Wed 21st
23:30

My conference video

Conference finished yesterday and people left feeling more confident about the Lib Dems. Tim Farron's speech was one of the best from a leader in many years, full of passion and purpose. Anyway, this is my video about conference, covering some of the debates, fringe meetings, exhibition area and life generally at the annual Lib Dem get-together.

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

Iain Sinclair explores the historical background to William Blake's radical writings. This video was filmed at Vauxhall in 2014.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
Wed 21st
21:57

Six of the Best 627

Peter Carrol reviews Ed Balls' memoirs. "Lib Dem Glee Club is without a doubt, the weirdest event in British politics." Mikey Smith of the Daily Mirror ventures into the belly of the beast. Roger Hermiston says the Liberal Democrats ignore one of their more recent heroes: Sir Archibald Sinclair. "Ultimately his legacy might well be, like Clegg, that he led the Liberals on a downward electoral path, but his is a compelling story, and there is much to chew over and admire in his years at the top of British political life." Pop culture has worn out Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Laura Davies, alas, is leaving Liberal Democrat HQ for health and personal reasons, and so the party is now advertising for a new Director for People: The role of the Director for People is to strategically grow and diversify the Liberal Democrat party. S/he is charged with taking members on a journey through the party, making sure that members are welcomed, encouraged and up skilled so that they become engaged at all levels and in all roles, by investing in communication, training and development. More details are on the party website; applications close 10 October. In the meantime, many thanks ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Thanks to a nomination from a reader, The Register wins out Headline of the Day Award.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg – and the man whose picture students are probably still using to play darts – seems to be recovering his political career. You see, he keeps making intelligent comments about Brexit. So writes The Independent before quoting this: The best phrase of the week goes to Nick Clegg for "up brexit creek" too true! — Nick Schindler (@Nicktwit_) September 20, 2016 This does touch on a serious – but rarely thoughtfully debated – point for the Liberal Democrats. Nick Clegg still has the oratorical televisual skills which served him so well in the first ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

We had some absolutely cracking press coverage this Conference. In her speech yesterday, Sal Brinton read out a newspaper editorial which said lots of nice things about us: This Sunday, one paper's editorial headline was 'Lib Dems' revival is a blow to sorry Labour', and it then went on to say: 'fair play to the Lib Dems. under Leader Tim Farron the party has risen from the ashes of electoral oblivion to reposition itself as the only effective opposition... The Lib Dems have not only capitalised on the fallout from the EU Referendum but also the disintegration of the Labour ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

British newspapers are notoriously partisan, which is a polite way of saying politically biased. But do they actually influence the way people think and vote, or rather do readers gravitate to titles that reflect their own opinions? It has often been argued that the latter is the case, which might suggest that the bias does [...]

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer

I am currently highlighting the question as to whether the psychological damage caused to children who have been taken into care at a young age is caused by the care system or by their treatment prior to entering care. The research that is relevant to this is summarised here and basically says that reactive attachment disorder can be avoided if a stable attachment is achieved from between 4 and

Posted by John Hemming on John Hemming's Web Log

I have finally got around to reading Norman Baker's book and must say I found it fascinating. [IMG: Published in 2007 by Methuen Publishing Ltd] Published in 2007 by Methuen Publishing Ltd Norman clearly has an analytical mind that is unburdened by prejudices as he systematically looks at all the possible answers to a death that I think it is fair to say no one who looks at the matter other than superficially can say was suicide. The odd media reports at the time had already led me to conclude it was not suicide and that by implication David Kelly ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus
YouGov

As a long time conference attendee, I adore the opportunity to meet Lib Dems, old and new, and engage and enthuse with like-minded people. But sometimes behaviour boundaries are pushed and we need to make a note of them to remind ourselves to challenge insidious sexist behaviour. On the morning of Saturday 17th September, Lib Dems received a message from the Conference office entitled 'Conference Guidelines' which sets out details of what is unwanted behaviour. Contemplating this, I thought it might be interesting to relate some unwelcome behaviour I encountered. I want to do this anonymously, but am aware others ...

Posted by Anonymous Conference-goer on Liberal Democrat Voice

Happy to help publicise another local environmental volunteering opportunity:- Workday... Saturday 24th September 2016 John Callaghan writes:- Short notice, but if you're available and have an hour or two to spare... Next Saturday (24th September, 10am onwards) the Lydiate scouts are assisting us by taking part in a sponsored litter pick on the Maghull/Lydiate area of Trans Pennine Trail/NCN 62. Whilst they are litter picking in the area, I am planning to continue to clear The Meadow site in preparation for wildflower seeding. The Meadow site is at the beginning of the Cheshire Lines in Maghull, just off Sefton Drive, ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

As if there wasn't going to be enough fun and games at Labour's Conference next week, it now appears that they will not get the chance to debate the thorny issue of Trident, which will no doubt upset a lot of people. Motions on both sides of the argument, including one submitted by a Scottish Labour constituency called on conference to note that cancelling Trident would "result in thousands of redundancies" at "world-class engineering centres" in Barrow, Derby, Faslane and Rosyth." A motion from the area which most benefits from the jobs created by the submarine base at Faslane in ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

Editor's Note: This report was actually filed just after the meeting ended at Conference but we waited until we were all home to put it up. Amidst the talk of Brexit and of our future place on the world as a nation, International Relations Committee met in a spirit of determination to do our part. At the top of the agenda were opportunities to discuss the impact of Brexit beyond our shores, courtesy of Kerstin Lundgren, the Foreign Affairs spokesperson for Sweden's Centerpartiet, and Joseph Garcia, Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Leader of the Gibraltar Liberal Party. It was ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice

[IMG: F1 1] Formula 1 motor racing is a major industry in the United Kingdom, and it is kind of something we can brag about. Between 2005 and 2015 every single world champion (bar one) drove a car which was designed, engineered and built in Britain. The Mercedes driven by Lewis Hamilton this season is built in Brackley near Silverstone, its engine and hybrid system comes from Brixworth near Northampton. This is just the tip of the iceberg, the British motorsport industry leads the world, it directly employs tens of thousands of highly skilled people across as many as 4,500 ...

Posted by Sam Collins on Liberal Democrat Voice

[IMG: Our thanks to everyone who made Conference such a success] Now is a time to focus on making the most out of Conference and we have put together a few ideas. If you popped along to any of ALDCs training, please make sure you follow up on any of the ideas and tips you learnt. We encourage you to write down the three things you [...]

Posted by Claire Halliwell on Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors

Second paragraph of third chapter: "Look, I'm sorry to simply drop it on you like that," Bernice Summerfield was saying, a little more back-pedal hurriedly than I think she'd meant, "but you had to know. I mean, psychologically speaking, it's the best way to -" Getting towards the end of the first run of Bernice Summerfield novels; this one is told from the point of view of an agent who doesn't realise his own nature, investigating a murder which in fact he may have committed himself, and becoming entangled with the attempts of the seriously ill Bernice Summerfield to protect ...

[IMG: Zambia 1] Democracies in the developing world must often overcome a number of hurdles on the road to maturity and development as a stable state. Peaceful elections, a vibrant civil society, regular transfer of power, and fair service delivery are all key indicators of democratic development. No doubt, differences in the maturing of democracies should be considered based on local realities, and a so-called Western roadmap must not be the only lens through which we view this development. But has the southern African country of Zambia, rich in copper and with plentiful tourism potential, had one too many close ...

Posted by Luke Akal on Liberal Democrat Voice

ALDC made a big push for members to help us in Witney at Lib Dem Autumn Conference. This is a great opportunity for the party and for activists to get training and a top notch election experience. If you can help in any way, please let the team know. ALDC will be helping with phone [...]

Posted by Craig Whittall on Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors

Today DCC proudly showed councillors a refuse wagon bristling with cameras (4 on each of 86 wagons), alongside a video showing some local residents displaying behaviours that they might wish had not been witnessed. It prompted me to put this question: Now that the council has equipped all of its refuse wagons with cameras, when can we expect it to install cameras in the council chamber so that the public can view full council meetings via the council website? The answer won't surprise you. No Cameras for the council chamber. It's too expensive to install two static cameras to enable ...

Posted by Owen Temple on Owen Temple & Margaret Nealis
eUKhost

[IMG: Our 2016 Overall Winners - Liverpool Liberal Democrats] The winners of the ALDC Campaigner Awards 2016, sponsored by Midshires, were presented at the ALDC AGM held in Brighton at Federal conference by Willie Rennie MSP, celebrating the best campaigning teams from across the Country. This year's winners and runners-up are: Overall Winner – Liverpool Runner-up: Portsmouth Well done to Liverpool, our Overall Winners, [...]

Posted by Craig Whittall on Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors

[IMG: Help build our grassroots campaigning across the country - recommend a friend to join ALDC!] This is a great new offer from ALDC to encourage members to recommend ALDC to a friend or colleague. If, when a new member signs up to ALDC, they give us your name and ALDC membership number, we will send you a FREE door-knocking tablet (while stocks last!). These small and versatile hand-held computers use the [...]

Posted by Craig Whittall on Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors

[IMG: Homelessness Fringe] Following Saturday's successful motion on tackling homelessness, London Liberal Democrats hosted a fringe event on homelessness in 2016. Despite being up against both Tim Farron and Nick Clegg fringes, the room was packed and it was standing room only at the back! Alice Ashcroft from Crisis kicked off the debate by outline what is happening in Parliament, particularly focusing on the Homelessness Reduction Bill, more details of which are below. Councillor Jayne McCoy then outlined the problems local government faces when dealing with homelessness especially when facing budget cuts from the Government. Simon Grainge then described the ...

Posted by Colin Ross on Liberal Democrat Voice

Poppy Day in Sutton takes place on Saturday 29th October. Collections will take place in Sutton between 29th October and 12th November and the Royal British Legion have put out a call for collectors particularly on: Saturday 29th October Sunday 30th October Saturday 5th November Sunday 6th November Saturday 12th November They also need help at Sutton Station [...]

Posted by jaynemccoy on Diary of a Sutton Councillor

[IMG: My view during the Europe debate.] My view during the Europe debate. Although I did get to make my first speech at a Federal party conference this year (you can see it here, amidst the other interventions, at around 1:55 into the broadcast) I'd also put in a speaker's card for the debate on Europe, for which I wasn't selected, along with many other people. However, just because I can't make it to the stage at Conference, I can still share with the literally tens of people who read this blog what I would have said. And here it ...

Posted by Nick on What You Can Get Away With

Adam Wagner on the brilliant Human Rights Info Blog has compiled a list of 50 important cases decided by the European Court of Human Rights. Any list inherently leaves out others that could have been included but it is a good selection that easily gives anyone who is unfamiliar with the court and idea of what it does for the people of Europe. The classic nationalist objection is that "our country could do that anyway". The point is that at least one country in the Council of Europe did not do so and someone had to seek the court's protection. ...

Posted by Antony Hook on Liberal Democrat Voice

Road works to extend the M32 bus lane into Bristol are planned to start before the end of September. The existing south bound bus lane is being extended from Junction 3 to the railway bridge that crosses the motorway. MetroBus's contractors will also be removing and replacing the central reservation, upgrading drainage and ducting, and installing Average Speed Cameras. The road works and improvements will take seven months and will finish in Spring 2017. To minimise disruption the M32 will still be open whilst the road works take place, but there will be evenings when motorists will be diverted at ...

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington

Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader saved the best until last. His speech to close the party conference in Brighton yesterday was a barnstormer. He was interrupted by standing ovations several times. It was up to the standard set in Bournemouth last year. How much substance lies behind the expansive rhetoric? The speech was ambitious. Tim set ... Continue reading TIm Farron aspires to lead the political left. This is optimistic →

Posted by Matthew on thinking liberal

The Liberal Democrats rounded off their Brighton Conference yesterday with a rousing speech from Tim Farron and a by-election gain from Labour in the Plasnewydd ward of Cardiff. It was the party's seventeenth by-election gain of the year and the 60th council seat we have gained in total in 2016. Cardiff Council, Plasnewydd ward - By election result Robin Rea, Welsh Lib Dem 1258 Lab 910 Plaid 177 Con 115 Green 93 Welsh Lib Dem GAIN from Labour 23.09% turnout As I argued yesterday these advances in local government are a sign that the party is starting to overcome its ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

Sometimes reaching 10,000 steps a day is a significant challenge if work means I'm writing a document or presentation. Monday was like that – by mid afternoon I was still below 2,000 steps for the day. I eventually reached the target by some judicious gardening and taking the long route to the shops. Other days, like yesterday, work makes reaching ... The post 10,000 steps a day – days 19 & 20 – work appeared first on ten pence piece.

Posted by tim on ten pence piece

I have received residents' complaints about the poor conditioned and badly graffitied electricity sub station in Shepherd's Loan - see right: I contacted Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks about this recently and was pleased to receive this update at the end of last week, with a commitment to replace the old cabinet and upgrade the infrastructure this week - (From SSE Customer Relationship Management) : "I have been informed works are already scheduled to replace the cabinet and a new concrete foundation laid. This is scheduled to begin next week, weather permitting. The civil works will begin Monday i.e. the ...

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