Firstly I must say I am writing this in a personal capacity and not in my role as Chair of Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats, that it why it is being blogged her and not on the NI Lib Dems website. The reason for this is that there are differing opinions with the NI Lib Dems and the Federal Constitution does stipulate that until the local party decides otherwise and brings a constitutional amendment before conference we cannot stand candidates. One thing that strikes me about the list of candidates for the NI Assembly elections for 2016 is that 8 of ...
On the way to Filbert Street I photographed some lovely vintage signs. One the thing they have in common is that none bothers with an apostrophe. Today there would be complaints that it was missing. Since you ask, the boys had to make do with this.
A star is born.
Embed from Getty Images It's hard to have sensible conversations with people from other parties on Twitter. Too often, name-calling or petty point-scoring takes over from rational discussion early in the proceedings. Labour activists find it particular hard to talk to Conservatives because they have convinced themselves that the Labour Party is the fount of virtue. Therefore, they reason, anyone who votes Tory must be an evil person. Let's call it the Hesmondhalgh Doctrine. It's predominance in Corbyn's Labour Party mean that it cannot talk to the many voters who have no great love for the Conservative Party but suspect ...
[IMG: Migrant workers in East Anglia] Migrant workers in East Anglia In an earlier post, I commented that "people at the bottom of the pile, resentful at the opportunities they feel they don't have, are the ones who would lose most if these migrants stopped coming (or 'went home')". I'd like to unpack this. At first sight, challenging this seems counter-intuitive. In 2013, UKIP were spreading stories of 350,000-400,000 likely migrants from Romania and Bulgaria when restrictions on emigration were lifted. In reality, the number of EU migrants employed in the UK actually fell in the subsequent few months. It's ...
Normally, I find discussions of the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame", a topic which comes up with depressing regularity in any forum frequented by American fans of so-called classic rock, immensely irrelevant to my interests. For those who don't ... Continue reading →
Second paragraph of third chapter: I took a shower, maddened by the sudden shrinking of the supply, spinning the hot tap and getting nothing but a feeble rope of cold. I stood out on the floor, leaning in through the curtain to test it. Then there was a far-off whining and knocking from the cistern in the roof, and the hot came thrashing back in an instant devilry of steam. Of course! It was my new neighbours at work, their shower had some kind of priority over mine, they could draw my water off and leave me shivering with annoyance. ...
Tim Farron has this afternoon published his blueprint for how the UK could take 3000 unaccompanied refugee children. Earlier he spoke to the Daily Politics about the plan and his visit to Northern Greece yesterday. "We know at least 10,000 have gone missing in the hands of traffickers" says @timfarron on child refugees #bbcdp https://t.co/VTpacwulaZ — DailySunday Politics (@daily_politics) April 13, 2016 The plan has been drawn up in consultation with the charities and NGOs who attended his recent summit on the issue. The main recommendations are as follows: The main recommendations cover identifying those 3000 children, protecting them, care, ...
Resilient and determined The opinion polls and the Welsh commentariat are predicting the worst for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the forthcoming Welsh General Election. Even the more optimistic amongst them are predicting that we will emerge from May's electoral battle with no more than a single seat. Should we pack up and go home now? Not bloody likely. Welsh Liberal Democrats are a resilient bunch and over the years we have developed a good habit of defying the odds. We faced a similar predicament in 2012 with the baggage of coalition and the tuition fee u-turn weighing us down, ...
Embed from Getty Images Caroline Pidgeon has been talking to London 24 about her plans. Most of the interview is policy stuff that we are all aware of – her plans for more affordable childcare, more houses, better transport and half price tube fares before 7:30 am. She was asked what London would be like after 4 years of her as Mayor: London would be a far more family-friendly city, and a city that really works for everyone. We'd have more homes to help deal with the housing crisis, we'd have targeted fare measures to really help get people get ...
[IMG: The LGA Lib Dems support Liberal Democrat council groups across England & Wales] You may have been contacted recently by Mind on their "Life Support" campaign to ensure advice and support services for people with mental health needs are protected. A draft reply is below that you may want to use. Dear [x], Thank you for writing to me on the very important subject of ensuring people who [...]
[IMG: Nasa Stranka in York] One of the highlights of this year's Spring Conference for us as a Local Party, led by our deputy group leader Cllr Ann Reid, was hosting some representatives of our Bosnian sister party, Nasa Stranka. Nationally links between our two parties are already well-established, with joint working around campaigns, training and promoting women in politics. But for anyone who doesn't follow Bosnian politics as closely as we do.... Nasa Stranka ('Our Party' in Bosnian) was founded in 2008 to offer an alternative to the dominant nationalist parties, and over the past six years has established ...
The Yate cinema that we've all been campaigning for over many years finally opens to the public on Friday 29 April - they're starting with "Captain America: Civil War" in 2D and 3D versions. There will be a launch event the previous evening for an invited audience, so by the time we all get there we can be pretty sure that everything will work! There are some special offers - The Cineworld Unlimited Card for £16.90 per month. You can watch as many films as you want, anytime and receive 10% off food and drink.Save 10% on ticket prices online ...
The local Liberal Democrat Association has welcomed the nomination of a full slate of candidates for 5 May, predicting gains, and a foothold back in Hastings and St Leonards politics. Speaking about the party's vision for the Borough, Association Chair Nick Perry said, 'We want Hastings & St Leonards to be a thriving hub for [...]
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said today that the Scottish Conservatives have shown that they are carbon copies of George Osborne. The biggest financial commitment in their manifesto is to cut tax for the highest earners to match George Osborne. Commenting during a campaign visit to Elie Watersports in Fife, Mr Rennie said: "The biggest [...]
[IMG: rbcrowd2] Long time ASLDC stalwart Councillor Robert Brown is campaigning to win for the Liberal Democrats on the Glasgow list for the Scottish Parliament. Robert is the councillor for the Rutherglen South ward of South Lanarkshire Council, the ward he won as part of the Lib Dem fightback in Glasgow in 2012. Robert brings 40 years [...]
Peter Black today outlined the Welsh Liberal Democrat party's plans for a £100-a-year discount on Council Tax for households that improve the energy efficiency of their homes by two bands. This will have the effect of both encouraging a reduction in energy usage and giving support to hard pressed families by cutting their council tax bills. Peter said: "Wales desperately needs to improve the energy efficiency of its houses, which are some of the most poorly insulated in western Europe, but too often the upfront cost puts families off getting that work done. "Our plans will help ease that burden, ...
Embed from Getty Images Considering our own forward-thinking policy on prostitution, I wonder if readers approve of the scheme currently being run in Leeds. The BBC reports: A suburb in Leeds is the first place in the UK where it is permitted for women to sell sex between specified hours. The "managed approach" was introduced to try to control the trade. ...in this specified network of roads, street prostitutes can sell their services from 19.00 to 07.00 BST, without being stopped by police. Traditionally, workers operated across the whole of Holbeck – this scheme has moved them from residential streets ...
David Laws speaks at the launch party for his critically acclaimed book #Coalition. pic.twitter.com/hmDe1v4TmH — Biteback Publishing (@BitebackPub) April 12, 2016 Last night, Biteback Publishing held a party to celebrate the launch of David Laws' book, Coalition. The Times (£) has an amusing anecdote from the event: David Laws, a former minister in the coalition government, has written an entertaining political memoir. However, his civil servants feel that it didn't quite tell the full truth. At the book's launch yesterday, one of them noted that there weren't many embarrassing stories about the author. "I've got a whole list I've been ...
Embed from Getty Images Recently on holiday in West Africa, I was somewhat torn. There was a strong temptation to leave my political conscience in a left luggage locker at Gatwick. Indeed, I think I did to an extent. I was, after all, on holiday and, being in a rural "eco lodge", I was able to mix with ordinary Africans and provide some support to the local economy. But on my return, I've been able to reflect. It is quite depressing to see pitifully poor people (in the specific country I visited which I acknowledge is the exception to the ...
Opt Me Out Of Location RT @Letmebethepearl: Is your mobile provider tracking you and selling insights on your life for marketing purposes? Find out now! The dark side of Guardian comments - lots of data here And surprise surprise, even on the Graun, commenters are sexist and racist. Professor Elemental RT @prof_elemental: I'VE GOT TOO MUCH TEA. Half price tea sale for one week only over at ! Art by @GothicalTomB Male privilege & a basket of tampons Britain's benefit sanctions: 'You're not even human' The comments are horrific :( Mounting data suggest antibacterial soaps do more harm than good ...
Wed 13th
10:50
St Ives referendum - Is this the way forward to stop seaside idylls being ghost towns?
Embed from Getty Images The idyllic, but seagull-dive-bombed, seaside town of St Ives is holding a referendum, as the BBC reports: On 5 May, the council will ask residents to vote on a new town plan, which includes a promise to restrict second home ownership. If the vote is passed, new housing projects will get planning permission only on condition that the homes are reserved for people to live in full-time. Developers will not be allowed to sell the buildings to anyone who has a residence elsewhere. This has been stimulated by a genuine problem: Wages are low, many people ...
[IMG: private renters] Liberal Democrats in the Lords are fighting the Housing and Planning Bill and playing a leading role in what is expected to be a series of Government defeats. The Government lost votes in the House of Lords on Monday night, and we have forced the Government to think again about giving large cash handouts to [...]
[IMG: Sandgate Parish Council logo / arms] The first Sandgate Music Festival will take place in June. The purpose of this event is to have a series of events across the whole of Sandgate that engages with people of all ages to provide an opportunity for the various venues to raise their commercial profile and to raise awareness and business potential for all Sandgate businesses. There will be a wide range of music to cover all tastes at various venues in Sandgate. If you have a business / potential venue in Sandgate and would like to be involved in this ...
Wed 13th
09:50The government's EU "remain" booklet hits the doormats...and it is spookily reminiscent of its 1975 ...
[IMG: P1010392 (2)] Here's the very booklet I received yesterday from Her Majesty's government. It's a rather dry looking document, but the message is clear, as it is repeated, more or less, three times on the cover of the booklet: Why The Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is in the best decision for the UK. ...on the front and: The Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is the best decision for the UK. and The Government believes that it is in you and your family's best interests that the UK remains ...
[IMG: index] With thanks to my Research Assistant Roy Connell
[IMG: WP_20160412_15_12_43_Pro] It's about time the new owners of Maghull Square Shopping Centre took action over the pot-holes in this car park. It's only a question of time before a car disappears without trace down one of them! [IMG: WP_20160412_15_13_09_Pro]
Not a scientific poll but nevertheless the news that Liberal Democrats London Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon has beaten the Conservatives Zac Goldsmith in a Reddit Users London Election poll will come as a further boost to Pidgeon's growing repuatation during the campaign. Sadiq Khan enjoyed a clear lead and perhaps not surprisingly with the Reddit [...]
We are living through a period when the politics of outrage is all the rage. When large portions of the populace across the western world yearn – and sometimes even vote – for politicians who try and push the "Overton window" either to the left or right. Nigel Farage, Bernie Sanders, Jeremy Corbyn, Donald Trump – all very different people who nonetheless fit this description. The non-establishment candidates who tell it like it is; those who bellow that "politics as usual" cannot continue. But while they all argue for very disparate ways of deviating from the norm, the do all ...
The Institute of Public Policy Research Scotland has been looking at the parties' tax plans ahead of the Scottish parliament elections. The SNP has had a go at us for raising the basic rate of tax for workers, making out like they are protecting the low paid. In fact, IPPR says that our plans are progressive and will deliver what we say they will. Willie Rennie has welcomed this conclusion. The IPPR shows that the Lib Dems' penny (why do we not call it Rennie's penny?) for education will raise £475 million a year, with almost half of that revenue ...
[IMG: Liberal Democrat Newswire logo] Liberal Democrat Newswire #79 came out last week, taking a look at the Liberal Democrat strategy for the May council elections, what happened to the grassroots Lib Dem campaign machine in 2015, data which shows the Lib Dems are the most unpredictable party, 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 receive?* Liberal Democrat Newswire: monthly newsletter Official Lib Dem news stories from party's ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has welcomed research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) showing his party's penny on income tax for education is progressive and provides certainty of funding for nurseries, schools and colleges. The Lib Dems' penny for education will raise £475 million a year, with almost half of that [...]
Hanna and Barbera: the last portraits Lovely! (tags: photos ) The Dutch Referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: Legal options for navigating a tricky and awkward situation Indeed. (tags: Netherlands eu ukraine ) Who Can Forget the Inheritance Tax Riots of 1990? "I feel morally certain that these riots were incited by 'the most hated tax in Britain'. Now it so happens that I'm so old and stupid I'm not clear as to what that tax was. But it must have been the inheritance tax musn't it? I could waste a few moments checking which tax it was - but ...
One of my earliest memories as a child growing up in Wales in the 1970s was walking with my grandfather past the steel works in Swansea where he worked. I can remember vividly the bustle, smells, noise and the sense of overwhelming pride. Times have changed but our steel industry still employs thousands of skilled Welsh people. Yet, like so many industries, it is facing an uncertain future. Our task now is to ensure a sustainable future for this vital industry. It must not be seen as another relic of a disappearing industrial age, but an essential part of modern ...
One of the big arguments for the Welsh Assembly in 1997 was the way that the Conservatives had made up for their lack of representation in Wales at a Parliamentary level by setting up quangos to run our country and stuffed them with their own supporters. Many of these quangos were subsequently abolished by the Welsh government, though in the case of the Wales Tourist Board and the Welsh Development Agency there are many who argue that they went too far. Now the UK Tory Government has been accused of wanting to pack out English Quangos in the same way. ...
