Three council by-elections this week, and three Liberal Democrat candidates even though last time the seats were fought there was only one. Good. Two of the contests are in South Kesteven council, Lincolnshire and the third is in Redcar. The Redcar ward is three-member and managed at one point to have a Labour, a Conservative and a Lib Dem councillor all at the same time. The Lib Dem and Labour from that trio then both stood as independents next time and both lost. Nor have politics got that much more settled recently with the Lib Dem candidate this time, Marilyn ...
Back when I wrote How to rebuild the Liberal Democrats, the sort-of sequel to the original core votes pamphlet which attempted to set out in detail what a core votes approach means for the party's organisation, I highlighted why the party should move to making its key tools and resources all available free at the point of use to party members: We must make it easier for people to get started as campaigners. People should have quick and direct access to the tools and support they need rather than being faced with a steep learning and financial curve. There is ...
Ahead of this May's local elections in Barnet, three Conservative councillors, with a total of 52 years as councillors between them, have been deselected: Councillors Joan Scannell, who represents the Edgware ward; Maureen Braun, who represents Hendon; and Mill Hill ward's Sury Khatri all failed to make the cut at a selection interview by Hendon Conservative Association last weekend. [Hendon & Finchley Times] The result? Sury Khatri, who was Deputy Mayor 2016-17, has now resigned the Conservative whip, depriving his former party of its majority on Barnet Council.
Party members will be sad to hear of the sudden death of former English Party Chair Peter Ellis. Peter died in his sleep on Tuesday night, after being in Party HQ that day. He chaired the English Party from 2012-2015. I worked with him on the Federal Board and the party's Federal Finance Committee. We might have disagreed robustly about some things, but we always had a good laugh in the pub afterwards. Tributes have been appearing on social media: Gutted to learn of the death of Liberal Democrat stalwart Peter Ellis. A key member of the party for many ...
So this evening Daughter requested a wrap for her tea. When she has a wrap she likes to have the following filling: - salami or pepperoni or some other spiced meat - a nice strong cheese (we used a smoked Bavarian-style one this evening) - some salad (rocket, peppers, cucumber this evening)... ... and a nice big thick smear of Nutella.View Poll: Odd food combinations In non-odd-daughter-food-related news: when I find out which of you bastards at lib dem conference gave me this cold I'm going to drown you in the snot you've made me produce. So make sure your ...
I had to miss conference at Southport last week as my friend Richard (I am his carer) needed an emergency operation on Friday afternoon. Thankfully it was a success. Sadly, I was not able to rescue my conference hotel booking. I had to pay for night. Happily, the hotel did not try to charge me for the 2nd.
Due to my friend Richard's recent visits to hospital (and two heart operations), I've been out of time to keep the blog up to date. But I've continued to record my video diaries. Now that Richard is back home, I have the chance to catch up. This video was my diary from 8th March. I attended a meeting about the new personal data regulations that come into force in May. At the meeting, the
Second paragraph of third story ("Extracts from the Club Diary"): It being the case that our Club is a secret body, admittance to the membership of which is by invitation only -- and then to the most close-lipped and trustworthy of fellows -- I feel it incumbent upon me to start a journal of our activities. Accordingly, I declare this Club Diary to be open. The duty of maintaining it falls upon the shoulders of the chairman of the executive; therefore, in my capacity as co-founder of the society, I shall maintain it until the time comes to hand over ...
I once used the phrase 'No-one is going to vote Lib Dem because of our policy on Azimstana'. The point is an obvious one; surveys show us that the average British voter is more concerned about domestic issues such as health, education, welfare, employment, immigration and crime. Understandably so. However, there are three very good reasons why, notwithstanding, we need to invest time in foreign policy, international relations and the global economy. First, UK foreign policy does from time to time come to the fore in the mind of the voting public and we have to be on top of ...
Much has been written about the negative feeling which drove Brexit, but it easy to forget that there is a positive and indeed a romantic aspect too. We fondly cherish the wartime image of Britain carrying the torch of liberty, standing alone against the dark forces which were engulfing the continent. Beyond that, Britain still retains a dim but influential memory of its empire, of the great and global power we once were. The pens I used as a child at school were inscribed "empire made", and it was an empire on which the sun never set. Europe, where was ...
Liberal Democrat Armed Forces Spokesperson, Jamie Stone said: "Men and women who serve in our Armed Forces deserve the utmost support for their sacrifice, but time and again they have been let down by this government. Too little has been done to address the chronic low morale amongst those currently serving, and the country is being put at risk by a failure to recruit new people with the skills needed for 21st century warfare. "Williamson should have used his first major speech as Defence Secretary to show soldiers, sailors and airmen that he is listening to their needs by lifting ...
Since becoming Chief Executive, I am trying to streamline our operations and cut out unnecessary waste. With limited resources, we need to be agile and dynamic, to simplify processes and maximise the time, money and effort we devote to campaigning. Currently, local parties are either invoiced or debited for Connect and Salesforce. Processing all this and then chasing it up involves significant staff time and pointless bureaucracy. Worse still, there are grotesque and unjustifiable anomalies in the sums that local parties, both large and small, are paying for these digital tools. Some are even getting them free. It is also ...
Wed, 12:56: For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It https://t.co/qoaUCvi45Q National Geographic confesses. Wed, 15:07: Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. https://t.co/UZ6k2kIdZa Wed, 16:05: Ken Dodd: 17 of his funniest one-liners https://t.co/uf6cqBRj3k Hee! Wed, 16:19: RT @apcoworldwide: As Chancellor #Merkel's likely final term in office gets under way, @hendrikfrank and Johannes Sibbor from our #Germany... Wed, 17:20: RT @PoliticoRyan: This Dutch election ad probably qualifies at the "Cool Campaign" of the week. Dutch liberals say "Ignore the screams (of... Wed, 18:52: Four Doctors, ...
Four Muslim MPs receive suspicious packages at WestminsterStephen Hawking escapes the physical universeHands down the best "Stephen Hawking has passed away" article I have read today. miss_s_b | Humpty raises the blood pressure againIn which I discuss the Today presenter. 17 days to shape Lib Dem policy on immigrationWell, 16 now. Teach boys about periodsThis is important. Age that women first noticed men were looking at them sexuallyRead the comments on this one, too. As for me personally? I was 10. If you like what you see here (or even if you don't) please consider dropping me a tip: [IMG: ...
There has been much in the news about MPs and, in Scotland, MSPs behaving inappropriately towards staff - whether this be bullying or inappropriate sexualised behaviour. Many of the current examples relate to other parties but most of us will be aware that we too have had our problems and can be no more complacent than any other party. For example, I can think of one former Parliamentarian (who, to this day, I greatly admire) who, when stressed, could shout at staff in ways that fell far short of good HR practice. There are many other stories within our party ...
Donald Trump amazed the world on 9 March when he suddenly said he would meet Kim Jong-un one-on-one. To date, no US president in office has traded face-to-face with a top North Korean leader. Nobody expected such a gesture from the US Chief Executive who, in September 2017, was still threatening North Korea with annihilation. [...] The post The element of surprise and why it can work appeared first on Radix.
Before: Our Country Gone in Sixty Seconds - David Lidington's infamous confirmation that the EU referendum was ADVISORY only, thereby dismissing the acceptance of Amendment 16 - the need for a supermajority which would have prevented the many being dictated by the few. pic.twitter.com/4PkqBUUiA3 — Brexitshambles #FBPE (@brexit_sham) March 9, 2018
Thu 15th
09:30
A history of LibDem campaigning on LGBT+ equality: "Always been there for you... and we always will"
I was lucky enough to be able to speak at the opening of Liberal Democrats conference last weekend, the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the party. The topic I spoke on was the history of LGBT+ equality campaigning in the party – something that actually predates the 1988 merger by some time, as the old Liberal Party was progressive and including even in the 1970s. Here's the speech I gave. For those who want to know more, there's further information on the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats web site. Good Evening! For those who don't know me, I'm Zoe O'Connell – ...
This was the scene off Altcar Lane a few days ago:- If I have read the situation here correctly these tyres have been taken out of the drainage ditch that runs alongside Altcar Lane during maintenance of the ditch. Used tyres seem to be dumped in ditches all over Sefton Borough and indeed all over everywhere. I'm guessing that's to avoid the cost of them being disposed of properly. Surely there has to be a process devised so that the fly-tippers can be traced as you would be hard pressed to find a roadside ditch without tyres in it these ...
Local councillor Claire Young has called upon South Gloucestershire Council to kick-start the regeneration of the "western gateway to Yate." Although on the edge of Yate, most of the industrial estates are in Westerleigh and Iron Acton Parishes. With the Conservatives proposing thousands of new homes in the area, it's vital we have the jobs to go with them and an improved Yate station that links all the different forms of transport together. The recent sale of Stover Road Trading Estate and the development of the new Local Plan make this the ideal time to look again at this issue. ...
Like many people I found the performance of the Leader of the Opposition in responding to the statement on the Salisbury attacks to be absolutely astonishing. Putting aside the tradition of MPs from all parties coming together to defend the UK when we are under attack, why was Corbyn using the Commons chamber to question basic facts when he has other avenues available to him. As leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn is a member of the Privy Council and able to ask for detailed briefings on intelligence matters. If he did not avail himself of that opportunity and instead ...
Thu 15th
08:49
Cable – I'm really warming to him – Quite the old radical when I thought he would not be
The Independent has an interesting opinion piece on Vince Cable and his recent controversial but spot on analysis of many Brexit voters. Cable certainly hit some raw nerves on the right and indeed on the right wing of the left too if you get my drift. That Bluekippers would get upset is a given but Cable also made some of what Labour calls its working class vote uncomfortable too. Many of Labour's core voters are often right wingers in reality even though their tribal instinct is to vote Labour. What's more many of them are Brexit supporters and as ...
The annual statistics on stillbirths, infant deaths and childhood deaths in England and Wales were published yesterday by the government. The report also includes data on the causes of death and information on key risk factors. This report evidences the first two-year increase in infant mortality rates in England and Wales for the last 30 years. Former Health Minister and Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb said: Infant mortality has been in steep decline for over 30 years. However, this success cannot lead to complacency. Figures released today show there is a trend towards increased infant mortality rates over the last ...
From the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 : SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of demolition works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Benvie Road (at its junction with Mitchell Street), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Saturday 17th March 2018 for five working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Mitchell Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for part of the works. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Cleghorn Street/City Road/Milnbank Road/Polepark Road/Fyffe ...
(The latest in my series of posts on Nilsson's albums, which I'll be collecting into a book soonish) Harry was the first of Nilsson's RCA albums proper not to be produced by Rick Jarrard, but instead to be produced by ... Continue reading →
