I'd intended already to have said my last on the "does Tim Farron believe gay sex is a sin?" thing which Channel 4's Cathy Newman has been banging on about, egged on by fellow hacks and lefty tweeters who enjoy watching the born-again Christian Lib Dem leader squirm. But it wasn't to be, as a week later it's the only question our lazy media can be bothered to ask him (despite his very strong record defending LGBT+ rights over the years). And so Mr Farron has been forced to give the only politically acceptable answer that's allowed: that he doesn't ...
Quick, easy and simple ways you can help the Liberal Democrats win in May and in June.
So, we're teetering on the edge of a massive Tory hard Brexit cliff. The UK is in danger of breaking up because of the Tory preoccupation with finding the bumpiest, riskiest way out of the European Union. Donald Trump has his finger on the nuclear button and North Korea is deliberately winding him up. Yet our media gets all obsessed about whether a man with a good track record on LGBT rights thinks gay sex is a sin. Today, Tim put the matter finally beyond doubt in an interview with the BBC. "I don't believe gay sex is a sin" ...
Embed from Getty Images An article for the Independent by Ben Westwood is bullish about the Lib Dems' prospects of regaining Lewes and Eastbourne. He talks about the local issues beyond Brexit: Health and social care, the number one issue in a BBC poll at the last election, is top of the list. The Government's decision to move maternity services from Eastbourne to Hastings was deeply unpopular, while Lewes suffers from having no hospital - patients have to travel miles to Brighton, Haywards Heath or Eastbourne. Adult social care is also under immense pressure from a Conservative-led East Sussex County ...
Who can disagree with this local campaign issue?
Things tend to happen whilst I'm away. Mostly, they're good things, and they happen to me/us. It is, potentially, more complex when they happen somewhere else, and the calling of a snap General Election whilst Ros and I were in Tallinn fell into that category. But never let it be said that I am remiss in the performance of my duty. Thanks to Robert, our Chair, forwarding a key e-mail to me from the Party's Policy Unit, I was able to put out a call for Foreign Affairs input into the manifesto, and, with much thanks to Paul Reynolds, I ...
Last week, as the local elections approached, a mystery gripped Leicestershire. Where was Nick Rushton, leader of county's ruling Conservative group? Some said he was in Norfolk. Others said he was in California. He certainly didn't seem to be in Leicestershire. As the the Leicester Mercury told it: Coun Rushton's absence was noted when deputy council leader Byron Rhodes attended a BBC Radio Leicester discussion to which all the council's political party leaders were invited. Coun Rhodes told the Mercury: "He's having an Easter break. What's wrong with that? "I'm looking after things here. He's still in contact. "They (the ...
Conservative switches over Brexit Surrey councillor Christine Elmer said she found it "impossible to be a member of the Conservative party" and had joined the the Lib Dems so she could campaign against "hard Brexit". The pro-Remain politician, who has sat on Elmbridge Borough Council since 2006, added that the Prime Minister calling a general election had fuelled her discontent within the Tory ranks. [The Independent] As Surrey has county council elections coming up on the first Thursday in May, that's a particularly timely boost for the local Liberal Democrats. Yet more Ukip chaos Ukip foreign affairs spokesman Jim Carver ...
Each year the Richard Jefferies Society and the White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough award a prize to the author of the publication considered by their judging panel to be the most outstanding nature writing published that year. The winning work, say the rules for the prize, will reflect the heritage and spirit of Jefferies' countryside books. The Richard Jefferies Society website has the shortlist for this year's prize: The Nature of Autumn, by Jim Crumley, published by Saraband.The Running Hare, by John Lewis-Stempel, published by Doubleday.Six Facets of Light, by Ann Wroe, published by Jonathan Cape.Walking Through Spring, by Graham ...
Having spent 11 years working for the Conservatives, Walton South councillor Christine Elmer, joined the Liberal Democrats party yesterday. She announced her departure on Twitter: I can no longer be a Conservative due to this Gov's hard #Brexit. I have today joined #LibDems #Walton https://t.co/AUZbwLesmx via @LibDems — Christine Elmer [IMG: 🇪🇺] (@ChristineElmer) April 23, 2017 Against the Conservative Brexit, Christine Elmer said: I have been unhappy for some time with the political direction of the Conservative party. In recent days this situation had escalated by a series of events, including the announcement by the Prime Minister of a general ...
Some really shocking news to get going with today: Open Britain have finally remembered that they're supposed to be a political campaign group, and have taken a stance that has got them criticism from Tories for being too political, which is normally a sign that you're doing something right. It's also provided us with further proof, after the Commons votes on Article 50, that 'Remain Tory MPs' not called Ken Clarke are a mirage, as all of them will always put the Tory part of that ahead of the Remain when they come under pressure. Anna Soubry, for instance, calling ...
Merseyrail's new Stadler Trains, to be delivered in a couple of years time, are at the heart of this industrial dispute about driver only operated trains. Yesterday I published the RMT press release following the break down of talks with Merseyrail over the loss of guards on Merseyrail trains. So to be balanced here is the Merseyrail press release too. Having been involved in employment relations for many years neither press release surprises me and both are skilled in the art of propaganda. The real issue is however where do the facts sit in this propaganda war? Merseyrail Disappointed That ...
The world is quite negative at the moment, and this negativity can have an effect on all of us. One small, seemingly insignificant way in which I've noticed this manifesting in everyday life is with the proliferation of negative questioning. Image Source: daevporter.typepad.com What is that? It's something that I think we all do, but everyone that I've pointed it out to has stopped and thought "Yes, that is odd, isn't it?" "I don't suppose you have..." "You don't think you could just..." "I'm sorry but do you know..." "I don't think you can help, but..." "You don't do shoes ...
Northumberland County Council have contacted candidate in the County Elections and Town / Parish Elections regarding a postal ballot printing error Apparently a relatively small number of electors have been sent incorrect ballot paper packs missing one of the ballot papers. In South Blyth 8 electors ( out of 1131 postal voters ) are affected. Replacement packs will be issued. If an elector has already voted, they will have to submit a further vote, and their original one will be destroyed. The voters can be identified by the bar code on the envelope, but not their chosen candidate(s) so the ...
It is no secret that I was very impressed when I was invited to attend a concert by the Crosby Symphony Orchestra back in November. On that occasion they played Nieslsen 4th Symphony. I was delighted to be back again for their St George's Day concert which was held at St Faith's Anglican Church in Crosby. The first impression when entering the vast Victorian church is that it smells of incense. The church is described as being in the liberal catholic tradition. The Concert was called 'This Island Nation' and featured the music by Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar and Vaughan ...
It is great that we are in full swing so quickly for GE2017! Great organisation and planning by Lib Dem HQ all those months ago after the EU Referendum. So, how do we campaign to get the best result for liberalism and the country? Focus leaflets, letters, memes, tweets, facebook posts, blogs are all vital parts of modern campaigning. But can I suggest a campaign song—a song that captures what we are about and is relentlessly upbeat? The Tory campaign will no doubt be relying on grim messages of fear and despair, dividing people and persuading us that we need ...
It would be lovely if everyone could follow this link and give the article some love. Thank you all!
What's this to do with? Peterborough City Council announced earlier in the year that they'd be setting up a local lottery during 2017. The Council says 60% of proceeds will be used to support good causes and tickets will cost £1 with a maximum prize of £25,000. The draws will be weekly and all tickets will [...]
If I had a pound for every brexiter who had called me 'undemocratic,' I could probably take you all out for a slap up meal (I couldn't, because that would be classed as 'treating' and there are laws about that kind of thing, and rightly so). But fear not, friends as they are wrong, of course. I am a democrat with every fibre of my being, and you probably are too. We all have the great privilege of living in a representative democracy. Every five years (or two, if you are Mrs Twisty Turny May) you have the right to ...
Commissioned by The Independent from Whistlejacket for the Lib Dems.
A pleasure to meet Bob King a POW at Oflag 79 A pleasure to meet Bob King a POW at Oflag 79 The first American, together with a French worker named Pierre, arrive to liberate Oflag 79 on 14th April 2015. From the 1948 book 'For you the war is over' by Gordon Horne I was in Bootle last week to open the 70th birthday celebrations for the 'Brunny' that is Brunswick Youth and Community Centre. The club has the most compelling history. It goes back to a POW camp in Brunswick in WW2. The men were kicking their heals ...
Today's Independent reports that Theresa May is under mounting pressure to remove foreign students from the immigration figures after MPs warned that her refusal to do so is damaging Britain's world class universities. They say that a report by the cross-party Education Select Committee calls for overseas students to be recorded "under a separate classification and not be counted against the overall [migration] limit": Suggesting that Ms May is isolated on the issue, the MPs say: "There is widespread support for treating international students as temporary rather than permanent migrants: from the public, Parliament, and parts of the Government." It ...
There's an insightful piece by Tony Blair in the Guardian yesterday on how Theresa May has framed this election in terms of the Brexit negotiations. While aimed at Labour readers, we have the same need understand what it is we are facing. Blair observes that Essentially, the Tories ... have hit on a way of getting votes by presenting the election as about "strengthening the prime minister's hand in the Brexit negotiation", ie, they have turned a partisan Tory vote into an act of national interest. Of course, all parties run for election on the basis that a government formed ...
In the weeks since Theresa May invoked Article 50 and Britain started heading down the slippery slope to exit from the European Union, whole swaths of the Tory Brexit Press has gone into hysterical overdrive in its futile attempt to try to silence those of us who believe passionately that we are better off inside [...]
Anti-gay UKIP candidate says she finds gorillas "very attractive" Headline of the day award goes to Attitude Magazine Zac Goldsmith is a glutton for punishment, isn't he? After 6 months of having an MP who actually works for them, I feel it unlikely the people of Richmond Park will go back. Sexist and anti-gay jokes: It's all about men feeling threatened Hashtag Masculinity So Fragile Dragon Phylogeny (and competing arguments) - Album on Imgur Allow me to womansplain the problem with gendered language OfC the bit about hurricanes turned out to be EXACTLY wrong - research shows that ppl take ...
Keep sending this image round and every good wish to George Turner (@georgenturner) in Vauxhall #libdems #winninghere
Last week, I was still in shock from Theresa May's announcement of a British General Election three years early on 8 June, and I predicted that the Conservatives would end up much where they had started. A few other Lib Dems were coming to similar conclusions (see this from Richard Morris) But I closed with the ... Continue reading A progressive alliance would help the Tories not hurt them →
Following hard on the heels of our post about the Isle of Wight's youngest candidate on Sunday, here's news from Galashiels via The Southern Reporter: A teenage student from Peebles is the youngest candidate standing in next month's Scottish Borders Council elections. Caledonia Bhatia, 18, a chemical engineering student at Edinburgh University, has been selected as Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for the Galashiels and district ward. No stranger to political life, Caledonia is the daughter of outgoing Tweeddale West councillor Catriona Bhatia and granddaughter of Liberal Democrat grandee Lord David Steel of Aikwood. Caledonia said: "I have always been interested ...
They'll be a multitude of interesting individual seat contests up and down the United Kingdom over the next few weeks but one that will really show just how big of an issue Brexit is will be in Vauxhall. A seat where the sitting MP Kate Hoey has called her own since winning a 1989 by-election and one which has never been represented by any other party since its creation for the 1950 General Election. So why is it one of the Lib Dem target seats? Well quite simply because this is the barometer of whether politics is fundamentally changing or ...
Nine homes are currently being built just off Bromfield Road at the top of Felton Close. Now the developer wants to add two more houses (17/01540/FUL). Although we need more houses of this type, the proposal removes an open space and makes the overall development rather cramped. The original 2004 proposal for this site, a former builders yard, was for seven homes. That permission was renewed at the beginning of 2009. 2004/2009 proposals In 2016, the number of homes was increased to nine by removing a passage and building closer to the northern boundary of the site. 2016 proposals The ...
It is fair to say that things have not gone well for UKIP so far in this nascent general election campaign. The pledge to medically check girls for FGM seems to have gone over rather less well than they had hoped, to put things mildly; polling suggests strongly that their vote is melting into the Tory behemoth as a snap election sharpens minds; probably to do with funding difficulties, UKIP have announced that they won't be standing in seats with pro-Leave Tory MPs, thereby causing the last thing I mentioned to get worse and worse as the campaign deepens; and ...
Take a look at the image above. It is part of a leaflet that the Conservatives are currently delivering in one of the Market Harborough wards as part of their campaign for next month's Leicestershire County Council elections. A sharp-eyed reader has pointed out to me that the photograph of the 'Welcome to Market Harborough' sign has been lifted from this blog. You can find in my post The Great Market Harborough Gas Leak of 2016 on 13 May 2016. Here it is again: And if you are wondering where I got it from, it was cropped out of a ...
Labour have always prided themselves on being a broad church with their members and supporters holding some very different views indeed. It used to hang together as a political force as much because of its authoritarian approach to politics where internal disagreement was kept very much out of the headlines. How things have changed with just about every Labour disagreement filling our national newspapers and splits of every kind being an everyday thing these days. And this leads me to a question that I have been asked a surprising number of times already as we move towards a General election. ...
As I write this, the party should be signing up its 100,000th member. Our new members are joining a party with a glorious history - not just the twenty-nine years since the Liberal Democrats were founded in 1988, but the records of its predecessors, the short-lived Social Democratic Party and the three centuries' old Liberal Party. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Three hundred years ago our political ancestors the Whigs fought for freedom of conscience and thought and religion, for equality before the law. Two hundred years ago the Victorian Liberal Party extended the franchise, brought in free ...
From Blether Tay-Gither : Our April Blether will be tonight - Tuesday 25th April - at 7pm in Madigan's Food Emporium and Bookshop, Castle Street. The theme this month is "Running Away With the Circus." Hope to see some of you there - all welcome!
Launch of Sheela-na-Gigs Map Looks very useful! (tags: northernireland archaeology ireland maps )
"800 young people face losing housing benefit under government plans. We oppose this cut. There are already people living in tents in this city and I believe that the estimate of 55 rough sleepers is an underestimate." "The government don't understand that not all 18-21 year olds can stay with mummy and daddy. Sometimes they fall out with their parents
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