Once upon a time, not so long ago, Marine One was able to fly through wind and rain. It wasn't even a Democrat plot even Republican CinCs did it. Age was also no barrier as the eldest President ever managed rain on Marine One. But in this day and age, even with a visit to a World War One cemetery at stake, health and security makes this no longer possible... ...hang on isn't that Trump, Marine One and rain?

Posted by Stephen Glenn on Stephen's Liberal Journal
Sat 10th
21:35

ALDE Congress in Madrid

For the latter half of this week I have been in Madrid for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Congress. Our hosts were Cuidadanos, the still relatively new kid on the block in Spanish politics, yet according to an opinion poll published today, they are level-pegging with the conservative Partido Popular (PP), [...]

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer

I had planned to go into Leicester and watch Mike Leigh's Peterloo. But the trains had been replaced by buses and, at least between the showers, it was a golden late autumn day. So instead I walked along the Brampton Valley Way (the old Market Harborough to Northampton railway) to try out a new cafe at Great Oxendon. Judging by the rainbow that appeared, the President of the Immortals approved of my decision. The final photo here, despite my playing about with it, does not capture the extraordinary effect produced by the last, broad scrap of the rainbow over the ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Never let it be said that we at Liberal Democrat Voice ignore the wishes of our readers. Yesterday, Tony H. suggested that I include a list of the press release headlines at the beginning of the article. It seemed like a good idea to me, so I'll model this today... In other news, I'm expanding the range of press releases we publish, including those from the ALDE Party, as you may find them of interest. European liberals adopt manifesto for the 2019 elections No deal Brexit could lead to food shortages in hospitals European liberals adopt manifesto for the 2019 ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice

Politics used to be about rich versus poor, with the middle class the key swing group that the parties of the rich and the parties of the poor had to fight over. Having the middle class as their prime target heavily influenced all aspects of politics, from policy concerns through to the style of electioneering. Now, however, the political battleground is no longer the middle class but the traditional working class – traditional both in the sense of where industry used to be, and traditional in the sense of the culture of the past. Hence the Conservative versus Labour battles ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Jacques Brel, one of the great Belgian performers, sang of his sense of despair and loss at the end of a relationship, of the desperation with which men would try to resuscitate a dying romance they had destroyed by their own failures. And, whilst our relationship with Europe is in danger of reaching a depressing end through the failures of others, the sense of despair and loss is not dissimilar for some of us. And so, at the end of an ALDE Party Congress which saw the adoption of a manifesto for European Parliamentary elections we probably won't be fighting, ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Bureaucracy

Merseyrail Class 508 EMU at Maghull Station The Liverpool Echo has the story on its website – see link below Well, I'm certainly no fan of Andy Burnham, who has always struck me as popularist who jumps from policy to policy depending on which way the political wind is blowing, but has his latest pronouncement as Mayor of Greater Manchester hit the right note in terms of trying to reduce congestion on our roads? A Manchester Metrolink Tram Here's a link to Transport for Greater Manchester's website with details of their low fare scheme:- www.tfgm.com/press-release/early-bird Would I be right ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

Here's Vince Cable's speech to the ALDE Congress in Madrid. The text follows: Friends, this is my first opportunity to speak at ALDE, an organisation which we firmly support. My main, simple, message is that, while we may not be involved in the EU elections, because of Brexit, the Lib Dems remain strongly committed to the European Project: to the European Union. Many of you are no doubt sick of Brexit, which has been a big distraction from the many pressing challenges which European countries need to address. I would, however, stress that Brexit is not yet a done deal. ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

I saw Bohemian Rhapsody earlier in the week, the new biopic of Freddy Mercury and Queen. I really enjoyed it. (So did the two priests who saw it with me. Long story.) Not having had particular expectations, I found myself awash with nostalgia, and there seemed to be something in my eye pretty constantly for the last twenty minutes, which has the cast more or less re-enacting Queen's performance at Live Aid in July 1985. Dear heavens, half the people I work with weren't even born then. I went and had a look at the archive footage, and it's striking ...

[IMG: Image result for remembrance poppies white red] This week Remembrance has been in the news - and quite rightly so. As we prepare to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, it is right and fitting that we hear stories of courage, comradeship, tragedy and sacrifice. But there have been other stories, too. Footballer James McClean has received all kinds of threats and unpleasant messages owing to his refusal to wear a poppy. Former editor of The Times, Simon Jenkins, has provoked controversy by suggesting that perhaps it is time for Remembrance Sunday, as we understand it, to be ...

Posted by Andrew on A Scottish Liberal
YouGov

miss_s_b | The Blood is the Life for 09-11-2018 I posted The Blood is the Life for 09-11-2018 to my dreamwidth blog 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

Sat 10th
11:00

My tweets

Fri, 12:12: RT @a_maehl: @nwbrux But, Nicholas, why are they here? https://t.co/jrjGBSe43o Fri, 12:37: Tweets of the Week https://t.co/L42YNgIPKO I am quoted on the @AlexStubb campaign's innovative hot dogs! Fri, 12:56: This is an absolutely glorious story. https://t.co/5uTAFBeaqi Fri, 14:22: RT @GaryLineker: Still think we can get out of the relegation zone with a change in tactics. If we remain solid and don't leave our defence... Fri, 15:50: RT @JORISLUIJENDIJK: I love Belgium. https://t.co/YAqn5zTKgt Fri, 16:03: RT @alexstubb: Thank you and have a nice weekend. A final greeting from me and the cactus. 🇪🇺#NextGenerationEurope. https://t.co/KXUz7bBnwv Fri, 16:05: YAH v Medway ...

After last Sunday's win in the Brazilian presidential election, supporters of Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets clad in the yellow and green colours of the Brazilian flag. That people and parties with more liberal and open political platforms have everywhere allowed the extreme right wing to appropriate the national flag and the power of [...] The post How liberals handed over national flags to the far right appeared first on Radix.

Posted by Joe Zammit-Lucia on Radix

[IMG: After the mid-term wins in America, feminism is certainly not dead] A record number of women will be taking their seats in Congress after their mid-term election wins in the USA. As a sharp response to Donald Trump's misogyny and his support,more recently, for Brett Kavanaugh,... The post After the mid-term wins in America, feminism is certainly not dead appeared first on FeministMama.

Posted by ambitiousmamas on FeministMama

Responding to the reports that more than 400 high-rise residential buildings still have the same type of external cladding blamed for the Grenfell Tower fire, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Housing Wera Hobhouse said: "Grenfell should never have happened. The fact that thousands of families are still living in unsafe high-rise buildings is a disgrace. "The Government is failing to meet the promises it made after the fire. The Secretary of State committed to fully fund the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding by councils and housing associations, but there are still over 150 publicly owned buildings that are unsafe. "Furthermore, ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Responding as the Government announces that it will close Campsfield House immigration detention centre, Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: "Locking vulnerable people up - often for months on end - without giving them any idea when they'll be released is clearly inhumane. It's also expensive and unnecessary. "It's good to see that the Government is slowly recognising the need to detain fewer vulnerable people, but closing down one detention centre while keeping thousands of people locked up isn't nearly enough. "Liberal Democrats demand better. We are calling on the Government to close eight detention centres rather than just one, ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

A few days ago, it was reported that last year a paraplegic athlete, Justin Levene, shuffled through Luton Airport on his bottom because his own self-propelled wheelchair was stuck on the plane. He didn't want to accept Luton Airport's offer of a different non-self-propelled wheelchair, not least because of the danger of pressure sores, but also the indignity of losing his independence that had been so hard-won. I have seen various accusations; that it was churlish, offensive, arrogant, publicity seeking - the list goes on. However others, notably disabled people themselves, have applauded him for drawing attention to the difficulties ...

Posted by Celia Thomas on Liberal Democrat Voice

Shropshire Council is to make its Community Enablement Team redundant. This comes as the council struggles with an unprecedented financial crisis. The move bizarrely seems to have the support of the cabinet member for communities. The decision flies in the face of a motion passed unanimously by Shropshire Council members on 20 September. That called for a working group to review how Shropshire Council supports communities. But now its official. Shropshire Council doesn't support communities any more. Shropshire Council is suffering an unprecedented financial crisis. It doesn't have enough money to fund children's services and adult social care. This comes ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

 

The sudden resignation of Jo Johnson from the UK Government is far more of a crisis for Theresa May than the departure of his brother. That is because, whereas Boris was clearly on manoeuvres, Jo has gone on a matter of principle and in doing so set out in stark terms the real crisis facing the UK over Brexit. As the Guardian reports, the younger Johnson brother strongly condemned the possible choices facing us in leaving the EU: The remain-backing MP for Orpington and rail minister published an article online saying he could not vote for the deal which May ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black
eUKhost

Today's press releases are running on Spanish time today, which perhaps explains why I've missed my usual pre-midnight slot. Regardless, do enjoy today's press releases... Another Johnson joins the campaign for a People's Vote Responding as Jo Johnson resigns from the Government to campaign for a People's Vote Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, said: We warmly welcome Jo Johnson's support of the campaign to give the people the final say on the deal and a chance to exit from Brexit. This is a fascinating situation in which Jo and his sister are united in opposing their brother Boris and his ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice