I've spent the day mostly in Brussels, in my capacity as a member of the ALDE Party's Financial Advisory Committee, fulfilling a slightly different role to the one I've traditionally filled, that of institutional memory and provider of context. The Committee is undergoing a process of transition at the moment, with the five original members (including myself) on our way out - two this year, three next - and six new members coming in. And that means that they have a bit of a learning curve, just as we did when we started. Questions of why we do what we ...
Early 19th century? It's to be found above a door at a kebab shop near Melton Mowbray station.
A couple of episodes back the excellent Polling Matters podcast took a look at the Liberal Democrat prospects in an episode featuring myself. The latest episode is also highly relevant to understanding where the party may go next as it features the very insightful Paula Surridge who looks at how values are driving voting intention – and hence the conversation turns to that favourite topic of mine, the scope for the Liberal Democrats to build support based on winning over those who share our values. For more on that, see the detailed analysis David Howarth penned for our joint pamphlet, ...
Thanks to a nomination from a reader, Boing Boing wins our Headline of the Day Award. Well done everybody. Photo by Fred Heap on Unsplash.
Liberal Democrat members in Somerton & Frome (David Heath's old constituency) have a new Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC): Adam Boyden. On being selected, Adam Boyden said: I am ready to take on the challenge of winning back Somerton & Frome for the people of our constituency. At a time when nationally the Government is completely failing the country on Brexit, and locally Somerset County Council's irresponsible cuts to public services are deeply damaging our communities, people need to know that we are on their side and that there is an alternative to the Conservatives. I will campaign with everyone, for ...
Second paragraph of third chapter: In July 1952 Mum came to collect me from Westgate on the train — not with Dad, but with Dennis Bowman and Jimpy, whom I was delighted to see. On the way hack on the train, though, it was clear my mother hadn't prepared herself for having me back. My fidgeting irritated her, and so did my runny nose. Nothing I did seemed right. Dennis Bowman said quietly to her, 'That's a really dear little boy you've got there. Why don't you leave him alone?' I have to admit that I am not a fan ...
In a surprise move a few days ago the Maghull Community facebook Group, which had around 8,000 members, suddenly closed down. It left me and I suspect many others scratching their heads wondering what on earth had happened. Then a friend sent me this:- Hi fellow Maghullians. Well it's been a very stressful 48 hrs. As you are aware, the Community Page has been archived, and MCP would like to inform its lovely members why this very saddening step has been taken. This site was created for the Community; for the people of Maghull to make friends, share stories and ...
Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Tim Farron said about the "latte levy": "We've been calling for this for years and the Conservatives have continued to do nothing – each year over 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away and I now hope a small levy will finally be introduced to slash this waste." There is public support for using tax to reduce waste for single-use plastics. Firms that use unrecyclable plastic should be taxed to drive them to use other forms of packaging. This is part of the government target to abolish all plastic waste by 2042. The proposal is ...
Wed 26th
14:45
Lib Dems welcome critical LGA Peer Challenge Report on the running of Liverpool City Council
At last the LGA Peer Challenge Report on the running of Liverpool has been published. It shows there is a long way to go if Liverpool is to become a properly functioning, properly led organisation Yesterday councillors in Liverpool received ... Continue reading →
The party has, rightly, focused on campaigning for an Exit from Brexit, but it appears to have done absolutely no thinking about how to campaign if we fail. The press and internet are awash with Brexit doomsday scenarios: planes grounded; food shortages; lack of medicines; travel restrictions: a plummeting pound; riots; even a coup. However, Project Fear is no guide to campaigning in unknown territory. How would we campaign in the new reality, if there is no People's Vote or the vote is lost? There will be 9000+ council seats to fight on 2 May 2019, and we want to ...
Last week I celebrated my 30th birthday. As I was listening to Puccini's music in his birth town of Lucca, a few things became very clear in mind. I would love to share them with you. The world is a big place Having now survived my own roaring 20s, I learnt that whatever this is, [...]
In spite of their somewhat fudged decision the Labour Party has done us a favour in keeping the idea of a People's Vote on the Brexit deal (if any) in the headlines for several days. Not only that, but it has been clear that the impetus for second thoughts comes, not from a disgruntled establishment elite,but largely from young people, including the Momentum pressure group who are so enthusiastic for a reformed and fairer society. Many of these enthusiasts would have been too young to vote in 2016. Clearly they see continued membership of the EU as part of the ...
weekly_food_challenge | Hand held foods: Gin and tonic ice lollies My contribution to the most recent challenge. hollymath | We dream of a brand new start— Holly blogs about her first time ever speaking at Lib Dem Conference in a debate that means a lot to her. Weary nation prepares for yet another General Election after Theresa May categorically rules it out 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 ...
Sir Keith Starmer caused great delight among Remainers at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool yesterday when he went off-script and said that not only was a public vote (he avoided the campaigning People's Vote) on Brexit "on the table" but that this would include an option to Remain. After a moment's stunned silence, hundreds [...]
Tue, 18:10: The Beast Master, and Lord of Thunder, by Andre Norton https://t.co/syY4yd8sD3 Tue, 20:34: RT @mariafarrell: Restored, thank you! @henryfarrell @nwbrux @DaraghMcdowell @scurvekano @crookedfootball https://t.co/4a8kgZlGMV
I hold you in my wallet, to keep you safe from harm in a fading store of memory, with our devalued currency – a little worn with use and age, but easy to access; an aperture into a version of our past, above revision once framed by shutter speed, in silver salts or pixels / [...]
The Liberal Democrats can hold their head high on the progress we have made to support women in the party and LGBTQ; I am now getting more positive with the party's commitment to supporting ethnic minorities. However, the poor relation in all this is the support for disabled members. I don't believe that there is the focus on disability issues as there is for other groups. Few in the party made it their mission to raise the issues that disabled people face, more than Robert Adamson. A small tribute to Robert by Gemma Roulston the current Chair of Lib Dem ...
Paul Hulbert and Louise Harris at Yate Bus Station The recent changes in the bus services have improved things for some people, but made them worse for others. For example, the Y1 bus now goes straight down the M32, which has made the service quicker and more reliable. BUT we still have to get to Yate Shopping Centre or Chipping Sodbury to get the bus to Southmead, AND there are fewer services to Frenchay and Downend. Strangely the Downend issue is causing a particular problem for some patients of the Abbotswood medical surgery, because they are asking some of their ...
Kudos to Keir Starmer, who is taking a brave stand on Brexit in the face of a very unhelpful Labour Party leadership, and in particular for the unscripted line in his speech yesterday that appears to have thrown a very large cat in amongst his party's Brexiteer pigeons. His problem though, as this piece in The Spectator makes clear, is that he is not just ranged against the Kate Hooey's and Frank Field's of this world. It is the party leadership that are determined to fudge and prevaricate on Labour's position and do all that it can to take us ...
A spokesman for the Chinese government has just accused the United States of having started "the biggest trade war of economic history". On Monday, September 24, 2018, new US tariffs on Chinese products came into effect. Two hundred billion dollars of Chinese exports to the United States are affected (out of a total of over [...] The post Trump going all the way on China appeared first on Radix.
Thresa May is leading a divided party not wishing to be led and is heading in the opposite direction to anywhere she wants to go. Jeremy Corbyn is trying not to lead his party on Europe when his party is calling out for leadership. Vince is trying to get the party ready to take opportunities from a perceived moderate move from voters who are fed up by the dogmatic and squabbling Tories and leaderless Labour. Voters are moving away from the Tories because they have no agreed Brexit strategy, the can't go to Labour as their 1970's socialist tentacles have ...
Dundee's biggest Jobs Fair will take place at the Caird Hall tomorrow - Thursday 27th September. This event and exhibition is open to anyone who is interested in moving forward in 2018/9, whether that's finding a job, changing career, starting a business or adding to the skills and qualifications they already have to find something new. Further information is available here.
