Earlier today, Christine Jardine told Sky News why the Liberal Democrats support the people having the final say on the Brexit deal. The things the Leave campaign dismissed as scaremongering are now happening and people need to have the chance to say if this is what they wanted:

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

Amendment 7 to the European Union Withdrawal Bill passed in Parliament by just four votes tonight, giving Parliament a legal guarantee of a vote on the final Brexit deal. For all their talk about 'taking back control' Brexit supporters have been very reluctant to give Parliament any meaningful power over the Brexit deal, preferring to let Prime Minister Theresa May and her appointed Cabinet decide behind closed doors. But tonight they lost the debate and lost the vote: The government's first Commons defeat on Brexit came after opposition parties joined forces with Conservative rebels during a heated debate in the ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

There have been precious few bright moments since the Brexit nightmare started. In fact, I can't really remember any that didn't involve being at an anti Brexit protest with other pro-Europeans. I seriously didn't expect the Government to lose tonight. I thought that Tory rebels would express concern but ultimately line up behind Theresa May and David Davis. I felt it was more likely given that May is on the up at the moment. Maybe I was wrong, though. It's probably easier to rebel on a good day than inflict what may be a fatal act on a government that ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

That's what Shropshire Council is planning to do. Unable to balance its budget, and that is the fault of the government as well as this Conservative led council, it plans to tax some of the poorest people in our county. If the council votes in favour tomorrow, and that is as certain as Lewis Hamilton winning Formula 1, many people on benefits or very low wages will be forced to pay 20% of their council tax. It will cost many £200 a year. This is a truly a tax on the poor. What is more, it won't work. People who ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

I'm leaving things as they are now, because several people said they'd prefer to be paying monthly rather than by-post, but Patreon have now backed down and said, and I quote, "We messed up. We're sorry, and we're not rolling ... Continue reading →

Posted by Andrew Hickey on Sci-Ence! Justice Leak!

The 1970s, especially post-Watergate, saw a series of high-quality US thrillers that mixed politics, paranoia and a handful of good people standing up to secret plotters.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Second paragraph of third chapter of Mutiny on the Bounty:A month sounds an age to be crowded with more than forty other men on board a small vessel at anchor most of the time, but I was making the acquaintance of my shipmates, and so keen on learning my new duties that the days were all too short. The Bounty carried six midshipmen, and, since we had no schoolmaster, as is customary on a man-of-war, Lieutenant Bligh and the master divided the duty of instructing us in trigonometry, nautical astronomy, and navigation. I shared with Stewart and Young the advantage ...

Real Christmas Trees Our crews will collect most real Christmas trees from houses if they are put out for collection with green garden waste bins before the end of January 2018. If you live in a flat and have a tree, please take it to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre instead. Alternatively, some garden centres, [...]

Posted by chriswhite on Chris White

A timeline of my dealings with this company:2 days ago I searched for "gas safe engineer [my town]" on google. Rightio were the top result, so I rang to book the meter connection I needed. I specified the size and type of meter, and was told that engineer would arrive between 5 and 7pm the next day. 7pm yesterday: the engineer hasn't arrived. Phoned the number I had been given to speak to the engineer team: "Oh, sorry, his last appointment overran and he couldn't get to you. We've rescheduled you for between 10 and 2 tomorrow". It would have ...

A NAO report attacks the government for its handling of the sale of the Green Investment Bank, set up by Liberal Democrats in coalition. The report makes clear:the sale process took longer than expected, and had an operational impact on the GIB. The sale process lasted for nearly 18 months, more than double the length indicated in planning.the final sale price was very much at the lower end of the expected valuation range.Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable, who as Business Secretary played a key part in setting up the bank, said: "Establishing the Green Investment Bank, a world first, was ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats
YouGov

After the American ambassador confirmed that President Trump will be visiting Britain in the New Year, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said this embarrassing visit was the fault of Theresa May. Jo Swinson MP said: "President Trump's divisive politics of hate is in direct conflict with British values. "One of the prime minister's biggest political mistakes was to offer to roll out the red carpet for a man who wears his racism and misogyny like a badge of pride. Theresa May should stand up to Donald Trump and withdraw her invitation."

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed Michael Gove's announcement to increase sentences for animal welfare offences to up to five years, a policy taken from the Liberal Democrat manifesto, but warn that he should clamp down on illegal pet imports. In January this year, the government said there were no plans to extend maximum sentencing in response to parliamentary questions from the Liberal Democrats, instead offering the possibility of giving revised guidance to magistrates. The Liberal Democrat 2017 manifesto called for "stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences, increasing the maximum sentencing from six months to five years." No such policy was ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

The Committee on Standards in Public Life has today published a report on intimidation in public life. The report calls for a new law to crack down on the rise in intimidation and abuse at elections and says social-media companies should tackle "persistent, vile and shocking abuse" directed at politicians. Liberal Democrat President Sal Brinton, who gave evidence to the report, commented: "We welcome this report and its recommendations. "The Liberal Democrats look forward to working with other parties to implement these proposals to tackle intimidation in public life. "It's crucial that both social media companies and political parties take ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats
Wed 13th
12:43

Brush

Dust had appeared, a fallout from the air Swish-brush, swish-brush, swish-brush A brush is handled, organises and attacks Brisk-brush, brisk-brush, brisk-brush The dust falls back, conforming Swish-brush, swish-brush, swish-brush Some dust conceals itself in corners Brisk-brush, brisk-brush, brisk-brush Other dust escapes down cracks Swish-brush, swish-brush, swish-brush Clouds of unintended consequence are raised Brisk-brush, brisk-brush, brisk-brush [...]

Posted by AL Franklin on Maintain the Advance!

Here's a curious angle on today's glorious electoral upset in Alabama, courtesy of Quartz: Black voters typically support the Democratic party, which is popular in Alabama's middle districts. That vote shows up in electoral maps as a stripe running straight through the GOP stronghold: The black belt. Contrary to myth, the "black belt" does [...]

Posted by Mark Mills on Matter Of Facts

Christmas activities at Yate Library: Thursday 14 December - Christmas Rhymetime - Yate Library, 10.30am to 11amTuesday 19 December - Christmas crafts - Yate Library, 10.30am to 12 middayThursday 21 December - Stories around the tree (presented by Yate Library Teen Focus Group) - Yate Library, 5pm to 6pmRegular events: Teen Focus Group meets monthly (3rd Thursday of the month)Rhymetime for pre-school children: Thursdays 10:30am term time onlyExhibition space - Yate library showcases the best local arts and crafts for you to see, enjoy and even buyLego Club for primary school age children, who must be accompanied by a grown-up. ...

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington

It's that time of year when we hope that our nearest and dearest know us well enough to get us the books we want for Christmas. There is nothing nicer than spending the Christmas holidays snuggled up on the sofa with a nice pile of books that you don't usually get the time to read. My husband has been pointed firmly in the direction of the new Nigella book. Anything with a recipe for a chocolate and amaretto cake in it will definitely have pride of place in my Christmas reading pile. He also knows not really to bother buying ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice
Wed 13th
11:00

My tweets

Tue, 12:52: RT @MSmithsonPB: Brussels rules out early Brexit trade talks following DDavis comments. Time to bring on a substitute perhaps. https://... Tue, 16:05: Eurythmics: how we made Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) https://t.co/q9XZTPAc5Z Brilliant. Tue, 18:21: Guided by the Beauty of Their Weapons, by Philip Sandifer https://t.co/34ERg6JsqB Tue, 20:28: RT @KishwerFalkner: Very kind of @NorwayInGeneva to host the launch of @URGthinktank's HRC in 2017 report! https://t.co/OUG2PpdWKs Wed, 10:45: Adventures in Moominland https://t.co/zVc7TiuiCF Looking forward to seeing this exhibition next month.

Instagram photo: Canal not as liquid as usual. There was a dead duck frozen in the ice at one point, but I thought it would be disrespecting his memory to photograph him (definitely a him: shiny-headed mallard). Alisdair did say "there's good eating on one of them", but I'm not desperate enough to risk that kind of freeganism... yet. Instagram photo: TFW you've had a long walk along the canal, but the pub has a fire and a doggie menu (they had sausages today) Dracula ticks in amber tell ancient blood-sucking tale disappointing lack of sexy Christopher Lee photos in ...

Connecting South Gloucestershire is a central government department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) supported programme bringing faster broadband across South Gloucestershire where it is not economically viable for commercial companies to provide it. Connecting South Gloucestershire is working with BT to deliver superfast and ultrafast broadband to over 9,000 homes & businesses in South Gloucestershire. So if you're having problems with slow internet connections, the South Glos broadband website may be of interest.Be warned however that it's technical in places. South Glos say "Business and residents may need to check that they are able to benefit from our ...

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington
eUKhost

The following information has been provided by NHS Bury: Always open NHS Choices website (http://www.nhs.uk/) for advice on less urgent health needs. NHS 111 for clinical advice, assessment and for direction to the most appropriate services for treatment if you need medical help fast but it is not an emergency. A and E and 999 for life threatening emergencies. Walk-In Centres Bury walk-in centre first floor Moorgate Primary Care Centre, 22 Derby Way, Bury, BL9 0NJ is open 7am until 3pm seven days a week. Prestwich walk-in centre Fairfax Road, Prestwich M25 1BT is open 12 noon until 8pm seven ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

It's only a few weeks since Laura Gordon was selected as Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the marginal seat of Sheffield Hallam but already she is making her mark. Ready to be interviewed by BBC Radio Sheffield talking about Jared O'Mara's absence and where we go from here. #sheffield #sheffieldlibdems https://t.co/qVTx50MBWP pic.twitter.com/ybxxedXg1v — Laura Gordon (@LibDemLaura) December 12, 2017 In June, Nick Clegg was defeated by the controversial Jared O'Mara who has failed to do the job he was elected to do. Laura is effectively having to behave like an MP to fill the vacuum. In a wide-rangingi interview ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

The following information has been provided by the Council as an update to residents on the works through Prestwich Village on Bury New Road / A56. "Council Officers have considered how best to approach the works over the Christmas period. It has been agreed that the best way forward is to delay the remaining excavation works near to the Aldi Supermarket and remove all the cones and barriers that are not deemed essential. Any further works undertaken in the lead up to the Christmas period will be confined to small areas of footway where street trees and street furniture will ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

The latest Prestwich Artisan Market is on Sunday (17 December 2017), the Christmas-themed event is in aid of the Super Josh charity and will boast 55 stalls selling a huge range of goods in the Longfield Suite and around the Prestwich Fountain. There will also be Santa in his Grotto (thanks to Prestwich Carnival), film from Prestwich Cinema on the big screen, and music courtesy of Just Jane.

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

Update: 15.53 on 12th December: Hi Iain, I contacted Bosco house Bootle for an update on their policy. They can take an extra 8 or 9 people in the extreme weather and they have been told to turn no one away but they are still applying the policy that the homeless have to turn up between 8 and 9. I then phone Leyland Road Southport and they have taken the furniture out the room so they can accommodate an extra 6 or 7 people. After that they are referring them to Bosco House. Again they are still applying the policy ...

Posted on birkdale focus

Community groups wishing to run a project within parks/green spaces near to or in Heaton Park are invited to apply for a grant from the Parklife 2017 Community Fund. The Fund has over £44,000 available this year for the benefit of community groups. Priority will be given to groups and projects that utilise parks and open spaces, although all are encouraged to apply with any ideas or requests, to help improve the area. share. Raised from contributions made at the festival by guest-list attendees, the fund in part supports the officially championed charity 'SuperJosh' for brain tumour sufferers and families, ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

David Davis and his ministers have already promised a vote on the deal the government strikes with the EU, ages ago now in Brexit terms. Only, it was never much of a concession: it's take it or leave it, in the words of Steve Baker, meaning either parliament would accept the deal – or Britain would crash out with no deal. Dominic Grieve is pushing ahead with an amendment to the Withdrawal Bill this evening that would require the government to make the vote "meaningful" – although I'm still not entirely sure what that means. It will be put to ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com

On August 9th 1974 Gerald Ford took the oath of office to become president of the United States. In his brief speech he said: "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over... Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men." 43 years later, the American Republic is being tested in a way it has never been tested in the 241 years since the declaration of independence. It is not just that Donald Trump is a vulgar, boorish, lecher. It is not just that he has consistently lied about his businesses and has ...

Posted by Cicero on Cicero's Songs

Sir Vince Cable opened the proceedings by emphasising the importance of approaching this fiscal reform in a way that was not "tribal or sectarian". They valued the fact that representatives of four political parties had agreed to form the Group - Liberal Democrats, Conservative, Green and Labour. He noted the idea, in different forms, has been around seemingly forever" but that "very little in reality has happened." The message was "for goodness sake let's do something that takes this forward. Let's have a practical route map". Vince noted that the proposal for land value taxation was supported by "a long ...

Posted by Joe Bourke on Liberal Democrat Voice

Waking up this morning to news that Democrat, Doug Jones has won the special Senate election in Alabama, albeit very narrowly, is the best news I have had for some time. Is this the start of a backlash that will deny the Republicans a majority in the House and the Senate in Autumn 2019? Mr. Jones was helped by the allegations of sexual impropriety levelled against his opponent, despite which Judge Roy Moore still managed to secure 63% support from those white women who cast a ballot. However, the fact Trump publicly backed Moore in a State that he won ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

Why did the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the President of the United States on December 6, 2017, cause so much emotion, not only in the entire Arab-Muslim world, but also in Europe? After all, it has been nearly 70 years since the Knesset and the Prime Minister of Israel sat [...] The post The end of US arbitration in the Middle East appeared first on Radix.

Posted by Renaud Girard on Opinion - Radix

Residents have commented to me what an improvement the new fencing on the south side of Pentland Avenue towards to west end of the street. As you can see below, the new fencing is a considerable improvement on the old wooden fence both in terms of appearance and safety :

The Independent has the opinion piece from Tom Brake MP on its web site – see link above I must admit I have begun to laugh these days when JC attacks the incoherent TM for being in a right old muddle over Brexit because he too is in that very same muddle. Yes he attacks her but he keeps on voting with her in the H of C! OK Lab's official position last night was to abstain but that kind of sums them up at present does it not? This Tweet from Vince Cable of a couple of days ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

It's a genuine question, borne out of a degree of frustration.You see, during the Referendum campaign, she was in favour of remaining. As she noted, 53% of the region's exports go to the European Union... https://twitter.com/jochurchill4/status/743030654653325312 and the European Union is a vital source of research funding... https://twitter.com/jochurchill4/status/743069710376374273 It provides security... https://twitter.com/jochurchill4/status/743414048922939392 And voting remain was a vote for East Anglia! https://twitter.com/jochurchill4/status/745958096854487041 And so, on 23 June 2016, she voted to remain. So far, so consistent. It didn't take her long to bend to the supposed will of the British people though... On 27 June, she wrote;As many of you ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Bureaucracy

The company is planning to replace two kilometres of water pipes between Ludlow Food Centre and finish near Felton Farm. The work will start on 9 January and continue for 5 months. A drop-in session will take place in the Board Room at The Clive near Ludlow Food Centre on Wednesday 13 December between 3pm and 7pm. Severn Trent Water said: "A reliable water supply is so important to everyday life and the existing pipes have been in use for some time which is why we're carrying out this work now, to avoid leaks and bursts happening in the future. ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

Morning and it's a better one. Ludlow is returning to normal today and we are expecting all services to be open. The market is back in operation and pavements in the town centre have been cleared. Buses are expected to operate near normally. Ludlow schools are open. Some rural schools are closed or on limited hours. Snow and ice will remain on side streets and pavements, where it may still be very slippery. Car parks have yet to be cleared. Some cold temperatures between 7am and 9am and around teatime may lead to refreezing. There is a possibility of sleet ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

The terminal at Nairobi is far better than the hell hole of termkinal one at Manchester Airport Last Monday I had the first of my wet palm events (there were many more!) The train from Liverpool to Manchester Airport ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?