Sun 12th
23:08

Dunston Action Day

We had a mini action day in Dunston yesterday to get the bulk of our latest Focuses delivered. I was given two patches to do, 350 houses in total, all but two streets on the flat. Given that most of the houses in the Dunston part of Dunston Hill ward are on a slope, I got the better deal!

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

I attended the Whickham Remembrance parade and service today. It is the biggest in Gateshead with over 500 people attending and over 40 organisations laying wreaths. Cllr John McClurey laid the wreath for our constituents in Whickham South and Sunniside. You can see all the photos on this link.

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

Sid James was a linchpin of the Carry On films. He appeared in every British picture for 20 years after the war. But have your ever seen him as a song and dance man? He was in the 1960s film musical Three Hats for Lisa. Note the presence here of Una Stubbs and, trying hard to be an "all round family entertainer" - an ambition that ruined more than one British pop career - Joe Brown. The pleasingly acerbic lyrics are by Leslie Bricusse, who wrote all the words and music for the songs in the film. Mind you, it's ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 495th 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 (5-11 November, 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. On sexual abuse in the Lib Dems ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

Embed from Getty Images Phil Reilly has announced his decision to step down as the Liberal Democrats' director of communications in a post on Lib Dem Voice. I wish him well for the future. If nothing else, the remarkably spirited reaction of the party press office to the straitened circumstances of the past couple of years has helped keep members cheerful. However, in the post Phil repeats a version of party history that has long been popular in Nick Clegg's inner circle. Writing of the first leaders' debate in the 2010 general election, he says: That night changed the course ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
Sun 12th
18:26

Why we (try to) write

I continue to believe that writing here is worthwhile. Because there is much which warrants writing.

Posted by jfefleming on Whatever's Left
Sun 12th
18:02

Six of the Best 742

Caron Lindsay writes on the motion in favour of gender-neutral school uniform passed by the Scottish Liberal Democrats yesterday, She reproduces the speech proposing it by 15-year-old Jess Insall. Caroline Criado-Perez explains why women need to be seen and heard in public spaces. "There is a certain type of woman popping up on the media all gung ho style and jolly hockey stick japes to tout a version of female machismo which, apparently, all women ought to have adopted or should adopt to fend off male harassment." Jane Chelliah says that adopting such an attitude to male harrassment is akin ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Jo Swinson's keynote speech to Scottish Conference yesterday tackled many current issues from climate change to the challenges faced by developments in automation and technology which threaten 1 in 3 jobs. She was clear that it was the Liberal Democrats who could lead in developing the answers to these complex challenges; Most importantly though, as Liberal Democrats we need to bring people together to create these answers to our shared challenges. "We must not leave room for the populists to sow their seeds of division. This means getting out of what can, at times, be our own echo chambers and ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice
Sun 12th
15:56

Sunday reading

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) Virginia Woolf, by Hermione Lee Last books finished A Life Worth Living ed. Simon Guerrier The Deepest Sea, by Charles Barnitz Doctor Who: The American Adventures, by Justin Richards Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl Next books Dear Old Dead, by Jane Haddam Corum: The Prince in the Scarlet Robe, by Michael Moorcock Wolf in White Van, by John Darnielle

Here is Willie Rennie's speech to Scottish Conference. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, here are a few highlights: On Lib Dem values: We stand with the weak against the strong, and will use the power of government to tackle the social and economic injustices that limit freedom. We say power is safer when it is shared and will trust communities and individuals with the power to control their own lives. We are trustees of our world, and our society, and must pass on a sustainable legacy which will benefit future generations. Hammering the Tories: Well, ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice
YouGov

One of the highlights of Scottish Liberal Democrat conference yesterday was a motion calling for: The requirement that schools provide inclusive, non- prescriptive, gender neutral school uniform policies. The government to provide support and advice to schools adapting or changing their policies to make them more inclusive. Awareness of the detrimental effect that discriminatory school uniforms have on girls, and to a heightened extent, on transgender and non-binary pupils. Adequate training for school staff on how to review and improve their school uniform policies. It was submitted by Jess Insall, a 15 year old who only joined the party in ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice
Sun 12th
11:30

We will remember them

Three years ago, 888,246 ceramic poppies were placed around the Tower of London. You can read my account of my visit to see them here. I found the whole thing incredibly moving and actually distressing in places. I think seeing each individual poppy and realising it meant a life, like my son's, really hit home. I can only imagine what it must have been like as the family back home, waiting to hear news of your loved one and hoping that the next knock at the door brought a handwritten letter from them and not a telegram. On a day ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice
Sun 12th
11:06

Phoebe Bridgers: Chelsea

. This is about the New York hotel not the London football club. It comes from Phoebe Bridgers first album Strangers in the Alps. NME says the album is a less a collection of songs and more a collection of feelings, a luscious but deeply sad debut that sees the 23-year-old singer putting her heart on the line and calling for you to do the same.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
Sun 12th
11:00

My tweets

Sat, 12:56: RT @emcmillanscott: Matthew Parris scorns May's timed #Brexit ploy - and calls for Remain unity and leadership @thetimes https://t.co/76YCA... Sat, 13:10: RT @kevinhorourke: It never was parked until Stage 2. That's why it was put in Stage 1. https://t.co/KhOgZeK2xS Sat, 16:05: RT @JoePack: This good news is not out there enough. Congratulations to Caroline Ouellette πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ and Julie Chu πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Olympic rivals, CWHL teammat... Sat, 16:43: The invisible creek in the heart of Washington DC https://t.co/lSrwzWnLXO Sat, 22:10: Thread. https://t.co/Gj2kgVz3Rr Sat, 23:19: RT @simoncoveney: @tnewtondunn This article is nonsense. Irish Govt is consistent and firm on preventing Hard ...

The Independent has a fascinating but unsurprising story in which they allege that Boris Johnson and Michael Gove sent a secret letter to Theresa May giving her instructions on how to orchestrate a hard Brexit. According to the paper, the memo demands the Prime Minister "underline her resolve" for leaving the European Union, and sets out a date for transition arrangements between the EU and UK to end of 30 June 2021: Mr Johnson and Mr Gove are also said to have urged the Prime Minister to ensure members of her top team fall behind their Brexit plans by "clarifying ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

Vince Cable's message for Remembrance Sunday is below: It is an honour to have been invited to the National Remembrance Day event at the Cenotaph. It is almost a century since the end of World War I. My grandfather was captured in a First World War battle, and maltreated in a prison camp. As with many survivors, he suffered from permanently damaged health. Nearly every family in this country has a relation who was killed, injured or suffered in a major war. Today we honour their sacrifice

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 11-11-2017 I posted The Blood is the Life for 11-11-2017 to my dreamwidth blog Artemisia Gentileschi is my new favourite Baroque artist Cornwall appeals to government as crops 'rot in fields' due to shortage in migrant labour after Brexit *headdesk headdesk headdesk* Game Recommendation: Yorkshire Gubbins | Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! RT @HickeyWriter: New blog post: reviewing Yorkshire Gubbins by @CharlotteGore [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments

12I've often thought I'm unusual. Not only for my fondness for paperclip facts but also for my fondness of my commute time. I don't really want a shorter commute. It's my time to listen to podcasts and audio books. On occasions when I have a shorter commute I don't end up using the saved time for some wonderful self-improvement, to finally write that sci-fi novel about a general election in which regulating time travel is the big issue, or to sit at home listening to said podcasts or audio books. Rather the extra time slips away without that much to ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

It is with a heavy heart that after nearly a decade working for the party in one form or another, I am finally moving on. I started as a press officer a few months into Nick Clegg's leadership and since last summer I have had the privilege of serving as the party's Director of Communications. In that time I have managed to clock up three General Elections, three referendums, three party leaders, four chief executives, 18 spring and autumn conferences, nine TV debate 'spin rooms', two crucial by-election victories, one Glee Club (I walked out and vowed never to return), ...

Posted by Phil Reilly on Liberal Democrat Voice

Not so long ago and for differing reasons than I am addressing now I suggested that MP's should be supported by people who are seconded from the Civil Service. My concern then was about the cost of MP's to the public purse and the always worrying issue of their staff getting involved in doing what could easily be seen as party political work whilst the public purse (you and me) are paying for it. But the most recent revelations about sexual harassment in Parliament has in my view confirmed that my previous suggestion would also be right because it could ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus
eUKhost

The next West End Police Surgery takes place at Blackness Library tomorrow - details below :