Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, on behalf of the Lib-Dems in Broxtowe. It's quite a short newsletter this week but there are some important things happening. General Election The general election campaign is now fully under way in Broxtowe. The first hustings took place last Monday and amazingly the Conservatives didn't turn up. I've received a leaflet from them this weekend but you have to get to page four before you come across the word Conservative, which seems a little strange. Local Election Also on 8th June there will ...
I once quoted Michael Coles' Reminiscences of Wistanstow: In 1936 the Italians invaded Abyssinia and the Emperor Haile Selassie had to flee, He was given refuge by this country and one day whilst I was at Craven Arms railway station he arrived with his entourage to stay at Walcot Hall on the way to Lydbury North, which was a mansion owned by the Stephenson Ink people. This film shows Haile Selassie at Bishop's Castle. I suspect it was shot on the same visit, if not on the same day that Michael Coles saw him.
Responding to Theresa May ruling out giving 16-year-olds the vote today on Radio 4's Westminster Hour, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Brake said: "Theresa May is robbing young people of future opportunities through her damaging hard Brexit agenda, it's no surprise she is now refusing to give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote."Young people have the largest stake in our future, they deserve a say over what happens next."The evidence is clear that voting at sixteen gets people into the habit of voting early and increases turnout in the long-term."The Liberal Democrats believe everyone, including 16 and 17-year-olds, should have ...
We're halfway through the election campaign! Yes, we've made it through the twenty-six days since Theresa May stood at her podium outside Downing Street and ended a whole hour of Twitter speculation by announcing this election, and we now just have twenty-five to go until it's all over. Or, as I write this, there are 602 hours until the polls close, which is just about the right amount of time to go and do something truly productive, like watching all of Doctor Who or Star Trek instead of paying any more attention to whatever the scandal of the day happens ...
Embed from Getty Images Laura Silver from BuzzFeed has been following Tim Farron on the campaign trail in Cornwall: Amplifying doubts about Brexit could be a pivotal strategy for Farron and his party. [Andrew] George, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, wants to tell the Brexit-supporting fishing industry that the likes of Nigel Farage played a "cruel hoax" on them by suggesting there would no longer be quotas on the number of fish that could be caught if Britain left the EU, or that foreign boats could be banished from British waters. "It's the equivalent of putting it on the side ...
Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 480th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere ... Featuring the five most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (7-13 May, 2017), together with a hand-picked seven you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Labour MP airbrushes Lib Dem opponent out ...
Every so often the Eurovision Song Contest throws up a decent song. However, through the fug of time, it is usually very difficult to think of them (apart from "Waterloo"). The 1961 British entry "Are you sure" by the Allisons was certainly a good song IMHO. "Si", or at least the English version "Go" by ... Continue reading Portugal is in grave danger of giving the Eurovision Song Contest a good name
Over the past week, our latest leaflet has been hitting doormats in Ryton and Blaydon wards. My goats even get a mention! Some of the people I spoke to in Ryton yesterday told me they had received and read it - and recognised me from it!
There was a sharp tweet from John Lubbock earlier today: Facebook arguments between Labour and Lib Dem members: Labour: 'Nick Clegg'. Liberal: 'Tony Blair'. Theresa May: HAHAHA 100 seat majority.— John Lubbock (@jwsal) May 14, 2017 As a description of debate between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, that is accurate. But I have the discouraging feeling that Tony Blair may be as good as it gets for the centre left. If that feeling is well founded, it means that both parties will have to come to terms with him. At any rate, the exchange between Blair and Alastair Campbell in ...
A councillor on Warwick District Council has been suspended today following a tweet, published from his account last night, making offensive comments about Irish people and Gypsies. The tweet from Cllr Nick Harrington's account appeared to be making reference to the votes cast during the ongoing Eurovision song contest and future Brexit negotiations. It read: "thanks Ireland. You can keep your f***ing gypsies! Hard border coming folks!" [ITV] The tweet from the Conservative councillor and magistrate came after the Irish judges did not vote for Britain's Eurovision song contest entry. He has been suspended from the Conservative group and his ...
Michael Fallon was challenged on the Andrew Marr Show today for breaking a Conservative promise not to reduce the size of the Army below 82,000. Fallon today admitted the size of the army has fallen to 79,000, but tried to claim that the Conservatives had only said they would build the Army up to 82,000 by 2020. This is despite the Conservative's 2015 manifesto clearly stating "we will not reduce the army to below 82,000." Paddy Ashdown, former Royal Marine and ex-Liberal Democrats Leader commented: "Fallon's fibs are a desperate attempt to try and hide the fact his government has ...
Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) Argonautica by Valerius Flaccus The Dalek Factor, by Simon Clark The Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd Last books finished Saga, vol 6, by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan. The Jewel and her Lapidary, by Fran Wilde Short Trips: Ghosts of Christmas, ed. Cavan Scott and Mark Wright A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth Next books Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, by Lois McMaster Bujold Every Step You Take, by Maureen O'Brien The Squire's Crystal, by Jacqueline Rayner
This past week was Mental Health Awareness Week, where we try and highlight the threat mental health issues pose to each and every one of us. It affects the majority of us at one point in our lives at least. These issues are reportedly more common with women than with men, possibly because women are more likely to seek help. It is rampant within the LGBT community due to the stress, anxiety, and depression caused with hiding in the closet and being oppressed and shunned out of it. Living with mental health is one thing. But mental health issues end ...
Leaflet delivery: it's the backbone of the Liberal Democrats and more complicated than it might appear. Why's that? Here's why...
The former chief executive of the NHS in England, David Nicholson, has backed Liberal Democrat plans to put a penny on income tax to rescue the health and care service. He has been joined by 25 other leading health experts, including the ex-heads of the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of GPs and Royal College of Psychiatrist, who have all backed the Lib Dem approach in a letter to The Observer: The human cost of this crisis is already painfully clear. Waiting times are rising, there is particularly poor access for people with mental ill health and operations are ...
Sun 14th
14:49
That moment when you hear a Bay City Rollers track for the first time in 40 years and actually enjoy...
I'm worried about me...
Facebook is rolling out a handy new feature for groups which lets you automatically prompt would-be group members with some questions first.
Liberal Democrats have announced they would end years of pay restraint for nurses, teachers and police by lifting the 1% cap on public sector pay and up-rating wages in line with inflation. The plans would lead to an estimated pay rise of £780 for the average public sector worker by 2021. In contrast, the Conservative's public sector pay cap combined with rising inflation since the Brexit vote will mean that by 2021 a new nurse will be £530 a year worse off, a primary school teacher £550 and an army sergeant £830. Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable commented: "Public ...
When asked by YouGov whether they think different parties "often break the spending rules at elections", 44% said this was the case for the Conservatives. Only 24% agreed this is true of Labour, 23% of Ukip and just 19% said it is true of the Lib Dems. That might of course be related to the Conservatives having been on the receiving end of a record-breaking fine for breaking election expense rules on repeated occasions, after having repeatedly obstructed the regulator's investigation. Despite Theresa May's recent claims in the media that the Conservatives properly reported all local expenditure at the last ...
Sun 14th
13:38
Paddy Ashdown steps up bid to save the Royal Marines as Lib Dems commit to 2% NATO defence spending
On the same day that the Liberal Democrats have announced a manifesto commitment to the NATO 2% defence spending target, former party Leader Paddy Ashdown has launched a petition to stop further cuts to the Royal Marines in which he served. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said, 'In an uncertain and volatile world, it's our Armed Forces that keep us safe and allow us to play our part in creating a more stable international community. "Our service personnel are the best in the world. And it's right that we reward them fairly and make sure that they have the right ...
Most years I watch the Eurovision song contest in the company of fellow Liberal Democrats, and this year was no exception, with a jolly event last night at the home of the Chair of the Newham and Barking & Dagenham local party and his wife. Even during an election campaign it's good to let one's [...]
Although UKIP will disappear their baleful influence will live on for decades So the foul UKIP is no more. Less seats contested than even the Greens and a microscopic level of support in the opinion polls shows that when their ... Continue reading →
From Tom Waits' debut studio album, Closing Time, which was released in 1973.
SKZ Cartoons on Instagram: "Girls" SKZ cartoons are fab; here they delve into male insecurity around feminism Rokt climbing Gym on Instagram "We still have some spaces left on our 6 week Rope Climbing Beginners Course! Starting 16th of May! 19:00-20:30. Give us a ring to book your place" More details on the insta miss_s_b | OK, Cycling People, a l'il help? In which I ask for some assistance on a delicate matter Instagram photo Apparently only his bum needs to be on the dog bed, one of the MANY dog beds. Girls' Football team, ridiculed for joining boys' league, ...
Education is going through a difficult time, with many schools declaring teachers redundant, increasing class sizes, cutting out subjects and asking parents for money. The Government claims education has never been better funded. It takes no account that this is mainly due to an increase in pupil numbers, or that additional costs are being placed on schools. Nor do they mention the unfunded increase in National Insurance. They are prepared to waste money on Grammar Schools. As Liberal Democrats we should take a different view, scrap the Grammar Schools and start funding education with a fully costed proposal, part funded ...
The backlash of the cyber attack that all but incapacitated the NHS in England has started and already questions are being asked as to whether basic precautions were being taken to protect ICT systems from such an offensive. The Observer reports that the attack has become a hotly contested election issue with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats blaming the crisis on the government's failure to upgrade hospital computers. And if this Private Eye piece from 18 April 2014 is correct then they have a point: The Liberal Democrats have demanded an inquiry into why the Conservatives had cut cybersecurity ...
Lighting Up Whickham held another race night last night, this time at the Glebe Sports Club. The event was to raise money for the Whickham Christmas tree and decorations. It was a packed and very enjoyable event, even if it did result in my losing on every race and emptying my wallet! My job on the night was to help serve the pies and peas. I don't yet have the figures for how much was raised.
Sun 14th
09:13
£30m needed for computers and buildings to get Shropshire Council "out of the mire" says leade...
Ten days ago, the Shropshire Star broke the news that the Conservative administration is preparing to spend £7.5 million on refurbishing its central offices at Shirehall. The tender document for consultants to advise on this work has been published but councillors have yet to see any details. Papers for Thursday's council reveal that costs of replacing its defunct computer systems have grown by £1.7 million to more than £23 million. That's more than £30 million on computers and buildings at a time when we are told there is a shortage of money to keep leisure, arts and youth facilities going. ...
There are five key elements to the Scottish Liberal Democrats' main themes for this General Election. We plant ourselves firmly on the side of the majority of people in Scotland – pro EU, pro UK and progressive. And we say that our priorities for any extra money coming to Scotland are education and mental health. None of this is particularly surprising as Willie Rennie has been banging on about it for years. The SNP is in charge of health and education in Scotland and has failed miserably on both. This week very poor literacy figures came out. Given every child ...
The Liberal Democrats have responded to a report by the Royal College of Nursing warning of the threat to patient safety caused by the number of nurses jobs left vacant. Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said: "The government's public
A Virgin Trains Pendolino train at Liverpool Lime Street Station. The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above Well it's imaginative and so close to the iconic Flying Scotsman name; I like it.
This morning I woke up in Korea. That's not altogether surprising: I live there. Then (also unsurprisingly) I opened up my phone, and saw that tonne of friends back home were posting and tweeting about Eurovision. Now, that is not surprising either: The contest was held last night. What was surprising is until Europeans took [...]
Sun 14th
08:04
Paddy Ashdown steps up bid to save the Royal Marines as Lib Dems commit to 2% NATO Defence Spending
On the same day that the Liberal Democrats have announced a manifesto commitment to the NATO 2% defence spending target, former party Leader Paddy Ashdown has launched a petition to stop further cuts to the Royal Marines in which he served. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said, 'In an uncertain and volatile world, it's our
A quick history quiz for the weekend: only six recent Prime Ministers have not subsequently taken a seat in the House of Lords. Who are the six? Four you should find quite easy, a fifth not too hard if you are an older reader, but the sixth may surprise - or make you think "oh, of course!"... (Answers below.) Winston Churchill, Edward Heath, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Interesting that we're now in an extended run of ex-Prime Ministers not going to the Lords. Hat-tip: Dishonourable Insults by Greg Knight.
Ultimately the rest of the EU doesn't really mind what happens in the UK's general election - it just wants decent negotiation partners Jon nails it here. (tags: ukpolitics eu brexit ) 'the kiss' 15 years on: meet the models and creators behind the iconic image | read | i-D Nice. (tags: sexandgenderandsexuality photos ) We overanalyze Trump. He is what he appears to be. Alas, probably so. (tags: uspolitics psychology )
The Patreon backer posts are still happening — I have an Ursula Le Guinn novel on order from Amazon to write about it, I'm rereading Simon Bucher Jones' "Charles Dickens' Martian Notes" in order to review it, and I've borrowed ... Continue reading →
In news which will surprise absolutely nobody, the Lib Dems are announcing today that we will maintain the requirement to spend 0.7% of GDP on international aid. Getting this written into law was one of our best achievements in coalition and we are not going to let it go even though ti has become the focus of the ire of the right wing press. We believe that it is important that the UK continues to alleviate poverty across the world, helping to build a more secure and stable international community. Tim Farron explained why this is so important to us: ...
