The Liberal Democrats ensured by recent changes to their rules of governance that they can now claim to be the most democratic of the mainstream British political parties. Although there is a Federal Policy Committee, which debates policy areas and frames some of the motions for debate at conference, the party conference (a weekend in [...]
A year ago the Mountsorrel branch reopened and I decided to go and look for it myself today. I found Mountsorrel station some way uphill from the centre of the village. A poster claimed heritage trains run throughout the year, but there were no signs of activity. The site was locked up and something of a challenge to photograph, You can read about the history of the branch and of the effort that went into its restoration on the Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre site. And you can watch a video of steam on the line on this blog. ...
How do you put on a show by a band whose lead singer is dead, whose most famous member is no longer interested in performing with you, whose third-most-prominent member is also doing his own thing instead, and where the ... Continue reading →
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's 'Shaping our Future 3' strategy proposes moving the books out of Roseberry Library in Roseberry Shopping Centre, Roseberry Road, Redcar. It proposes moving them into the 25K Centre, whilst leaving the IT equipment in Roseberry Library and moving Adult Education into the building. The Council should leave Roseberry Library intact as it currently is. More should be made of its potential as a meeting place. Roseberry Library is in the best possible position for the area it has served for around 50 years. It had been the hub of the former Roseberry Square Shopping Centre ...
[IMG: john-bolton] News that John Bolton is being considered for the role of Secretary of State in President-elect Trump's administration should give liberals, multi-lateralists, indeed anyone who values human rights and the rule of law, much cause for much concern. As you may recall, John Bolton served as both Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and, temporarily, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations under the Bush administration. His brief tenure at the United Nations was cut short as the 2006 Democratic mid-term sweep removed any realistic prospect that Bolton's nomination would be confirmed. With Republican majorities ...
Welcome to the latest in my series of tips and advice for Liberal Democrat members, which appear first in the email bulletin run by London Region for party members. Going to Liberal Democrat federal conference, whether the weekend in the spring or the extended version in the autumn, is great fun, entertaining, informative and motivating. It also can be pricey getting there, getting in and living away from home for several days. Which is where the Liberal Democrat Conference Access Fund comes in. It makes grants to help members come to conference who otherwise would not be able to afford ...
Sat 19th
11:59
More United joins Greens and Women's Equality Party in endorsing Lib Dem Sarah Olney for Richmond Pa...
[IMG: More United] Earlier this week, More United consulted its members on whether to endorse Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney in the Richmond Park by-election. The result was pretty conclusive. From More United's email email to supporters: The result was overwhelming. 10,000 of you voted, and 96% said we should campaign for Sarah. We think this is an amazing chance for us to have a real impact on the result of this by-election. Sarah has said she supports our principles and has put opposition to a hard Brexit at the centre of her campaign. Sarah is facing a tough fight ...
We are in the middle of an age in which the "liberal metropolitan elite" are the whipping boys for any and all things wrong for the ills of western society. Who even constitutes the dreaded "LME" changes seemingly day by day. Once upon a time, it was strictly the political elite: MPs, people who worked in Westminster think tanks like me. Now it seems to encompass anyone who lives in a conurbation larger than Warrington. I suppose as problems grow larger, you need more scapegoats. I get it. What really interests me is that the Right that has jumped on ...
Richmond Park is on course to be the biggest Lib Dem by-election campaign ever. Last weekend the Campaign Team put a call-out for 1000 volunteers, and very nearly reached that target. This weekend the team is planning to deliver an attractive magazine across the whole constituency, as well as make serious inroads into the canvassing. There are always admin jobs to do in the Kingston office as well. People have been turning up from all over the country. Yesterday, in the space of a few minutes, I chatted with a couple of new members who had come down from Macclesfield ...
Twitter @Jamesdbaker1 @A_C_McGregor interesting promoted tweet in my timeline this morning Obama Reckons With a Trump Presidency - The New Yorker RT @LeoHickman: In just a few short sentences, Obama nails it... Twitter RT @LeoHickman: In just a few short sentences, Obama nails it... Twitter RT @HerbariumDonna: Bess Harthan kept these amazing notebooks over decades, detailing her fungi finds along with exquisite illustration... Twitter RT @_BCT_: One of our goals is to #Inspire others to join us in speaking up for #bats ! Our number of supporters keeps growing... George Takei: They interned my family. Don't let them do it ...
Men's day comes to parliament with hilarious results, China's selective refugee policy and some worrying rumours about Dr Who Men of the Commons leave Men's Day debate to the women by John Crace (the Guardian) Conservative Paul Beresford was also keen to stand up for men, though he began by insisting he was a feminist [...]
Sat 19th
09:09
VIDEO: Myth or Fact? "If you pay council tax you are automatically registered to vote"
Here's one of the new films from the Electoral Commission about how electoral registration really works.
The other day a friend, whom I appreciate the advice of, said to me that they had noticed how angry some of my postings had become since the EU Referendum result. They went on to say words to the effect that my usual tolerance of views differing from mine own seemed to be a little lacking presently. Well I suppose that's a reasonable assessment of me. I don't think I have ever felt so angry about an issue of public policy as I do about the EU Referendum result and yes I have become very intolerant of people who promote ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR SATURDAY 19 AND SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2016 Blackness Road (at Glenagnes Road) - temporary traffic lights on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November for water main tie-in. REPORT FOR WEST END WARD WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2016 Riverside Drive (at Airport) - off-peak (9.30am - 3.30pm) temporary traffic lights on Monday 21 November for road temperature sensor installation. Blackness Road (at Rosefield Street) - temporary traffic lights on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November for water main tie-in. Forthcoming Works Perth Road (West Park Road to Glamis Road) - occasional ...
Oettigate: Juncker's depressing spectacle Searing stuff from @TimKingBru. (tags: eu )
The lay of the land is that the Tories and UKIP are committed to coming out of the European Union, the Liberal Democrats want a referendum on any deal and Labour, well Labour are all over the shop but seem to be leaning towards a soft Brexit. Just what impact these positions could have on the future electoral prospects of these parties has been revealed by a new poll. The Independent reports that a YouGov survey has concluded that the Liberal Democrats could beat Labour at the next general election because of their pledge to hold a second EU referendum. ...
