Another bumper set of council by-elections this week: eleven in total, of which nine have Liberal Democrat candidates. The two missing out on candidates are at least seats the party has in one case never and in the other case only once fought before – though even in the weakest of areas, every by-election can be a useful step in building up the party if the opportunity can be taken. There was due to be a twelfth by-election this week too. At least 754 postal votes had even already been cast in the contest. However, the contest in Bryn ward, ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

[IMG: Vince Cable is spot on about the unholy trinity of Tory views on Brexit standards] Vince Cable has a great political instinct for predicting the downfalls in economic situations. After predicting the 2008 economic crisis he is now consistently raising the alarm about the potential pitfalls associated with a UK-US trade agreement ... The post Vince Cable is spot on about the unholy trinity of Tory views on Brexit standards appeared first on FeministMama @ambitiousmamas.

Posted by ambitiousmamas on FeministMama @ambitiousmamas
Thu 22nd
21:27

Remembering Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky in 1977 was Terry Gilliam's first film as a solo director. Here, 40 years on, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Annette Badland remember making it.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Disney's live-action remake of The Sword in the Stone appears to be happening. A while ago it was reported that Bryan Cogman, a writer on Game of Thrones, was working on the script. Now the Hollywood Reporter says the film may have found its director. It's Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, best known for 28 Weeks Later: Fresnadillo's hiring points to the direction in which the remake will head. The filmmaker is known for his dark tones. Which sounds distinctly promising. The Sword in the Stone was the last cartoon issued by his studio in Walt Disney's lifetime. I have seen clips ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Here's the message from Lib Dem HQ: The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) is appointing chairs for new working groups that will prepare draft policy papers for the FPC to consider and submit to conference in Autumn 2019. These working groups will develop Liberal Democrat policy in the following areas: Climate change and the low-carbon economy Crime, policing and justice Health and social care More detail about these working groups can be found on the Policy Working Groups webpage. The FPC is looking to appoint a chair for each of these groups who will lead 15-20 members to develop policy in ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

As a teacher of economics I've always felt I've laboured under a double handicap. Most people have been to school and most people from the age of five or so have and spend money, if not much, and when they grow they up have a budget, even if they don't call it that. I consequence, since most people have been on the receiving end of eduction they think they know a lot, if not all there is to know, about it, and since all people operate at some level as agents in the economic system, they tend to believe they ...

Posted by Peter Wrigley on Keynesian Liberal

Vince Cable, reports Isabel Hardman, has been to only three out of the six Prime Minister's Questions held this year. He does turn up when he has a question allocated, which is now around once a month. And she also quotes Vince's explanation for his absence: "There's no point sitting there like a stuffed dummy every single week just to watch a Punch and Judy show when I can be doing more important work for my constituents and on policy. If there is a Prime Minister's statement, then I always turn up because I get to ask a question."Vince is ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Is anybody else using this and would like to be added to my f-list on it? Because while it's very gratifying seeing "you are first among your friends" it kind of takes the shine off a bit that I only have one friend on it (hi Brendan!). Apparently you can add friends by phone number or QR code; with that in mind I'll leave comments screened and then if you want to be added you can leave a comment with your phone number secure in the knowledge that only I will see it. Or you could email me if you ...

Second paragraph of third chapter: Two hours had passed since Ledesme had nearly met his death in the jaws of the kymera. Night had fallen, ushering its own distinctive chorus of nocturnal performers onto the stage of ruins surrounding the expedition's camp.This was a slightly unusual acquisition at Loncon 3 - the author was staying in the same hotel as us, the Prince Regent on Prince Regent Lane, and we got to know each other over breakfast. The book itself is a decent enough tale of elite family politics and slightly steampunk technology in a world which resemble, but is ...

Amid all the bad news about Brexit - the lies on the bus, the shrinking economy, the paralysed opposition, we are prone to forget the benefits it is bringing us. I am talking about our understanding of the European Union. Politicians who have for years loftily ignored it are at last being forced to find out a bit about how it works. Large numbers of the population who had hardly heard of the EU before the referendum are gaining some glimmer of what it's all about. So a nation for years isolated in its cocoon, benefiting from EU membership without ...

Posted by John King on Liberal Democrat Voice
YouGov

CREATING CULTURE RESIDENTIAL YOUTH EXCHANGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LITHUANIA AND THE UK Monday 2nd - Sunday 8th April 2018 Creating Culture is a one week residency in County Durham where young people from the UK and Lithuania will come together to meet, create networks, and develop their understanding of culture, human rights, and current issues affecting young people in Europe. Young People will work with leaders, activists, educators and artists using creative methods to explore inclusion, integration and intercultural dialogue. Ages: 16-24 years Location: Emmaus Youth Village, Consett, County Durham. Participants: 60 young individuals: 35 from Lithuania & 25 ...

Posted by Owen Temple on Owen Temple & Margaret Nealis

The Office for National Statistics has revised the UK economy's growth down from 0.5% to 0.4% for the final quarter of 2017. It has also confirmed the economy grew by only 1.7% in 2017, down from an earlier estimate of 1.8%. Responding, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: "These revisions confirm that the economy is at its weakest since 2012. Some industries, such as construction, look particularly frail, while families are being hit by rising inflation at a time when wage growth is poor. "The UK economy will continue to be outpaced by other countries if the Conservatives maintain their ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Welcome to the latest in my series of tips and advice for Liberal Democrat members, which first appeared in the email bulletin run by London Region for party members. Liberal Democrat conferences come with quite a lot of paperwork, which makes the conference app for federal conferences a very handy way of helping to keep on top of all the information. Liberal Democrat conference: what you need to knowThe Liberal Democrats hold two federal (i.e. UK-wide) party conferences a year, a weekend in the spring and a week in the autumn. more The Liberal Democrat conference app has just been ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Cllr. Allan Knox has launched a petition to save Clitheroe Interchange Information centre from closure. The closure move came as part of the round of cuts from Tory-run Lancashire County Council was unveiled as part of their budget. Cllr. Allan Knox said: "The Interchange is an essential part of the Ribble Valley public transport network. "It is vital for the provision of information about buses and trains as well as the sales of tickets. Without that information residents will use buses and trains less and without the sales of tickets the Clitheroe line will be much less viable. "We have ...

Posted by allanknox on Allan Knox

Yesterday's #TimesUp campaign to stand up against the abuse and harassment of women built on the awareness-raising of #MeToo. Women's Aid, in joining organisations around the world for #TimesUp, said "A culture that enables abuse, control and violence is thriving without challenge.....our first response to countless survivors is that she is not alone and she is not to blame. Control, abuse or violence towards an individual is never acceptable. Spotting the patterns and making individuals and agencies accountable for their actions is essential if more people are to come out of the shadows and know they will be seen and ...

Posted by Kirsten Johnson on Liberal Democrat Voice

Cllr Frank Prendergast who was Labour's Council Leader and a Former Lord Mayor now sits as an Independent not Labour Councillor Its not often that I get surprised about political events after 51 years as an active Party member but ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

"Exclusive: Cabinet did not agree to Theresa May's strategy for Brexit transition period, senior ministers say" reads a headline in today's Telegraph. It may just as well have read "Exclusive: humans require oxygen to live". One of the more annoying things about the age we live in - and given Donald Trump is president of the United States, this is really saying something - is this pretence that Theresa May is unpredictable. She isn't. She is one of the most predictable people on the face of the Earth. Hell, this used to be touted as one of her chief assets, ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com

Just when we thought Donald Trump couldn't shock us any further, he tells us that he is considering a proposal to promote concealed carrying of weapons by trained school employees to respond to campus shootings. As the Independent reports, Trump believes the proposal could "solve the problem" of school shootings, by making potential attackers think twice and noted that some airline pilots have carried concealed weapons since the attacks of September 11, 2001. This solution has been advocated by the gun lobby for some time. They would rather see gunfire met by gunfire than make any attempt to restrict their ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black
Thu 22nd
11:00

My tweets

Wed, 12:56: Who Benefits from the Collapse of Power Sharing? https://t.co/k1UajH66qr @gerrylynch works it out. Wed, 16:05: GDP per Capita in Europe in 1890 (in 2017 $) https://t.co/aspdN9Kcl5 Another Brilliant Map. Wed, 18:13: Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen, by Douglas Adams and James Goss https://t.co/7IDgxW4ZkN Wed, 20:48: The Strange and Twisted Life of "Frankenstein" https://t.co/a5KDwBLvhZ Brilliant long piece. Wed, 23:51: RT @WhovianFeminism: A #MeToo moment unfolded at @gallifreyone as cast and crew members revealed harrowing stories from their careers. Ther... Thu, 01:54: RT @bbclaurak: Govt source accepts UK has softened its position on EU citizens being able to come and ...

miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 21-02-2018 I posted The Blood is the Life for 21-02-2018 to my dreamwidth blog The "Microaggression" Concept | Current Affairs Warning: contains Pinker Another example of how gender roles are implanted in childhood. How to work around "You have read your free articles" messages weekly_food_challenge | Challenge #34: Vegetarian This week's challenge is live! The Teens Will Save Us Sometimes you see a thing that just gives you hope Tool 'names and shames' hidden drug trials Institutions that fail to report the results of their drug and medical trials will be named ...

eUKhost

When she took office, Theresa May spoke on the steps of Downing Street about the just about managing. She said, "We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives. When we take the big calls, we'll think not of the powerful, but you. When we pass new laws, we'll listen not to the mighty but to you. When it comes to taxes, we'll prioritise not the wealthy, but you". In our own Borough – Richmond upon Thames, 6,000 children are living in poverty. Last year 14 desperate families went to Citizens Advice to seek a ...

Posted by Chris Key on Liberal Democrat Voice

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0JomMKNzUg Please take a few moments to have a look at the You Tube video from the House of Commons linked above. To me such proposals are what Liberalism is all about – caring for those without a voice who are very much marginalised in our society. Even better this Bill seems to have a cross-party support from MP's of other political parties. It can only be hoped that this Bill is given a fair wind as opposed to the chill wind of the streets where some unfortunate homeless people presently have to end their lives.

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

It seems odd but the Brexit policy stance of our Official Opposition in the UK is providing cover for our Bluekip/DUP Government of the ever further right. And yes it's very uncomfortable for those of us on the left of UK politics who are vastly Remainers, but sadly it is where we are. In some ways I understand that moderate Labour MP's (who make up a majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party) are in the main keeping their heads down over Brexit, even though they know it will be a disaster for the UK. They do so of course because ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

Last night at Bury's Budget Council Meeting the proposals from the majority Labour Group were voted through. This is a Council Tax rise of 5.94% from 1 April 2018. The actual rise for residents will be about 6.35% when you add in the Council Tax charges from the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Liberal Democrat Councillors voted AGAINST this budget. This is a rise of over 17% in three years which we were not prepared to accept. The increase is made up of a basic increase of 2.94%, plus a further 3% 'social care levy'. This is the maximum increased ...

Posted by prestwichfocus on Tim Pickstone

Following a decision by Ofcom, channels in the UHF band currently used for digital terrestrial television (DTT) are being reallocated for the development of future mobile services. Freeview viewers (and those with other services that use Freeview channels, like YouView) will need to retune their TV equipment when changes take place in their area. The biggest change in this area will be on 27 February 2018, when the main Mendip transmitter frequencies are changed. If you get your signal from one of the local relay stations you can find out changeover dates from this page . Don't forget that you ...

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

Strategically, the 1990s were a golden decade for the West. For the North American-European couple, whose marriage – a marriage of the head if not of the heart – started at the end of the Second World War. Here was a household that had just won the Cold War and which China, Russia, India, no [...] The post Accelerating towards strategic impotence appeared first on Radix.

Posted by Renaud Girard on Opinion - Radix

From Sheena Wellington : Wighton Heritage Centre at the Central Library : Saturday 24th February at 11am (doors open 10.30am) Cappuccino Concert with Sandy Brechin, accordion and Ewan Wilkinson, vocals and guitar Sandy and Ewan have been playing together for twelve years now, combining Ewan's rich baritone singing and unique guitar style with Sandy's lightning fast accordion playing and backing vocals. The duo have toured all over the world, including Australia, The Middle East, Scandinavia and all over the British Isles. A selection of some of the best traditional songs from Scotland (and even some from England!) are interwoven with ...

Nascot Lawn, the only respite centre in Hertfordshire for children with complex needs, was due to close in May. Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group announced in November that it was withdrawing funding for this vital service. Several parents got together to fight this ruling. And yesterday, the High Court found that Herts Valley CCG needs to work with Hertfordshire County Council on the future plan for Nascot Lawn. Funding is now guaranteed until August. If they cannot reach an agreement on keeping Nascot Lawn open, Hertfordshire County Council can refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health. The ...

Posted by Kirsten Johnson on Liberal Democrat Voice

Last night I was at Birkbeck College's cinema in Gordon Square for the launch of a mini-season of Belgian films: Focus on Belgian Cinema. It was a bit of a nostalgia trip for me, as for most of the eight years I was based in Brussels as a journalist, I had a nice little side-line [...]

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer