This is the third of my series on "Policy Themes" in which I'm sketched out some thoughts on some of the big issues facing the country - and world - in connection with my selection campaign in Bristol South. The original can be found on my Facebook Page for those who do Facebook. I believe these three themes (brexit, "inter-generational fairness" and the environment) will dominate politics for the next decade and more... but this obviously isn't the extent of my policy views, or that there aren't other issues that will pre-occupy voters. However, these themes will cut across the ...
A Cambridge Council by-election has made national headlines this week after a Labour Councillor resigned because she didn't agree with the terms of the Equality Act, which has been in force since 2010. Our candidate in the by-election is former Councillor for the ward and former Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing Sarah Brown. From Pink News: Ahead of the September 13 by-election, the Liberal Democrats picked respected transgender activist Sarah Brown as the candidate for Sinnott's vacated Petersfield seat. Brown, a polyamorous transgender lesbian campaigner, previously held the seat from 2010 until 2014. The candidate said: "Petersfield is where I ...
Tue 14th
21:35
Doctor Who Files: 7) The Daleks, 8) The Cybermen, 12) The TARDIS, all by Justin Richards
I read four of the books in this series soon after they first came out, and have been hanging onto these three for some time. They are cheerful pieces. Each consists of about two thirds recounting TV Who lore about the subject of the book, and then a relevant short story. Justin Richards (who, as I repeatedly point out, is the most prolific author of New Who) is on form here, delivering a Dalek Empire-style tale, a contemporary kids-deal-with-Cybermen vignette, and the story of how the Doctor and Martha influenced the construction of Stonehenge. If you spot these, they are ...
While considerable attention has been paid by the media to jihadi groups and terrorist attacks of various kinds, the spotlight has not been shone so brightly on the counter-jihad movement. That is the term Brussels-based writer Christopher Othen gives to the motley collection of political activists, commentators and miscellaneous Islamophobes who are the subject of [...]
Tue 14th
20:44
LibLink: Judith Jolly We must put the best interests of patients first and end the crisis in social ...
100,000 people may be having their liberty unlawfully restricted,. That's a big claim made by Lib Dem Health and Social Care spokesperson Judith Jolly in an article for Politics Home. She writes about how cross party support is building for amendments to the Mental Capacity Act Amendment Bill aim to ensure that any Deprivation of Liberty Standards are implemented by trained individuals and only after a face to face assessment. It's scary to think that that doesn't happen as a matter of course. I am pleased to see support for these new safeguards building. Indeed, there has been much criticism ...
When this documentary was made in chess was dominated by the Soviet Union and world championship matches were hate-filled affairs between the model Soviet citizen Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Victor Korchnoi. No one foresaw the collapse of the Communist system, though the games of a teenager called Garry Kasparov were already attracting attention around the world and computers were beginning to pose a threat to all but the strongest players. The film provides a great picture of chess in that era and its leading personalities. And there is a sad moment for English chess fans right at the start. ...
You can barely turn on the telly these days without seeing some politician or commentator taking a swipe at a marginalised group. If we think things are bad here, it's exponentially worse in the US where Pod Save America host Jon Lovett described Fox News in the evenings as wall to wall white nationalism. So it's refreshing to see a party leader jump into the middle and say "No. This will not stand." Vince, in a piece on the main party website, said: The Liberal Democrats have always been at the forefront of the fight for equality, and we have ...
I last blogged about the struggle to save Northampton's Eleanor Cross a year ago and there has been no good news since.The Pipeline covered this slow-motion crisis today:In spite of the cross being listed on the borough's asset register, through the Winter of 2017/2018 the borough council was still arguing with Northampton County Council, disputing who actually owned the Grade 1 listed monument and was thus legally responsible for paying for the repairs. In November 2017, in a move which critics took as a further attempt to postpone having to commit cash for the repairs, the council chose to go ...
[IMG: I have graduated with a merit from the LSE and it's thanks to my daughter] One would think that one would have left the horrors of studying, textbooks, revisions, burning the candle at both ends and exams once one had found a steady and stable career. That is what I thought anyway.... The post I have graduated with a merit from the LSE and it's thanks to my daughter appeared first on FeministMama @ambitiousmamas.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey MP has today revealed that more than 100,000 prisoners across England and Wales left prison for "unsettled" or "unknown" accommodation in the last three years, almost half of the 220,411 prisoners released in that period.The Liberal Democrat MP said the new figures (spreadsheet here) proved "the criminal justice system is fundamentally failing when people are reoffending just to get a meal or a place to sleep." The Ministry of Justice figures show that 36,945 people (16.8%) were released to "unsettled accommodation" - mostly rough sleeping and other forms of homelessness - between April ...
It may not be a consistent trend, but it is a clear overall trend: the combined vote share of Conservatives and Labour has been steadily falling since the 2017 general election.
I was pleased to be able to take Cllr Ismail, the former Mayor of Galle in Sri Lanka, and his wife to meet the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Christine Banks. He was accompanied by Bill Hampson, Director of the ... Continue reading →
There are always things just beyond the horizon that are going to dramatically change everything. We're told that fusion power is coming soon, that Richard Branson is almost ready to deliver (relatively) affordable space tourism, or that Blake's 7 remake is definitely going to be on TV in the near future. And now, alongside all those promises, we can be sure that the Liberal Democrat revival in the polls is just around the corner. Definitely coming any day now, you'll see, the polls will change and all will be good. As ever with confident predictions of things that are just ...
Over the last few days I've received a number of calls from scammers posing as my internet service provider (ISP). Which? has also noted an uptick in activity from these parasites. ⚠️SCAM ALERT: Be aware of scammers claiming to be from big brands @bt_uk, @TalkTalk and @SkyUK, saying that your router has been compromised. Don't fall for it. They're after ... The post What to do if you get a scam internet service provider call appeared first on ten pence piece.
Local Landscapes byPatricia Herlihy 15th September to 22nd September 2018 11.00am - 3.00pm in the almshouses at St Margaret's Chapel & Royal Magdalene AlmshousesMagdalene Street, Glastonbury, Somerset Works in watercolour, oils and pen & ink.A selection of handmade cards.
A few days ago – I think it was only a few days ago at least. I'm on an extended continental holiday – a large sample poll came out via The Observer which showed that in terms of seats, Remain was now ahead. Some of you may recall the analysis of what would have happened in 2016 if the EU referendum had been a First Past the Post general election scenario, with only two parties. Well, some of the nerdier amongst you might remember this. In 2016, it was 403 seats Leave, 229 Remain. So, although it was close in ...
Marley Hill Bowling Club are preparing for a community asset transfer of their bowling green. Members will take on the running of the facility from Gateshead Council in the near future. I visited the club last night at members' request to take some photos for our next Focus newsletter. I agreed some time ago to help the club promote their activities so the photos will be used for that purpose.
Teens to get their say on sex education - Bi Community News To quote Jen Yockney: about bloody time. If you like what you see here (or even if you don't) please consider dropping me a tip: [IMG: Paypal Donate Button] [IMG: Buy Me an uncaffeinated beverage (because I'm allergic to coffee) at ko-fi.com] [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
Mon, 18:35: Azerbaijan: "Ilgar Mammadov's case has become symbolic of the enduring injustice and brutal reprisals against gover... https://t.co/KpfpCb3UeA Mon, 19:06: RT @djmgaffneyw4: We are fast approaching the Alan Partidge's breakfast solution to the border issue ('I may want to mix them but I want th... Mon, 19:06: RT @djmgaffneyw4: This sounds like the UK adopting EU regulations- unilaterally, but with no say- out of sheer petulance. Mon, 20:04: Monday reading https://t.co/FCot9rSLsr Mon, 20:48: Barclays shifting ownership of branches to Ireland https://t.co/TWj5IlehlV Taking back control! Mon, 21:32: RT @DesperateAnnie: On Sunday I bought an old painting from a junk shop ...
This year's Hampshire Liberal Democrats county handbook contains some well-deserved praise for former councillor Faith Ponsonby in Martin Kyrle's foreword.
The Voice is only a success because of the interest and support from our readers. For many people just lurking and reading the site is all they want to do – and that's fine, we're grateful for people taking the time to read the site. You can though help us continue to produce interesting content for a growing audience. Here are four simple ways: 1. Let us have your tips for stories. Perhaps there's something outrageous going on in your local council? Or you're an expert in a particular area and have spotted a story other people have missed? Or ...
Just when we thought that the UK Government was taking homelessness and rough sleeping seriously with the announcement of a £100 million strategy to "help people turn their lives around", including support for mental health and addictions, along comes reality to burst our bubble. The Times reports that housing secretary, James Brokenshire has admitted that none of this is new money. Apparently, half the cash had already been committed to rough sleeping and the other half was "reprioritised" from existing budgets in his department. So that means no budget consequential for the Welsh Government. Of course this initiative had always ...
The news is on Merseytravel's web site via the link above With thanks to Cllr. John Dodd for the lead to this posting
Heaven knows, I am no supporter of Boris Johnson, but I wonder whether there may be issues - perhaps of less symbolic value - but of more importance than what he meant, or didn't mean, about burkas. This is not actually a post about either of them. It is about the widening gulf between what [...] The post Boris burkas and the new, new liberalism appeared first on Radix.
With the school holidays over today, my West End Ward surgeries start again later this week - on Thursday : These are : • Mitchell Street Centre - Mitchell Street (The Base) - Mondays - 4.20pm (prompt) (except school holidays) • Harris Academy (Reception Area) - Mondays - 4.50 pm (prompt) (except school holidays) • Blackness Primary School (Staff Room) - Thursdays - 6.15 pm (prompt) (except school holidays) All West End Ward residents welcome and no appointment necessary!
