[IMG: Migrants work in a field of daffodils at Nocton farm in Lincolnshire. Photograph: Bruce Adams/Associated Newspapers ] Migrants work in a field of daffodils at Nocton farm in Lincolnshire. Photograph: Bruce Adams/Associated Newspapers The LSE study, written about in The Guardian is a stark challenge to the view that migrants have been pushing down wages. It shows the Brexit argument against migrants to be very wide of the mark. My reading of this is that the fear is real, but we are in danger of making things worse by reacting out of that fear. Key points are: Parts of ...
The other day I was wondering around East Langton, the village where this blog's hero J.W. Logan lived for many years. As well as the cottages named for his daughters, the village hall he built and the former cottage home for the children of men injured on his works, I noticed a surprising quantity of industrial blue brick used to repair walls in the village. I suspect that is what happens when a settlement is dominated by a major railway contractor.
I'm about as pro EU as it's possible to get and even I have been dismayed by the constant barrage of negativity coming from Britain Stronger in Europe. People might actually want to follow the Scottish version which so far has got it right. They launched in Edinburgh earlier this week and is headed up by former Lib Dem Scottish Policy convener John Edward and Professor Mona Siddiqui. The advantage of following the Scottish campaign, of course, is that you are unlikely to see David Cameron at any point. Anyway, tonight, Tim Farron injected his own particular brand of positive ...
From the Herald Express: Torbay Lib Dems have lodged a question at Wednesday's full council meeting over the conduct of the new Devon and Cornwall Police Commissioner - former Torbay councillor - Alison Hernandez ...Lib Dem leader Steve Darling wants to ask Conservative councillor Robert Excell: "As Torbay Councils representative on the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel, do you think it is right that Alison Hernandez remains in post whilst being investigated by the police for criminal offences, while a serving officer in the police would be suspended during such an investigation?"However, the paper said the Lib Dems ...
Developing a strong Liberal narrative that offers a distinctive vision of what the Liberal Democrats are for won't be easy. Recent internal splits on policy issues suggest that there is a more fundemental issue to address. Whilst all parties are 'broad churches', I think that ours is broader than most. Historically I think we have attracted members on the basis of what they think Liberalism is, rather than based on any distinctive message that the Party has communicated. The result is that social liberals, economic liberals and pseudo-liberals are now co-existing in an uneasy alliance. I think that the Agenda ...
I suspect there may be a bit of buyers' remorse setting in amongst the Welsh electorate soon if this afternoon's shenanigans in the Welsh Assembly are anything to go by. Call me bitter if you like, but I think that swapping a conscientious Liberal Democrat group with its heart absolutely in the right place with a whole bunch of UKIP is not the wisest thing they could have done. I go out for a couple of hours expecting that when I return, Carwyn Jones will have been elected First Minister. The only alternative would be for Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrat ...
Wednesdays always make me really depressed about politics. The unedifying spectacle of PMQs, and the journos frantically fapping about who "won" and "lost" when it's plain for everyone to see that everybody loses from this example of Westminster theatre. A parade of non-questions not-answered with added shouting and wankery... The entire British public and most non-Westminster politicians view PMQs as the horrific embarrassment it is. Some journos and Westminster politicians are dimly aware of this, but none of them seriously tries to do anything about it, Bercow's occasional chidings of the chamber aside. Political gameplaying can maybe, sometimes, be justified ...
Second paragraph of third story ("Last Rites", by Marc Platt): 'All remaining passengers are advised that Flight 600386W, the 1830 hours to Sehebra Space Junction, is now boarding at Gate 91. This is the final personnel flight from Epajaenda Resource Sphere. There are no more flights after this. Remaining time to planetary closure six hours and 45 minutes.' Didn;t grab me as strongly as some of the previous volumes in this series, with some stories (like Marc Platt's) trying too hard and others not trying at all. I did particularly like the very first story, "Best Seller" by Ian Mond ...
[IMG: Shepway District Council Sandgate Parking Consultation Notice on Granville Parade] I am writing to oppose the proposed revised parking and waiting restrictions in the 'Sandgate East Parking Zone'. My detailed reasons to do so are below. I am a resident of Sandgate, who both lives near to (but outside) the proposed parking zone and owns an office on Sandgate High Street from where my business is run. The proposed changes will significantly negatively impact on me both personally and professionally, as well as friends and neighbours locally. As a local Parish Councillor, many local residents, business owners and staff ...
[IMG: The Game - Tom Hughes as Joe Lambe in MI5 HQ] The Cold War espionage thriller set in 1972, The Game, oozes the early 1970s looks, sounds and styles in a masterpiece of set design, filming and lighting. (Save for the odd blind spot of bus stop markings on the road which scream 21st century even as characters in 1970s garb walk past a 1970s style bus.) Birmingham Central Library does a particularly atmospheric and brutalist job as the venue for filming MI5's headquarters and more generally Birmingham scenes are expertly used to recreate the look of 1970s London, ...
[IMG: INtogether logo grey] With the local elections behind us, the time has come to turn our full attention as a Party to the upcoming Europe Referendum which is just 6 weeks away. On 23rd June, Britain must decide what kind of country we want to be: inward-looking and cut off from the world or proudly leading from the front, at the heart of Europe. Tonight, Tim Farron, speaking in London, will make the positive, progressive case for Britain remaining in Europe, recognising the future benefits of close relations with our neighbours and natural partners, and how investing in each ...
[IMG: One hour bus ticket 2009] So, Sadiq Khan has made his first big transport announcement, one hour Hopper bus ticket. Now, even though I live 400 miles away, I know fine that this is not be an original idea from the new London Mayor. Someone has been campaigning for this since 2009. Who could that possibly be? Step forward Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon. The photo was taken in 2009 in tandem with this article in the Standard and the policy was in the 2012 Lib Dem London manifesto. Boris blithely dismissed it in the same way ...
David Laws is quoted in today's Independent. The former Schools Minister is discussing a Centre Forum analysis of the Government's education white paper. Centre Forum says that the Government's alleged u-turn will just mean that the process will happen anyway as local authorities are taken out of the picture if it's not viable to run schools if, for example, a critical mass has converted to academy status. New analysis of the revised strategy, however, suggests this will have accumulative effect on schools - as more schools are converted, more local authorities will be taken over as a result. In effect, ...
Many happy returns and such. Hopefully [IMG: [personal profile] ] matgb will remember to give you a call or something [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
More comedy genius from Australia's Clarke and Dawe:
I understand that the historic remains of Sefton Mill in Sefton Village were expected to be conserved and made available for the public to access when the new housing development (Mill Wear Gardens) was built next to St. Helens Church. The area concerned is in fact a Conservation Area. [IMG: The remains of Sefton Mill and Mill Wear Gardens are behind the church viewed from this direction.] The remains of Sefton Mill and Mill Wear Gardens are behind the church viewed from this direction. Roy Connell, a former local councillor and member of Sefton Council's Planning Committee, has been trying ...
Wed 11th
12:02
The new Leave.EU video is like an advert for why we should Remain in the European Union
Leave.EU, the Arron Banks UKIPpy organisation that didn't get official campaign status over Vote Leave, demonstrated this week precisely why that was the case. They put forth a campaign ad that was like a Remain campaigner's wet dream. It featured badly edited scenes of Syrian immigrants in different parts of Europe, all with a voice over comparing immigrants to snakes done by none other than – wait for it – Donald Trump. I know some of you might not believe me, it sounds so insane, yet here it is. So much to say here. First off, the point of a ...
Embed from Getty Images Tomorrow the government will publish a white paper setting out its plans for the future of the BBC. At the BAFTA awards on Sunday the director Peter Kosminsky rightly received a standing ovation. He used his acceptance speech to voice his fear that the White Paper will compromise our precious, independent, world-renowned organisation. He cautioned that the BBC was on a path to evisceration that would leave the broadcasting landscape bereft - and the output of television and radio determined solely by what lines the pockets of shareholders. Those fears are not fanciful. The BBC has ...
Across the world, Palestinians this week are commemorating the Nakba or "Catastrophe" — the 1948 flow of more than 700,000 Palestinian refugees from territory that had been declared as the new state of Israel. Many Palestinian villages were destroyed and countless people had to leave their homes at a moment's notice, never to return. The [...]
Jennie Rigg (Brighouse, WYorks, The United Kingdom)'s review of 100 Acts of Minor Dissent 5 of 5 stars to 100 Acts of Minor Dissent by Mark Thomas [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Gateshead Council is at the tipping point between being a pragmatic authority that takes advantage of the opportunities coming its way (that's how I would sum up Gateshead before recent events) and stumbling into being the basket case council of the North East. The crazy decision by Labour to reject the advice of their own Leader, Mick Henry, and the Chief Executive, Jane Robinson, to back the
Wed 11th
10:53
LIbLink: Cathy Bakewell: In the last days of the Housing Bill, peers will fight for equality
Liberal Democrat peer Cathy Bakewell has written an article for Politics Home in which she outlines the work that Lib Dem peers are doing to try to make the Government's Housing Bill less bad. Lib Dems have been leading the charge on many aspects of the fight, and three of the five remaining obstacles to the legislation passing are Lib Dem amendments. These are measures to make new homes more flood resilient and low carbon, and to give communities a Neighbourhood Right of Appeal when a council deviates from their local plan. These things have become sticking points for us, ...
Below are the brilliant results from Southport. Never before throughout the whole history of the borough have we won every seat. That goes back to the granting of the borough's charter in 1858! Lynne Thompson Liberal Democrats 1713 42% Elected Jamie Halsall Conservative Party 1149 28% Not elected Mhairi McLeod Johnstone Doyle The Labour Party 729 18% Not elected Duncan Browne United Kingdom Independence Party 394 10% Not elected Barbara Ann Dutton The Green Party 133 3% Not elected Birkdale - resultsElection CandidatePartyVotes% Richard Ronald Hands Liberal Democrats 1443 46% Elected Ged Wright The Labour Party 717 23% Not elected ...
Sometimes being a candidate just happens When I went to my first ever Scottish Spring Conference this year, I had few expectations. I expected to debate, to meet up with Lib Dem friends, and to listen to some interesting talks. I didn't quite expect to find myself on the ballot paper this May. Sometimes living next door to seat with no current Lib Dem candidate is enough. I was told that in the recent by-election we had come 5th, behind UKIP. This time only 4 parties were running. "Oh good," I said, "I'll move us up a place." All Candidates ...
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur today warned the SNP that people in the Northern Isles will not forget the promises made by the First Minister during the election on ferry fares. During the election campaign, local SNP candidates ran online adverts pledging cuts to fares for lifeline ferry services. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also promised action [...]
[IMG: images] Lib Dem activists across the country are catching their breaths after another busy election period. ALDC are putting together a report for all member and candidates which will be with you soon. All the team at ALDC would like to say a huge 'Thank You' to everyone who played a part in the elections. Whether [...]
Headline of the Day goes to the Surrey Mirror. Thanks to the mighty Mark Pack for drawing this gem to my attention.
When should the state be able to collect data about you? Should you be able to be tried in a secret court and not informed of the evidence against you? How can we make sure that our social security system is sustainable and needs-based? The party is currently trying to answer these questions with two consultations, one on liberty and security and another on social security. They have been seeking input for some time from party members, charities and NGOs and members of the public. Today is the last day that you can give your opinion before the two working ...
Our local Muslim community has issued this press release explaining why they have been concerned about the Trafford Centre terrorist attack exercise. Preparing for terrorist attacks is vital so that police protocols can be refined and lessons learnt to improve cooperation between emergency services. The terror exercise organised on May 9th at the Trafford Centre by the GMP is welcomed by community groups and individuals, who as always are ready to help and support the police to defeat terrorism. However we share the concerns expressed by many including on social media that the "fake suicide bomber" shouted the religious phrase ...
The new Welsh Assembly has not met yet and already the newly-elected UKIP group are fighting amongst themselves. By any measure yesterday's events in which Neil Hamilton ousted Nathan Gill as UKIP Assembly leader, are extraordinary, not just because of what happened but also how the key figures publicly reacted. Here is one twitter report: Neil Hamilton is now entitled to an annual salary of £84,000 and has indicated that he will also be employing his wife. That is of course the rate for the job, though the Welsh Liberal Democrats opposed the salary rise that has just been introduced ...
A year ago, I sat where you sit now. A huge election had been settled – but not with the outcome that I wanted. Not with the people I voted for. And not with the change I had hoped for. But this year is different. This time, there is hope, there is a base, there [...]
Speaking to family, friends and work colleagues in the aftermath of last week's Welsh result, there is only one conclusion I can come to. Voters simply don't know what the Liberal Democrats are for. Our greatest failure has been our inability to articulate what Liberalism is, chosing instead to define ourselves in terms of what we are not rather than what we are. We can no longer rely on protest & tactical votes, popular local candidates and single issue time-limited campaigns. The tarnish of coalition and the rise of UKIP have put an end to that. After last week's result ...
