It's a sign of how much is going on 'under the radar' whilst Brexit unfolds that, of today's press releases, only one is obviously Brexit-related... Cost of Brexit spiralling out of control Responding to the Government's admission that Operation Brock will now cost £30 million, £10 million more than was previously stated, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Brexit, Tom Brake MP said: The cost of Brexit is continuing to spiral out of control. The Conservative Government's plan to turn Kent into a car park, Operation Brock, is now costing the tax payer an additional ten million more than the figure they ...
The Inland Waterways Association explains:The Melton & Oakham Waterways Society aims to promote the restoration of the Melton Navigation and the Oakham Canal. The two waterways are quite different in that the Melton Navigation was based on the rivers Wreake and Eye, and as such has remained in water with many of the lock structures being converted to weirs for flood control and maintenance of water levels. A 3-mile section above the last lock in Melton Mowbray has been used as a recreational waterway since the closure of the navigation in 1877. Little remains of the Oakham Canal, which has ...
Lord Bonkers writes exclusively for Liberal England: My friends, tenants and the Well-Behaved Orphans join me in sending their best wishes for a full recovery to Sir Paddy Ashplant. I recall what I wrote in my Diary when he resigned his illustrious leadership of our party in 1999: I first met Sir Paddy Ashtray in the library at Bonkers House in Belgrave Square. Shortly preceded by a stun grenade and an impressive quantity of smoke, he had burst in through the French windows. After I had picked myself off the floor, dusted down the butler and pointed out that he ...
Party members may have read on political websites that Lib Dem HQ is in the process of carrying out a reorganisation, which sadly will see a reduction in the number of staff at our headquarters. In common with both other parties we have seen a dip in our income in the year after an election, made all the more acute after two elections (and a referendum) in two years. Donation fatigue and lower revenues are understandable at this point. This is a phenomenon we have seen many times before. Politics is a cyclical business, with parties consolidating after elections and ...
At a Liberator lunch a couple of weeks ago I heard rumours that not all is well with the Liberal Democrats' budget. Their truth was confirmed today by the news that there are to be redundancies among the party's head office staff. As Buzzfeed tells it: During a staff meeting at the party's Westminster HQ on Great George Street this week, employees were told around 20 redundancies would have to be found, according to two sources who were present at the meeting. Lib Dem headquarters has a staff of around 60, with another 20 working in the field on party ...
Former Liberal Democrat party leader and MP for Yeovil Paddy Ashdown is being treated for bladder cancer.
News from the Daily Mail (the newspaper that all Lib Dem activists should read) with a dramatic escalation in the accusations about the circumstances surrounding the European referendum: Theresa May has 'serious questions to answer', says a Labour MP over revelations she stepped in to stop security services probing Arron Banks on the eve of the Brexit referendum. The Mail understands that in early 2016 the then home secretary Theresa May declined a request by one of the security services to investigate Banks- as the topic was simply too explosive in the run up to the referendum. In addition: The ...
Here's what Vince Cable has told the press about changes at Liberal Democrat HQ following reports in the media of job cuts being made: Speaking in Edinburgh, Sir Vince Cable said there was no "black hole" within the party finances but said a lot of restructuring was having to take place. He said: "We've been campaigning on Brexit, our resources have been going into that and some of the general activities have been cut back. "All political parties have had this problem. "It doesn't affect our effectiveness as a political movement although obviously it's difficult for the individuals if we're ...
Three by-elections took place over the country last night with Lib Dem candidates spreading the word and standing in all by-elections. A quiet night saw a Lib Dem hold and a couple of tough results. South Gloucestershire UA, Dodington LD Louise Harris 693 [49.3%; +8.4%] Con 554 [39.4%; +16.8%] Lab 158 [11.2%; -1.6%] [UKIP 920 [23.7%; -23.7%] Turnout 25% Louise Harris and the South Gloucestershire Lib Dems ran a great campaign to hold a seat in a close battle with the Conservatives. With UKIP not standing, a large proportion of votes were up for grabs and Louise and the team ...
Second frame of third story ("The First", by Dan McDaid and Martin Geraghty, in which the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones encounter Shackleton's polar expedition): This is a collection of Tenth Doctor comics, mostly from Doctor Who Magazine (a couple from the Storybooks), four written by Jonathan Morris, three by Rob Davis, and one each by Dan McDaid and Ian Edgington; with art in three cases by Martin Geraghty, two by Rob Davis, and one each by Mike Collins, John Ross, Roger Langridge and Adrian Salmon. Of the nine stories, the two standouts for me were the title story, The ...
This photo was taken in April 1993, during one of Paddy's three overnight stays at our home. It was the time of the Newbury parliamentary by-election. This photo was taken in our dining room, just before I went to work one morning. A few weeks before, we'd suffered the horrible blow of suddenly losing our ... Continue reading Thinking of Paddy
Friday: I believe that it is VITAL that the Liberal Democrats make the case for a LIBERAL BRITAIN. (You would think that was obvious, but apparently not.) Particularly in these days when Sir Vince wants to make us a movement, I think we need a REASON to MOVE people, and if we don't talk about our VALUES, they will move somewhere else. That is what Daddy Richard stands for. Yesterday, I shared daddy's hustings speech from the END of the Cheadle selection. Today, let's go back and look at some of the written material we put out from the START. ...
Paddy Ashdown revealed to Somerset Live today that he is being treated for bladder cancer: Yes, I'm afraid I can confirm that. I have known for about three weeks that I am suffering from a cancer of the bladder. I'm being effectively and wonderfully looked after by everyone at Yeovil Hospital, in whom I have complete confidence. We must see about the outcome, which as always with things like this, is unpredictable. I've fought a lot of battles in my life. This time I am lucky enough to have the magnificent help of our local hospital, and my friends and ...
Clearly, all of this had to be paid for. And even in the pre-tuition fee era my £250 one-off grant from my local authority wasn't going to get me very far. Continue reading →
If you are a party member in London then a bit of voting is in order. The Mayor of London governs the Greater London Authority, and s/he is scrutinised and challenged by the 25 members of the London Assembly. This week voting has opened for our candidates for the London elections in 2020. Most London members have received their online ballot instructions this week by email, while others should get their papers in the post. When the London elections come around every four years, voters are sometimes a bit bemused to be presented with three ballot papers, each using a ...
Oh the frustrations of being a rail traveller these days and Merseyrail is not even run by the dreaded Northern Fail:-) The Merseyrail's Northern Line up to Ormskirk has been closed for the past few days and will be for a few more. The reason? The platform/track height is being adjusted so that the new Stadler Class 777 trains (due in 2020) can stop at every station on the Merseyrail network and provide level access i.e. no steps down onto the platforms. This upgrade work is frustrating whilst it's being done but it should be a real step forward, rather ...
Fri 2nd
11:55
Challenges for liberalism 2: How should liberalism respond to the prevalence of social media?
Editor's Note: These posts are based on a speech given by the author at an event organised by York University Liberal Democrats. I'm not sure if social media is something we've invented or, like refined sugar, something we discovered by accident that superficially hits pleasure centres in the body to deliver a highly addictive, but ultimately unhealthy experience. Liberals generally want to see drugs treated as a public health issue, rather than a criminal law issue, and I think there is possibly a lot of mileage in seeing social media in the same way. However, I think there's a bigger ...
Thu, 12:56: 'Words matter. Words can hurt' - Michael D Higgins's acceptance speech in full https://t.co/o1HMCt04U1 This was so brilliant. Thu, 16:05: Brexit: Time to Compromise (8 pages, PDF) https://t.co/RXmUNONJKP @AndrewDuffEU reckons that the end is in sight, a... https://t.co/HUVwyJEQvt Thu, 16:36: Er, December!!! https://t.co/Flthuruq73 Thu, 16:37: Brexit: Time to Compromise (8 pages, PDF) https://t.co/u1rd8rn7lr @AndrewDuffEU reckons that the end is in sight, a... https://t.co/qYYN0Tk1KF Thu, 18:57: Fifteen Years of Book Blogging https://t.co/XTfaD9w4ue Thu, 19:05: RT @pmdfoster: So where are we on Brexit? And the dreaded Irish backstop. Some thoughts after chats with both sides. 1/Thread https://t.... Thu, 20:48: RT ...
Responding to reports from the National Crime Agency that show the extent of organised crime in the UK, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: "The true cost of organised crime extends well beyond the financial impact. It includes the children exploited by gangs, the vulnerable people held in modern slavery and the lives taken by trafficked weapons. "That's why the Liberal Democrats are demanding an extra £300 million a year for the police, to rebuild the community policing that helps to prevent gangs from operating, and greater investment in the Border Force to stop the trafficking of people, ...
Just as we are digesting the news that Arron Banks is to be investigated by the National Crime Agency, the Guardian reports that the Metropolitan Police are to open an inquiry into claims of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. One of the reasons I decided not to get back involved in national politics was the constant claims and counter-claims of wrong doings levelled against politicians, most of which turned out to have no substance. In many cases this agenda cancelled out any rational debate on policy or what was in the best interests of the country. That is not to ...
Responding to the announcement that DCMS Minister, Tracey Crouch, has resigned from the Government over their handling of fixed-odds betting terminals, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said: "When the Minister responsible for a policy steps down, you know the Government is moving in the wrong direction."These machines are a blight on our society and undeniably damaging to vulnerable people."Tracey Crouch knows this, so why doesn't the Prime Minister? Theresa May should come to the floor of the House and explain why this will not be implemented for another year."
Commenting as 21 Labour MPs voted with the Liberal Democrats against raising the higher rate tax threshold, Lib Dem Leader, Vince Cable said:"Despite the best efforts of their whips, 21 Labour MPs put principle above party and voted with the Liberal Democrats against the Government's indefensible tax cuts for higher earners. "It is beyond belief that a party which claims to stand 'for the many, not the few', decided not to oppose the Government on this. Using the money to fund Universal Credit or end the benefits freeze would have been a far more progressive way of using the money. ...
Anger is a powerful mobiliser. It is also dangerous to control when turned loose on the body politic. At the moment this raw rage is being drawn out of the American spleen by both the left and right, by Democrats and Republicans. It is the mid-term elections. It is the first opportunity US voters have had for passing their verdict on the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. It is a chance to elect national legislators who will block the president and more. If, as expected, the Democrats, gain control of the House of Representatives, Donald Trump's hopes for new ...
Fri 2nd
08:50
Shropshire Council is planning to set up a company to build homes - it must build affordable and gre...
Shropshire is getting serious about building homes. That's good news but we councillors will need to study the detail carefully. All developments should include affordable housing and all should meet the highest green standards. The build homes, Shropshire Council will need to set up its own housing company. That's not too difficult as many other councils have already set up local housing companies (LHCs). A paper published by the Smith Institute think tank a year ago concluded: "LHCs offer councils a 'triple dividend' in the form of much needed extra housing, a greater stewardship role in place-shaping and a financial ...
After last week's bumper set of council by-elections, it's only three this week with one defence each for the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats. Denby Dale, Kirklees The Conservative defence, with Alison Baskeyfield standing for the Liberal Democrats. Last result for the day, a nice swing for @KirkleesLibDems to move into third place in the Denby Dale Ward Lib Dem Alison Baskeyfield 289 (7.4%; +4.6%) Con 1689 (43%; -4.2%) Lab 1834 (46.7%; +3.8%) Green 116 (3%; -4.2%) Turnout 29.86% Lab gain from Con — ALDC (@ALDC) November 2, 2018
This Sunday - 4th November - the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden have an event at the garden. Christopher Dingwall, Landscape Historian and Heritage Consultant will talk about "James Thomson and the Garden City Movement in Dundee". Thomson was a visionary City Architect around the turn of the 20th century, whose legacy is still evident today, though many of his ideas were halted by the First World War. All welcome - the event takes place at the garden's Education Centre at 2pm.
