A poll carried out for the Left Foot Forward blog showed a clear majority in favour of another vote on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations if there were no deal. This is the second time in a week that there has been a majority for the people to have the final say on the deal. Our policy of a referendum on the deal is not one that every Liberal Democrat warms to. It won the day in the Conference debate this year but there are those Lib Dems who think that we should actually go further and be more ...
OK, so I've switched the Patreon to monthly payments instead of per-work. So far some people have switched their backing to a higher tier, but most haven't yet — though it's only been a few days. Of the small number ... Continue reading →
Scandal hit MP for Sheffield Hallam, Jared O'Mara (elected as Labour, now suspended) has cancelled his surgeries for local residents. Lib Dem Laura Gordon is stepping in.
There's a link from a 13th century legend, to a 16th century insult book, to a 19th century writer, to a 20th century comic book hero. Here's why Batman comes from Gotham City.
Alternately hilarious and horrifying (seriously, does the woman NEVER wash her hands?), I haven't spent such as entertaining quarter hour in ages as watching the first episode of this. If you, too, want to scream "Jesus that turkey cannae take any more!" or "since when are potatoes GREEN?!?" (and you're in the UK) click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/p05jv04g I'm going to go for episode 2 now. I pray we meet again. My stomach hurts from laughing, and it IS possible to laugh yourself to death... [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Speaking to an audience of 4000 people at the Grand Mawlid Conference in Birmingham today, Vince Cable called for all BAME shortlists to tackle the lack of diversity in Parliament. Currently, the law only allows exclusive shortlists for women and disabled people and the party elected MPs in both categories this year. Stephen Lloyd was selected from an all disabled shortlist in Eastbourne and Christine Jardine was selected on an all-women shortlist in Edinburgh West. Vince said: There remains a serious lack of diversity in Parliament. There are just 51 BAME MPs. Despite being a record total, they represent only ...
In the eighteen months since the Referendum virtually all the EU/Brexit news has been bad.. I haven't kept a list, but, off the cuff: citizens from other countries are increasingly abused and vilified on Britain's streets;a 15% or so depreciation in the value of the £ is feeding inflation, but not, so far, stimulating exports;the promise of £350m a week for the NHS turns out to be hollow, and those who made it say it was never meant to be taken seriously anyway.;industrial and commercial investment has stalled;we have slipped from being the fastest growing economy in the G7 to ...
Sat 9th
17:19
Should we run a county lottery to replace community funds that Shropshire Council won't now provide?
Public funding for the community sector is sinking fast. Our youth budget is miniscule. Discretionary grants are evaporating. Faced with similar gaps in funding, some councils have launched local lotteries giving up to 60% of the ticket price to local good causes chosen by residents. It is time that we considered running a lottery for Shropshire. At next Thursday's Shropshire Council meeting, I will be asking council officers to investigate the case for a countywide community lottery. Ten days ago, the Shropshire Star reported that more than half of the services run by voluntary organisations in Shropshire and Telford & ...
This is a liberal site, a place for discussion amongst liberals, and those who are supporters or members of the Liberal Democrats. But it is an independent site, and welcomes those with different views , as long as there is respect. On the most important decision and issue for many, currently, it is the moment for liberal and independent voices. The decision and display of and by Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, to push for, as a declaration of intent for coalition, " a united States of Europe " has changed the nature of ...
A BMG Research poll for Left Foot Forward today has found that the public backs a referendum on staying in the EU if the government fails to secure a trade deal. The split was 54:46, with 74% of 18-24 year olds backing a vote. This comes less than a week after a Survation poll for The Mail on Sunday showed that one in two people back the Liberal Democrat policy of a vote on any Brexit deal, or a no deal scenario, against 34% who do not. Responding, Ribble Valley Lib Dem Cllr Allan Knox leader said: "This is the ...
Every year since 2005, I have posted a list of the cities where I have spent a night away from home in that calendar year. (Both last year and the year before, I then found myself doing one more trip to a new place later in December. I'm just back from my second last trip to London of the year, and nothing more is planned, so hopefully this list will be definitive.) Previous years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. My list for 2017, then, is: *London, UK Tirana, Albania *Belfast, UK *Helsinki, Finland ...
Speaking at The Grand Mawlid (Peace Conference) in Birmingham today in front of an expected 4,000 audience, Vince Cable will call on the government to change the law so that all-BAME (black and minority ethnic) short-lists are allowed for selecting Parliamentary election candidates. Under the 2010 Equality Act, political parties may field all-women or all-disabled short-lists, but the law does not allow for all-BAME short-lists. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable is expected to say: "There remains a serious lack of diversity in Parliament. "There are just 51 BAME MPs. Despite being a record total, they represent only 7.9% of all ...
Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has been giving an interview to The Yorkshire Post and not surprisingly Brexit (but not zombies) features heavily. "It's been so badly handled, it 's been sold on such a pack of lies and people's expectations are running so far ahead of what is realistically possible, that you would've thought at some point there's going to be a major collision which may allow us - particularly young people who didn't vote for this at all - to say 'hang on a minute let's think again'." "I still put most of my money on there ...
It is time to sign up and support Birkdale Community Hub and Library. There are two easy ways you can contribute. Follow the link above and join the 200+Club and/or become a friend of the project for £12. The library, which is a charity, opened its door during the Village Victorian Fayre and it was good to see so many local residents taking an interest. The project, which is based at the Station Master's House next to the station, has ambitious plans. They need the support of Birkdale residents.Congratulation to all the volunteer team they have done marvellously well. Please ...
There is no point shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but it is an activity that Michael Gove appears to be fairly fond of if this Guardian article is anything to go by. The paper reports Gove's statement that voters will be able to force changes to an EU withdrawal deal at the next election if they do not like it: Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Gove said: "The British people will be in control. If the British people dislike the agreement that we have negotiated with the EU, the agreement will allow a future government to ...
Fri, 18:26: My Daily Life Comics, by Renee Rienties https://t.co/IhDxJ3BjT6 Fri, 18:59: Once again at @DeLijn's horrible desolate Perron 14. Wondering how late the 337 will be this evening. (@ Perron 14... https://t.co/oMviXmQr5m Fri, 18:59: RT @JenniferMerode: "Sufficient progress" ≠ done deal (1) Irish border q to be solved. (2) Brexit € to be finalised - not clear EU shares... Fri, 19:06: Sincere thanks to @DeLijn - 337 arrived just as the snow started, two minutes early! Fri, 21:02: A'Tuin
Bolt Threads' New Hat Shows the Promise of Synthetic Spider SilkFingers crossed I am neither allergic to, nor autistic texture sensitive to, synthetic spider silk. siderea | Patreon ProblemsThis is a really good explainer of what is going on with Patreon and why you're seeing so much waily waily about it if you follow anyone who uses it. (Note: as usual for DW posts, it is not only safe but recommended to read the comments as well) Siderea's follow up post to this is worth reading too.Note the absolutely jaw-dropping description of rich people as "signal" and insufficiently rich people ...
A quieter night this week, with only 2 by-elections held across the country, but still room for a successful night with another gain from the Tories, making it 8 gains in 6 weeks since the start of November. North Devon DC, Newport - Lib Dem gain from Conservative LD Caroline Leaver 390 [38.8%; +7.1%] Con 373 [37.1%; -2.8%] Grn 159 [15.8%; -12.6%] Lab 83 [8.3%: +8.3%] Once again we find ourselves congratulating the team in North Devon as they pick up another seat off the Conservatives with Caroline Leaver the new councillor. Our successes in North Devon have wiped out ...
Residents have highlighted to me that Perth Road west of Riverside Drive to Riverside Avenue is the only part of the road not resurfaced or surface dressed in recent years. I asked the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership if this can be considered for future improvement and I have received the following response : "Perth Road west of Riverside Drive to Ninewells Avenue is provisionally included in the 2019-2020 Carriageway Programme for surface dressing."
An Arriva bus at the Meadows bus stop I have blogged about changes to the 300 bus route previously. My last posting is available via the link below:- However, it seems that more changes may well be on the way from 21st January although what those changes will be I am presently unsure. A local resident e-mailed me about the potential changes and this is what they said:- I note that Arriva intend to amend the timetable of the above, as per this notice: PC0001141/69 ARRIVA MERSEYSIDE LTD, 73 ORMSKIRK ROAD, LIVERPOOL, L9 5AE Operating between Southport,Union Street and ...
HT: Forbes This tallies with my own experience. While I would prefer to live an already rich but slow growing country like the UK rather than a poor but rapidly growing one like Vietnam, there are definitely advantages to being among people who are generally confident that their lives are improving. An air of positivity is [...]
