I'm not planning on posting much about politics in the next few days, because the world situation and everything about it are so obviously bad that I can't usefully contribute. Everyone reading this, I hope, knows my views on fascism ... Continue reading →
Here my "fantasy politics" piece for the Liberal Britain "2030 Vision" competition which has now closed and been judged, though the results have not been announced yet. As I say, a bit of fun really. It's about "sovereign localism" and sharing the rents, and about how central government is a thing of the past, for running empires by packet post on clipper ships. Liberty Day 2030 The midnight fireworks augured more than another passing year. Since the phrase "Independence Day" had been forever tainted by "Brexit" campaigners in June 2016, January 1st 2030 became "Liberty Day": the day the new ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen which is back after a much extended break. It never returned after the Summer holiday last year as my husband's illness meant that I didn't have time to do it. It nearly returned two weeks ago, but the broadband in my house stopped working. Anyway, it is back now, in a slightly different form and at a new time of 9pm. This is our 466h round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the five (down from seven) most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (22 – 28 January, ...
We already know that Nadhim Zahawi is banned from the United States of America under President Trump's new order. It turns out there are three more MPs who cannot go there any more. All were born in what is now Yemen but was until 1967 the British colony of Aden. They are the Labour brother and sister Keith and Valerie Vaz and the Conservative MP for Portsmouth South Flick Drummond.
I've spent the past 24 hours watching events unfold in the US, feeling angry, horrified – and helpless. Two small (I'm well aware) practical things I've done are: (1) sign that petition – it's not really how I'd have worded it, but sometimes that's not really the point; (2) written to my MP – which puts Donald Trump on a par with Southern Rail. If that comparison doesn't hurt him, nothing will. Text below. I'm not sure what either will achieve. But it's a little bit more useful than angrily doing nothing. Dear Mr Quin, I have been horrified watching ...
Continuing my quest to protect my Caterham 7 using my Raspberry Pi, I bought a bargain box of 37 assorted sensors for £21. One of the devices supplied was a DHT11, capable of monitoring temperature and humidity. A quick internet search led me to discover the very useful pigpio libraries and daemon. Wiring up the DHT11 to the Pi's GPIO pins ... The post Humidity and temperature monitoring with a Raspberry Pi appeared first on ten pence piece.
[IMG: 7 best] Many thanks to the 19000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here's our 7 most-read posts... Remainer myths and post truth politics (99 comments) by Ben Andrew Zulfiqar Ali can win Stoke on Trent Central for the Lib Dems but he needs your help (10 comments) by Ed Fordham The indecent haste of Theresa May (45 comments) by Geoff Crocker How did our constituencies vote in the EU Referendum? (14 comments) by Duncan Brack Stoke-on-Trent Central is important beyond the Liberal Democrats (10 comments) by Ed Fordham Maybe not. We must not let Theresa ...
[IMG: The River Ouse in York] Well done, Nigel Ayre. The Press has the story: A man walking his dog was rescued from the River Ouse in York on Saturday, by police and a passing councillor. Members of North Yorkshire Police's city centre team were alerted to the man after he entered the Ouse near Skeldergate Bridge at about 7.30pm yesterday. Councillor Nigel Ayre was passing by when a woman on her phone approached him and asked where they were so she could guide police to the scene. Cllr Ayre said: "I went down and got the life ring and ...
I spent most of yesterday either travelling to and from, or in, the first ever meeting of the Party's Federal International Relations Committee (FIRC). At least, as now constituted - the old International Relations Committee was a rather more pallid creature - it is a new, rather more defined, structure. It is, if you like, under construction, as members attempt to define its place in the wider Party structure beyond those tasks assigned to it by the Federal Constitution. It would not, then, be unreasonable to ask what FIRC is for, and how is it relevant. You might also expect ...
Second paragraph of third story ("The Light that Never Dies" by Eddie Robson):Unfortunately, a couple of days later, he died again. And again. And again. Eventually, he lost count of how many times it had happened. The period of consciousness that he was afforded each time - perhaps only a minute, perhaps only thirty seconds - didn't allow for a great deal of thought. First there was the anticipation, the fear. He'd felt that the first time, but differently. The first time, it had been a terrible uncertainty. He didn't know whether the knowledge of how it would feel made ...
What's this to do with? As previously reported, the Government – through it's A Democracy that Works for Everyone: A Clear and Secure Democracy report – has announced that Peterborough is among the areas that could pilot a new scheme for voters to produce ID to prevent electoral fraud. Why's this happening then? Well let's just [...]
Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) The Rapture of the Nerds, by Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross THEN: Science Fiction Fandom in the U.K., 1930-1980, by Rob Hansen To Lie with Lions, by Dorothy Dunnett Last books finished V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore The Other Islam, by Stephen Schwartz The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead The Geek Feminist Revolution, by Kameron Hurley The Humans, by Matt Haig Next books Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth Short Trips: Time Signature, ed. Simon Guerrier Books acquired in last week Politics: ...
Over on the Liberal Democrat Expand site is an interesting account of Martin, a new Liberal Democrat member, comparing his experiences of joining the party and previously of joining Labour: As a former Labour member in one of the safest of seats in the north of England, my experience of joining that Party at the age of 18 resembled more an obstacle course than joining a political movement. When I finally managed to make contact with the constituency secretary, I was told he had been deposed from that position because he was a member of the wrong Union. As a ...
Britain's four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah has criticised US President Donald Trump for imposing an order that leaves him unsure whether he can return to the United States.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie was interviewed today on Sunday Politics Scotland. Like Tim Farron earlier, he made some excellent points on the issues of the day. This week, it looks as though the SNP could fail to get their budget through. The SNP does not have a majority at Holyrood. The Greens are pushing them for a 60% tax rate, which finance minister Derek Mackay has ruled out. Willie has been talking to Derek Mackay for weeks now and has made clear that unless he is prepared to put in significant investment in mental health and education, then ...
A Trump and May relationship would be a marriage of conveneience and not a marriage of love! I suspect that none of my readers will expect me to like Donald Trump. I think he is an evil, misogynistic, little man ... Continue reading →
Normally it would be a matter of celebration that a British Prime Minister should be the first foreign leader to visit a newly-installed US President, but the pictures of Theresa May hand-in-hand with Donald Trump evoked nothing but shame. This is a man who has said the most disgustingly offensive comments about women, declared that [...]
In Bremen, Germany, there's a tower more than a hundred metres high: it's called the Fallturm, or the Drop Tower. If you want a cost-effective way to test an experiment in microgravity - and your project can survive some pretty strong deceleration - then this might well be a good place for you.
Tim Farron is fast becoming the grown-up in the room in British politics. He speaks for many, across the Remain/Leave divide and is the strongest voice of opposition to Theresa May's government – and Jeremy Corbyn's sorry excuse for an opposition. In fact, we should stop referring to Labour as the opposition while they enable the worst government in my lifetime to wreak havoc on our economy and future prosperity. Tim has been doing the media rounds this morning. He's been interviewed by Andrew Marr and Sophy Ridge. Now is the time for him to be in the form of ...
A new but not revised application has been made for three houses and garages at Linney House (17/00230/FUL). The applicant says: "The intention of the application to secure a consent for a further 3-years to facilitate on-going negotiations with the Council to secure an alternative scheme for this sensitive site." I don't think this is the right approach. The developer should either get on with building or submit a completely new application. In any event, this new application must be determined from scratch. In the light of current planning policy, I can't see any reason for approving it. The site ...
At a packed reception at the Town Hall we were celebrating our borough's success in the Britain in Bloom competition. There was a time, not so far distant, when the only entry we had was from Southport Town Centre. Last week I presenting certificates to acknowledge and thank the volunteers who support over thirty schemes. Southport is no longer alone there were brilliant projects from Birkdale, Ainsdale, Crosby and Waterloo, Litherland, Netherton and Bootle. Southport in Bloom exceeded expectations by coming out as overall national champions in the 'large seaside resort' category. But the great thing was that there were ...
I do not think we shall find our way out of our current troubles without invoking the old gods of England. It will help if King Arthur puts in an appearance too. Meanwhile, here are The Unthanks singing a song written by David Dodds.
Sun 29th
11:48
Farron: Put Trump state visit on hold until he stops banning people because of their faith
I have been musing for a while that Tim Farron should boycott the forthcoming state visit by Donald Trump. I was exceptionally proud when Vince Cable as acting leader boycotted the visit of the Saudi King back in 2007. The Saudi regime has always had an appalling human rights visit, but Trump is taking the US in a dangerous and deeply unpleasant direction and he needs to be told in no uncertain terms that this is not on. From support for torture to his nationalism and isolationism to his latest outrage in banning anyone who just happened to be born ...
Let me take you back to when my journey to becoming a student nurse began. In February 2016 I received an offer from the University of Southampton to study Adult nursing BN. What was my reaction? Very, very excited. So in September 2016 when my offer had become unconditional, my life as a student nurse [...]
John Hurt, versatile star of The Elephant Man, Alien and Harry Potter, dies aged 77 Sad news. (tags: doctorwho death ) Five Roger Zelazny Books that Changed My Life by Being Awesome By @StevenBrust. (tags: sf ) Fanzines, Cover Art, and the Best Vorkosigan Planet: An Interview with Lois McMaster Bujold Yay! (tags: sf )
It was almost as if he was waiting for Theresa May to leave US airspace. Donald Trump's executive order to effectively ban citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for at least 90 days, was signed not long after his meeting with the British Prime Minister. But he need not have worried (not that he cared) for when questioned in detail about the ban, Theresa May refused to condemn and it took concerted pressure for a late night statement to emerge from 10 Downing Street grudgingly stating that the Prime Minister does "not agree" with Donald Trump's refugee ...
Embed from Getty Images The Telegraph reports: Mr Trump signed an executive order closing US borders to all refugees for a period of at least four months and temporarily banning all travellers from half a dozen countries, regardless of whether they have already been issued visas... In the wake of President Trump's action, one is reminded of the words on the plaque at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour. They were written by Emma Lazarus, in a poem called "New Colossus": "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your ...
I used to sneer at Lib Dems. Now I've joined them Trump filed for reelection day he was inaugurated I hate linking to Twitter threads, but this is important: tl;dr: Never done before. Candidate status lets him raise more $$ & limits critiques (from non profit organizations especially). St. Louis Manifest (@Stl_Manifest): tweeting a list of refugees the USA turned away in 1939 and what happened to them. Harrowing, but important. Trump executive order: Victims of US entry ban tell their stories eurgh :( [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
I have mentioned this volunteer group previously on this blog site – they work as part of the environmental charity Sustrans who were instrumental in getting the Cheshire Lanes Path/Trans Pennine Trail constructed along the track-bed of the former Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway. A previous posting of mine is available via this link:- [IMG: I shot I took quite a while back (before the volunteers started work) of the access path from Sefton Drive to the Cheshire Lines Path and the sadly dumped rubbish that the area often suffers from.] I shot I took quite a while ...
The Left, across the whole world, hates Donald Trump. I'm really, really not a fan of the man myself, but it interests me to figure out how the reasons I don't like him and think he'll be a terrible president differ from those held by leftists. I think what I have in common with the Left in terms of not liking Trump is the president's socially illiberal outlook. He's happy to ban whole countries of people from even visiting America for any reason; his views on women and women's rights which we do not need to go over again; his ...
I've written before about lessons in cross-party cooperation in 6 ways to make cross-party political deals work and The Cook-Maclennan talks: lessons in cross-party cooperation. It was also the subject of Duncan Brack's chapter in The Alternative: towards a new progressive politics, kindly reproduced here with the permission of the author and editors. You can also read Tim Farron's chapter from the same book, about immigration, in an earlier edition of Liberal Democrat Newswire. Lessons from the Ashdown-Blair 'Project' by Duncan Brack On 9 April 1992, the Conservative Party won their fourth general election victory in a row. After an ...
Liberal Democrat Peer Ros Scott has been talking to FNF Europe about the Article 50 judgement this week, the progress of the Bill through Parliament and the effect Brexit has had on the Liberal Democrats. First of all, she spoke about the significance of the Supreme Court judgement: [The judgment] is mixed news for the Government; Parliament may well now be more confident in asserting its rights as the negotiating process unfolds and issues such as access to the Single Market, the acquired rights of citizens and membership of EU bodies will be hotly contested. If the impacts of triggering ...
Lecture on Tuesday 31st January at the Dalhousie Building Lecture Theatre 1, University of Dundee : Bumblebees are amongst the most important of wild pollinators; many wildflowers would not set seed without them, and they are the main pollinators of crops such as tomatoes, blueberries and raspberries. Concerningly, many bumblebees are in decline, with 3 species now extinct in the UK and the first global extinction recently occurring in USA. Dave Goulson, Professor Of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment) at the University of Sussex, will discuss the drivers of these declines, and the many things we can all do to ...
It's almost unheard of these days to have Lib Dems on the Andrew Marr show two weeks running. Last week we had Nick Clegg and this morning we have Tim Farron. He'll no doubt be talking about the Lib Dem's unique position on the Article 50 Bill and will no doubt want to continue his criticism of Theresa May for being not very bothered about Donald Trump's ban on Muslims entering the US. Watch on BBC1 at 9 am or on iPlayer later. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Welcome to one of our newest newbies, Observer columnist Barbara Ellen who outs herself in today's paper. She left Labour 14 months ago, after Jeremy Corbyn rendered the party unelectable. On her decision to join the Liberal Democrats she says: I did it for highly unoriginal Brexit reasons (I'm one of those Remoaners who still think there's a lot to Remoan about). The Tories are morphing into a cartoon hydra of their own worst impulses. The Labour party seems intent on chewing on sticks of dynamite like they're delicious lollipops. Donald Trump is squatting in power like an angry toad ...
