Another video from Londonist.
[IMG: Conference rally] I'm home from York, having had about 7 hours' sleep in the last two days. That's not entirely due to hanging round in bars late at night with lovely people. When you are making the most controversial speech of the entire Conference, that tends to dominate. For the second time in two years, I arrived in York to brilliant sunshine. Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy any of the city at all. In an ideal world, I would have gone down on Thursday, had some dinner with friends and spent Friday sightseeing. One of these days I ...
Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, on behalf of the Lib-Dems in Broxtowe. This weekend has been the Lib Dems conference in York, although because of my family issues at the moment I wasn't able to attend. The headline votes are that the party has now adopted a policy to oppose fracking in England, and also we have called for the legalisation of cannabis. Less headline making but very important to us locally was that one of my colleagues was told by a representative from the Boundary Commission that Broxtowe ...
I was really pleased that Tim banged the drum for community politics in his Leader's speech today. A great speech generally and some strong points especially about the refugee crisis. I now have a full set of photos of the conference on my Flickr site. Click on the picture above and enjoy.
I've just got back after a very pleasant trip to York. Apparently, there was a conference on, although I couldn't say that I was an active participant - I did attend the Conference Quiz and a fringe meeting on the referendum campaign. I wasn't in the hall for the cannabis motion, or the economy motion or even the diversity one. On the other hand, I may have been the only person from Mid Suffolk who got to York at all. So, what do I put in my report to my Local Party Executive Committee? Well, we now have a policy ...
"Put on a decent suit, tie up your tie and sing the national anthem." Photo by Matt Downey.
If ever I find myself short of ideas for something to photograph, I have a look at the Leicester Mercury and see which building's demolition the city council proposes to allow next. The latest candidate is the former Black Boy pub in Albion Street, which I visited yesterday morning. Its sign used to be a portrait of the young Charles II, which gives a clue to the origins of its name came from. The Mercury report about it begins: Heritage campaigners have launched a fight against an "absolutely shocking" plan to demolish a "unique" city pub and replace it with ...
Understandably overshadowed by the debate over the (lack of) diversity of the party's MPs, the Liberal Democrat conference in York also adopted significant steps to improve the diversity of our local council base too. Its diversity has been better than that of the Parliamentary Party, but well short of good – and stalled without sign of long term progress for 25 years. So I was closely involved in an amendment tabled in the name of ALDC which was drafted into the motion and so passed along with the rest of the motion. It says: Add Conference Notes (VIII): "The proportion ...
I have been contacted by local residents about issues relating to the footpath that leads from Manor Drive, in Gunthorpe, and runs alongside the Paston Parkway. This is the footpath off Manor Drive – back of APV Baker. Impassable due to flooding again! Can the council not sort some kind of drainage for this? The [...]
A decent spring day today, and I took B out for an excursion to the battlefield of Ramillies which is about half an hour's drive from where she lives. Ramillies? I first came across it in a tune called "Darby Kelly about a drummer in the Peninsular War whose grandfather had fought for Marlborough a century earlier. That told me very little except that it was linked with Blenheim, which I had heard of because there's a palace named after it. But in fact it was a hugely important battle, both for its time and for its winner. The War ...
The decisions made by Lib Dem conference this weekend tell the story of a party that has re-discovered its roots, that has regained confidence in its ideology, and that is 'on the up' again. There was a period of soul searching after May last year - about what it meant to be liberal, about what liberal values really are. But unlike Labour, the Lib Dems have come out of this period stronger. We now have a sense of direction - a growing unity and decisiveness around becoming a genuine progressive alternative to the Tory Government we find ourselves under. Here ...
You can watch today's "Electing Diverse MPs" (including All Women Shortlists) debate from the York conference in full below. Just click on the central arrow: * 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.
You can watch the Spring conference debates on You Tube: The Saturday sessions are here. The Sunday sessions are here. * 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.
Here is the full text of Tim Farron's keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Spring conference in York today: You will be unsurprised to hear that I was recently interviewed by Stylist magazine. They asked me lots of exciting questions regarding my colossal sense of glamour. They also wanted me to write about a woman who had been my hero. I wanted to be completely honest, and pick the woman who was indeed my hero. Neva Orrell. She was a local councillor in Leyland when I first joined the Liberals... but Stylist magazine said that they wanted me to pick ...
Sun 13th
14:28
Landmark diversity change will make the Liberal Democrats look like the nation we want to represent ...
Liberal Democrats have embraced diversity today by voting in favour of all-women shortlists. Building on earlier successes and designed to increase diversity amongst candidates and MPs, the motion was supported by Party Leader Tim Farron, and passed overwhelmingly at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in York. In addition to introducing all-women shortlists, the motion ensures more spaces on constituency shortlists for BAME and LGBT+ members. It also means the Liberal Democrats will be the first political party in the country to implement all-disabled shortlists. Party President Sal Brinton said: ""Over the last few months many party members have told us ...
Sun 13th
12:54
It's time to focus not on parliamentary games, but on real life - Tim Farron speech at York conferen...
[IMG: Tim Farron speaking at the Lib Dem federal spring conference in York] Fresh from celebrating the result of the diversity debate at the Lib Dem conference in York, Tim Farron gave the closing speech. Fantastic result on diversity motion: full packaged passed including all-women shortlists — Mark Pack (@markpack) March 13, 2016
Elections to Bristol City Council in May 2016 will be the end of an era in Bristol politics. The all out election will see 70 seats contested on completely different boundaries, tearing up the map that has been in place since 1999 and the wards that have existed largely unchanged since 1981. For the first [...]
Sun 13th
12:11Party adopts All Women Shortlists after Tim Farron's plea: 'The time for excuses has gone'
The Liberal Democrat federal party conference at York this morning passed the "Electing Diverse MPs" motion without amendment 1, meaning that the party has adopted All Women Shortlists along with a slew of other major diversity initiatives. In her role as a member of the Federal Executive, Liberal Democrat Voice editor, Caron Lindsay, proposed the motion with a passionate and rousing speech. Tim Farron spoke in favour of the motion, telling representatives: The time for excuses has gone. I need you to support this motion. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist in Newbury and West Berkshire. He is ...
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
Generally, the end of the Cold War has made many international borders considerably less dramatic. There was a time when going between East and West Berlin, or Mainland China and Hong Kong meant facing the risk you'd be shot. I've done both journeys on the metro without any special paperwork. The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) [...]
I have just listened to most of the Liberal Democrat motion on increasing diversity of our MPs. While there were women (the main beneficiaries of the motion), disabled, BME and Trans speakers on this motion. One of the minority groups that is not represented in our MP gay men was not represented, indeed through most of the speeches LGBT+ rights was barely mentioned. In fact the most mention of LGBT+ candidates came in the request for a reference back. This is a way to ask for the motion to be looked at in more depth and brought back to a ...
What else could it be after last night? A post for Voice by Laruen Wise makes the case for Brown as an important figure: Almost 50 years ago, musical icon Arthur Brown stepped out on stage, five-foot tall flames leaping from his head, and uttered one of rock music's most stirring lines: "I am the God of Hellfire." At that point, the British theatrical rocker who brought us The Crazy World of Arthur Brown in '68 had no way of knowing that he would come to be seen as a major pioneer in not only progressive rock and heavy metal, ...
By clicking on the arrow below, you can watch this morning's session of the Liberal Democrat spring conference in York, including Tim farron's keynote leader's speech at 11:45am. It should be a corker. * 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.
miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 12-03-2016 posted The Blood is the Life for 12-03-2016 on #dreamwidth Instagram Norman Lamb introducing the cannabis motion Twitter RT @CaptWordbeard: Twitter RT @MSF_Sea: "Treating people disrespectfully for being born on the other side of the planet is called RACISM" Twitter Having a leader who regularly speaks in policy debates is a refreshing and welcome thing #ldconf Twitter RT @A_C_McGregor: A man is not dead while his name is still spoken. #GNUTerryPratchett Instagram Healthy #ldconf lunch :) We were going to go back to the hotel but failed miserably to walk past... ...
The Observer reports on comments by former Labour spin doctor, Alastair Campbell who has condemned newspapers that back Brexit for plumbing "fresh depths of dishonesty" and peddling lies and propaganda that insult the intelligence of their readers. They say that Mr. Campbell has claimed several newspapers have stooped even lower than they had in attacking the Blair government and totally given up on trying to inform their readers or to debate issues, and instead promote the anti-EU views of their owners, regardless of the facts: "More than in any such debate I can remember, large chunks of the press have ...
Welsh Tories have long tried to be all things to all people in the Assembly chamber, arguing for the protection of health service budgets, opposing cuts to education and saying that the Welsh Government should give money to local councils to keep council tax low. At no stage do they say how they will pay for all this, nor what budgets will be cut to deliver on these promises. Now Welsh Tory leader, Andrew R.T. Davies has recognised the problem and had the honesty to admit that in fact if the Tories were to protect the health budget then other's ...
Here is the full motion, with the amendments to be debated, for "Electing diverse MPs" (including All Women Shortlists) which is about to be debated at the York conference. (Note: you can see the motion with its line numbers starting on page 57 of the agenda paper for conference here and the amendments starting on page 17 of Saturday's Conference Daily sheet here.). A reminder that you can watch the live stream of the debate here. The motion F20 Electing Diverse MPs Federal Executive Mover: Caron Lindsay Summation: Cllr Chris White Conference notes: I. The Liberal Democrats' commitment to eliminating all prejudice and discrimination ...
I don't believe that I've ever submitted a full slate of Hugo nominations in the fiction categories before. I'm not totally certain that I will again. My own personal reading pace is very much geared towards novels; in past years, award nominations have determined my short fiction reading rather than vice versa. But this year is, of course, different, and I suspect I'm not the only person that resolved to nominate more this time. I haven't kept strict count, but I reckon I've read about 250 pieces of short fiction in this process, and I know I've only scratched the ...
Here's the new film from the Liberal Democrats:
Barbican, where conference is being held. Lots of reminders that there is a referendum coming up. Debate under way on regulating cannabis. The best attended fringe meetings are those offering food! Lib Dem mugs Our newest members are cuddly and cute. Me and my handiwork. Tim's Q&A Put out to grass (not a reference to the cannabis debate). Every gay man's hero, Lynne
[IMG: A present day Merseyrail electric unit.] A present day Merseyrail electric unit. I could not get to the last Ormskirk, Preston and Southport Travellers association (OPSTA) meeting on 24th February but there was an interesting presentation at it all about the promised new Merseyrail trains. If you follow the link above you can see the presentation.
Sun 13th
08:30Watch the debate on "Electing diverse MPs" including All Women Shortlists here at 9:40
By clicking on the arrow in the box below, you can watch the debate on "Electing diverse MPs (which will include consideration of All Women Shortlists) when it starts at 9:40 this morning. Below the box I've shown the text of the motion, together with the amendments to be debated. (Note: you can see the motion with its line numbers starting on page 57 of the agenda paper for conference here and the amendments starting on page 17 of Saturday's Conference Daily sheet here.). Also here, by clicking on the arrow below, you can watch the whole conference session today ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 14 MARCH 2016 West Marketgait (Nethergate to Westport roundabout) - northbound nearside lane closure from Thursday 10 to Monday 14 March for BT duct repair works. Perth Road (at Roseangle) - temporary traffic lights on Saturday 19 March for BT duct repair. Perth Road (at Millers Wynd) - temporary traffic lights from Monday 14 March for 3 days for BT network upgrade. Forthcoming Closures Glenagnes Street (Ashbank Road for 100m westwards) - closed from Monday 21 March for 5 days for demolition works. Tay ...
[IMG: David Laws - Coalition] The Mail on Sunday* has started running extracts from David Laws's forthcoming Coalition: The inside story of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, including this: 'God, Osborne and Cameron really are desperate for power, aren't they?' Nick Clegg told me in his cavernous office at 70 Whitehall, with its extensive views of Horse Guards' Parade, on March 29, 2012. 'They would sell their mothers to stay in Downing Street. They are petrified of Boris Johnson coming along and challenging them for the leadership.' and also, Cameron also had a problem with his Education Secretary, Michael Gove. ...
Here is the full text of Tim Farron's speech to the York conference rally this weekend: When you're sat in the front row, it's impossible to miss your cue to get on stage. But for those of you who were at conference in the autumn, you may have noticed I was a little late to the stage. I was sitting very happily having a cup of tea in the green room, completely oblivious to what was happening I didn't think I was due on for at least 5 more minutes. So, in my own good time, I wandered on stage, ...
Lessons for UK Referendum Campaigns That Want to Rally Young People My colleague @amelie1chan. (tags: eu ukpolitics ) The Fabian Society commemorates Harold Wilson's centenary Looking on the bright side... (tags: ukpolitics history ) Why were the polls in Michigan so wrong? Howard Dean's fault, apparently. #fb (tags: uspolitics ) A conservative case for voting 'in' Eloquently put by @fromTGA. #fb (tags: eu ukpolitics ) The non-EU workers who'll be deported for earning less than £35,000 War on Schrödinger's immigrants! #fb (tags: ukpolitics migration ) Can A Government Be Formed In Dublin? John Bruton's analysis. (tags: ireland )
Those of us who ground our way through Thursday's Comedy Vehicle will be relieved to see this video. It shows Stewart Lee using the same material and being funny.
