard suitable and we agreed that a small family interment ceremony would be held there as soon after my death as convenient. The family thought a memorial event would be nice at a later date. Two visits to King's this week (Monday and Tuesday) to have a unit of blood each time and on Tuesday, a unit of magnesium. It was exhausting. Kina came to see ...
Thu 11th
10:25
Liberal Democrat Newswire #76 is out, including the latest evidence on how to win elections
[IMG: Liberal Democrat Newswire logo] Liberal Democrat Newswire #76 came out last week, including the latest evidence on what really works in political campaigning (how to win elections is of course a subject after my own heart), a new pamphlet on what the Lib Dems should do next, a piece from Willie Rennie on his plans to improve diversity in Scotland, and more. You can now read it in full below, but if you'd like the convenience of getting it direct by email in future just sign up for it here: Email* Name First Last What would you like to ...
Few words stir the heart of the politically interested than 'a new politics', and quite right too, for who on earth wants the status quo? But the utterer of that rather normative phrase is immediately pitched a political challenge, to keep on board those who are the bedrock of their support, while also delivering something challenging enough to be new. Jeremy Corbyn is a man with far less personal ambition than he has integrity and honour, and that may be 'new' for a politician in the UK right now, but it is not enough to qualify as 'new politics'. To ...
Last night was almost 10 months after the Minster of Justice announced he would seek to introduce legislation to allow abortions in the case of Fatal Foetal Abnormality. This also came after some 18 months of careful examination of health and justice officials including a public consultation. However, despite all this oversight an review the DUP proposed...
As today is an in-service day at local schools, my usual ward surgery at Blackness Primary School does not take place but I can be contacted at any time at home on 459378 or by e-mail at surgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk. My surgeries resume again next Thursday (Monday is a school holiday - mid-term).
Angouleme comics festival screws up *again* If you're in a hole, stop digging! (tags: comics sexandgenderandsexuality ) The Top 12 PR Crises Of 2015: Part 1 Volkswagen tops the list. (tags: publicrelations ) Life in the Grey Zones @ecfr brings news from nowhere (Abkhazia, Crimea, etc). (tags: transdniestria nagornokarabakh war ) Pro-Europeans shouldn't big up Cameron's deal @HugoDixon's nuanced approach. (tags: eu ukpolitics ) Ignore the Brexit press. Cameron has got more than he expected from Europe (tags: eu ukpolitics ) Nearly 14,000 disabled people have mobility cars taken away UK war on disabled continues. (tags: ukpolitics disability ) Three ...
In the European Parliament, MEPs form groups with colleagues from other member states who share their political outlook and aims. For Liberals Democrats, ALDE is our long-standing pan-European party, which has existed practically since the Treaty of Rome was signed. In 2009 the UK Conservatives left the similarly long-established European People's Party to for a new ECR group. From the outset there was concern about some of the extremists with whom the Tories were apparently prepared to work. In 2014, ECR recruited a new German faction, Alterative fur Deutschland. They are a hardline Eurosceptic party whom UKIP also courted. One ...
How Can We Do Better By Our Autistic Girls? Sound The Bi Erasure Klaxon! Government decides against statutory PSHE despite overwhelming support and expert evidence How to turn off non-chronological Twitter timeline for PC, IoS & android [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
[IMG: More_Nurses_success.jpg] Yesterday, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams' More Nurses Bill passed in the Assembly and became law. This will mean Wales is the first country in Europe to have a legal requirement for nursing staff numbers on our wards.
