Amid the carnage of 7 May 2015, Michael Mullaney's holding on to second place for the Liberal Democrats in the Leicestershire constituency of Bosworth counted as a considerable achievement. Tonight he was again selected by Bosworth Lib Dems as their candidate. If this parliament runs until 2020, the next election will be fought on new boundaries. But there are those who believe an early general election looks the logical choice for Theresa May.
I'm very much hoping that on Tuesday I'll be making a very positive announcement about the future of this blog, but right now I'm extremely unwell, and so today you only get links. First, a link I should have posted ... Continue reading →
I've reported before the remarkable grassroots campaign in Eastbourne to persuade Stephen Lloyd, the former Lib Dem MP for the seat (defeated in 2015) to stand again...
BT will be pleased to have won my Headline of the Day Award. The judges enjoyed the note of scepticism.
Below is a motion from earlier this month by our colleagues on Devon County Council on the issue of pension inequality for women. "The Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State [...]
[IMG: ALDC Master Logo (for screen)] The Liberal Democrats enjoyed some fantastic by-election results last night, winning in four of the ten wards which were being contested - congratulations to our new Councillors, Pierre Butikofer in North Norfolk, Chris Auckland in Wiltshire, and Dominic Fairman and Paul Summers in Cornwall! Last night's results were hailed as "the best night of local elections we have had in a decade" by the party president Sal Brinton, as we took seats off UKIP, the Conservatives and Independents, whilst significantly reducing Labour's voter share in several areas. In all of our winning wards we ...
Last nights election results (14th July 2016) demonstrate the progress the Party are making with #libdemfightback. Some of our members helped with Trowbridge with a positive result, yet again showing what a combined, structured campaign can achieve. There were very positive results, consisting of 4 wins with an outstanding majority and vote share, also a very good 2nd in Corbyn's back yard, where we came 4th last time round! If your not a member why not join us and be a part of the of the ever growing family providing stable opposition at www.libdems.org.uk/join The results (from Britain Elects @britainelects): ...
Last week, Dutch MEP Sophie in"t Veld made a speech in the Parliament about Brexit. Conference goers will remember her from Bournemouth last year where she gave a keynote speech. Here are a few key quotes: We must offer the outlines of a new European Union. People's existential anxieties will not be addressed by eliminating rules on vacuum cleaners or curved cucumbers. People are anxious and insecure because in just a few decades the world has changed beyond recognition There is a 50 50 split in the population that is reflected in the electorate, but also in the United States ...
I was out door knocking this morning. I always enjoy it. It gives you a very good feel of what a whole mix of people are thinking. Today is wasn't about any particular issue or any forthcoming election. It was about picking up ward issues or anything people wanted to mention as being good or [...]
These are supposed to be happening on Monday – together with the road closure – but the letter says August. We have contacted the County Council to sort out the confusion. They will try and go ahead with the new works and say they will issue a new letter on Monday morning. This is hardly [...]
A guest post from Lauren Keith on the so called Northern Power House The Northern Powerhouse is fast becoming a political cliché. The 8 Lib Dem MP's (led by Southport's own MP John Pugh) have recently published a report claiming that the initiative is in danger of becoming little more than smoke and mirrors. It's about time that there was a thorough analysis of what the Northern Powerhouse actually means and what it has really achieved. The report argues that rather than being a comprehensive and new plan bringing additional funding to the North it is in fact just semantics. ...
The only publicly acceptable approach to immigration seems to be, more or less, stating "immigration is a problem" and then making vague promises to control it in some way. This was particularly obnoxious in the run up to, and aftermath of, the referendum but it has been the case for some time. If we really want to stand out, and promote a truly liberal approach, we need to do the opposite. We need to stand up and say "immigration is a solution". As liberals we understand the importance of everyone being able to pursue their own good in their own ...
Fri 15th
13:12
In full: Baroness Margaret Sharp's valedictory Lords speech - on relationship between poor education...
[IMG: Margaret Sharp] As Mark told us yesterday, Margaret Sharp has retired form her position as a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. Yesterday she made her valedictory speech in a debate on poverty. She emphasised the importance of improving education, making the curriculum more vocationally orientated, as a tool to get people out of poverty. Here is her speech in full: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bird, for initiating what has proved to be a very timely debate, given the commitment made by our new Prime Minister yesterday evening. I applaud the ...
The best thing you can do for your country now is to be optimistic about the opportunities ahead. This nation does its very best when dealing with a problem and working out a solution. A trading nation, an outward looking people, both hallmarks of the UK for many years, with no sign of our zeal for global trade and responsibility to be a global force for good diminished. We should not allow those who can only see doom and gloom to dominate the discussion of the way ahead, instead, we should listen most to those who principally see opportunity as ...
Yesterday I spotted on the screen outside the council chamber in Gateshead Civic Centre the list of meetings for the rest of the day. Alas, all the Labour ones were listed as cancelled. It looked a bit like a train information board with all the trains cancelled! This is all part of Labour's civil war. I can however report that the Blaydon Labour constituency party meeting went ahead earlier
Fri 15th
11:12
Maghull – In Bloomers – The final push and a small celebration of another year trying to...
The past few weeks have been very busy for Maghull's 'In Bloomers', a bunch of volunteers trying to make Maghull look its best. They have been at it for 9 years or more now and Sheila and I have been active within this great group of community-minded folk for the past year or so. I also had the privilege to work with the volunteers during my time as a Sefton Borough and Maghull Town Councillor. Here's a shot of the volunteers getting their hands dirty planting out the flower beds outside Meadows Leisure Centre on KGV Park:- [IMG: Planting at ...
Earlier this week, in my role as Chair of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, I was invited to a hearing on anti-Semitism at the Home Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, along with my LDFoP colleague Miranda Pinch and two representatives each of our Labour and SNP sister organisations (three of them MPs). [...]
Twitter RT @jamesdoleman: Jeremy Hunt leaves the department of health Instagram Daughter attempting to look threatening LOL Twitter RT @silviamg: If you pre-order CERTAIN DARK THINGS u ensure my editor keeps liking me = more books. Twitter FAO @LiberalMorgan Everything you need to know about Theresa May's Brexit nightmare in five minutes ... and there's a very good reason you were afraid to ask. Are You More Diplomatic Than Boris Johnson? I am. Although the "boss making fun of your diplomatic skills" one nearly did for me. Roger Ailes accuser 'Susan' waited decades for someone to hear her out | ...
It was what everyone suspected would be Chris Grayling's final Thursday morning question session on the business of the Commons. Our Tom Brake decided to make some mischief. This is the question he asked: Has the Leader of the House received a request from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for him to provide Government time for a debate on the fantastic contribution that the leisure industries make to the UK economy? Such a debate would allow Ministers to tell us how UK manufacturers will fulfil demand for major new infrastructure: a transcontinental network of zip wires to enable ...
You can read all the articles that have caught my attention this week here: https://delicious.com/stephentall Below are a selection... Sponsored: 64% off Code Black Drone with HD Camera Our #1 Best-Selling Drone–Meet the Dark Night of the Sky! www.timeshighereducation.com Spending £750m a year on HE access without properly evaluating impact. Good on Les Ebdon for taking on universities http://bit.ly/29QYhKl The take-over: Prime Ministers without a popular mandate, 1916-2016 | British Politics and Policy at LSE We've had 6 post-war PMs without a popular mandate: 3/4 Tory PMs won next election; 0/2 Lab PMs did http://bit.ly/29Pswjx No, the markets are not ...
Some liberals may remember Amber as the DECC Secretary (ah, I feel nostalgic for that department already) who took over from Ed Davey; who had a letter leaked about her department not meeting renewable energy targets, thus incurring the wrath of environmentalist organisations. Those of you out there who think of Amber this way will be shaking your head at my headline. But let me explain. Regardless of whether it is a Tory or Labour government, the first instinct of any incoming British prime minister is to have a close look at his or her parliamentary party, figure out which ...
Prestwich Lib Dem Councillor Mary D'Albert has asked Bury Council to consider whether a permanent memorial to the late Victoria Wood would be appropriate in the Borough. The much loved comedian, singer, writer, actor and director sadly died in April this year. She was born in Prestwich, brought up in Bury and was schooled at Fairfield County Primary and Bury Grammar School for Girls. Mary D'Albert said: "Victoria Wood brought joy and laughter to so many people over so many years. I'm not sure if anyone one place can 'claim' Victoria', but here in Prestwich and Bury we were particularly ...
I get it. I really do. We have been a difficult partner for the whole time we have been in the EU and its predecessors. And after the Brexit referendum vote, you had to put up with Nigel Farage being his usual unpleasant self in the European Parliament. You should know that many of us felt exactly the same as Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis whose facepalm went viral on social media (and we enjoyed his heartfelt blog as well). So, I understand it when you demand that the UK get on and serve an Article 50 notice. You want us to ...
Nominations are sought for the 11th Annual 'Bury Sports Awards' – a chance to celebrate those who have made an outstanding contribution to sport in Bury, or achieving personal success over the last twelve months. There are ten categories which Individuals, Clubs, and Schools can be entered for. The deadline for nominations is 31st July 2016. Be great to see some local winners! Nominations and more information are online here.
Two new planning application has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Reference 60270 Alternative Reference Not Available Application Received Mon 20 Jun 2016 Application Validated Mon 20 Jun 2016 Address 11 Heys Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1JW Proposal Two storey rear extension Reference 60294 Alternative Reference Not Available Application Received Mon 27 Jun 2016 Application Validated Mon 27 Jun 2016 Address 17 Maple Grove, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 3DQ Proposal Extension and modification to existing storm porch Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with these. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim
The Botanic Garden is holding a garden advice clinic on Thursday 28th July - all welcome. It takes place in the Botanic Garden's Education Centre between 2pm and 4pm. Normal Botanic Garden entrance charges apply.
A new planning application has been received in Holyrood Ward as below: Reference 60286 Alternative Reference PP-05261924 Application Received Thu 23 Jun 2016 Application Validated Fri 24 Jun 2016 Address Nutt Farm, Nutt Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SJ Proposal Replacement dwelling applicable to House Type 1 only – five bedroom two storey detached dwelling as part of planning approval 58405 Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require further information or help with this. The details will be on the Council's website here. Tim
I've had no reply so far to my open letter to Andrew Allner, chairman of the Go Ahead Group, ultimately responsible for the Southern Railways franchise. What's more, there is a new Secretary of State for Transport, and a small hope that Chris Grayling might take the opportunity to tackle the situation with Southern. It makes no sense for a new regime to defend the poor performance of the old. On the bright side, the emergency timetable is now going to end in mid-August. On the less bright side, yesterday's GTR performance still saw 23 per cent late or cancelled, ...
Fri 15th
07:57
Co-op renews objection to Rocks Green supermarket - says town centre could lose 30% of trade
Midshires Co-operative has added to its objection to the supermarket proposed by Blackfriars at Dun Cow (14/05573/OUT). A submission by planning consultant Richard Holmes criticises the developer's assessment of the impact the supermarket would have on trade in the town centre. Holmes says the impact will be higher, perhaps as high as a 30% loss... Continue reading Co-op renews objection to Rocks Green supermarket - says town centre could lose 30% of trade →
Whilst the appointment of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary has grabbed all the headlines, bear a thought for the future of the environment and rural affairs portfolio in the hands of one-time leadership contender, Andrea Leadsom. According to the Guardian, Ms. Leadsom, the new environment secretary, supports foxhunting and once said she wanted to end farming subsidies. Her support for Brexit may well achieve the latter outcome. The paper says that Leadsom's new role has alarmed environmentalists, who highlighted her previous confusion about whether climate change is real and her support for a repeal of the hunting ban: During her ...
New Uncertainty for Lebanese Banks US anti-money laundering legislation has wider consequences. (tags: lebanon waronterror ) Everything you need to know about Theresa May's Brexit nightmare in five minutes Good summary. #fb (tags: ukpolitics eu ) Racist, xenophobic and anti-intellectual: Academics threaten to leave Brexit Britain But who needs experts anyway? (tags: eu migration ukpolitics ) Great expectations? Or: the tale of the missing dancing dogs A lesson in communication. (tags: work )
