And so, my first term as Chair of Creeting St Peter Parish Council continues into its first winter. Or rather, as I suggested to an old colleague, I rule with a rod of rhubarb, rather than of iron. I took part in our first village litter pick, organised by the Village Wildlife Group, which became an opportunity to swap war stories with the Chair of the Parochial Church Council, Alice. And whilst some litter was picked - there wasn't too much, I was pleased to see - it was a useful opportunity to gain a better idea of the issues ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Bureaucracy

Today's releases are brought to you from ALDC's Kickstart event, taking place this weekend in the heart of Staffordshire. There are three hundred Liberal Democrat campaigners and activists here, learning the skills required to run effective, and hopefully, successful campaigns in the months and years ahead. Tories must take back control of smart meters Women must have equal heart attack care to men Davey to PM: Come clean on European Convention on Human Rights PM must back People's Vote on Brexit Government must not be complacent on Hedges case Tories must take back control of smart meters Responding to the ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice

The level of government and political instability has reached such a point that I'm now asked if there will be a General Election on a daily basis. This post is an attempt to lay out what I think the main options are going forwards, and discuss the issues which arise from each one. Undoubtably there [...]

Posted by Helen Belcher on Challenging Journeys (Phase 2)

Second paragraph of third story ("The Aimer Gate"): The sky was coming light. It was going to be a hot day, but now it was cold. I was a big fan of The Weirdstone of Brisingamen as a child, and Red Shift as a teenager, and enjoyed The Owl Service more recently. Somehow this had passed me by. It's a set of four novellas, set in the same family across five different generations but in the same place, Garner's home ground, Alderley Edge in Cheshire; each story is about a turning point in the life of a child, who then ...

On landing on French soil Friday, November 9, 2018, Donald Trump tweeted little for his host: "French President Macron has just suggested that Europe develops its own military capacity, to protect the United States, from China and Russia. What an insult! He was referring to an intervention by Emmanuel Macron on Europe 1, urging Europe [...] The post Cyberwarfare is at the heart of the Trump-Macron controversy appeared first on Radix.

Posted by Renaud Girard on Radix

I had this email from Bulb Energy today. Impressive stuff – particularly as I'd rung off before the call had been answered. As it happened, I'd found the answer I needed on their website while I was waiting. Such a different experience to the unlamented Iresa Energy, who were nothing but trouble in the year [...] The post Bulb Energy: Impressive customer service appeared first on ten pence piece.

Posted by tim on ten pence piece

A very howly wolfenoot to all the doggies and people who love doggies of my acquaintance. I have made a small donation to DogsTrust to mark the occasion, and if you can afford to (or to donate to your local shelter or other doggie charity) that would be awesome. If you can't afford to make a donation just be extra nice to any doggies you come across :) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments

It's not often we feature a single tweet but this classic blast of high octane Paddy deserves its own post!: We see clearly now who the ERG playgroup really are. Bad judgement, poor timing, over-grown egos, fantasy politics, prep-school tactics – they are less a political movement – more a Beano comic strip about Lord Snooty's little rag-tag gang throwing ink-balls at the headmistress. — Paddy Ashdown (@paddyashdown) November 22, 2018 * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.

Posted by Paul Walter on Liberal Democrat Voice

This Wednesday marked 100 years since the passing of the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 2018 which made it possible for women over the age of 21 to stand for Parliament. A century on, women make up only just over 200 of 650 MPs. That's why MPs were asked to invite a woman from their constituency to an Ask her to stand event to mark the anniversary. Christine Jardine asked Emma Walker who, just over a year ago, wasn't even a member of the Party. She's made a massive impact in Scotland this year, getting involved in campaigning and member ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

The BBC reports: A Labour AM criticised for making "extremely offensive" remarks about Jewish people has been suspended from her party in the assembly. In a recording that emerged last week Jenny Rathbone suggested Jewish people's security fears could be "in their own heads". Ms Rathbone, who is suspended pending a Labour probe, has apologised... Cardiff Rabbi Michoel Rose said last week that the comments "seemed to imply that the Jewish community in this country was to blame for violence and hatred in this country was extremely offensive". One thing that can at least be said about Jenny Rathbone's behaviour ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
YouGov

Ormskirk's Station where Merseyrail and Norther trains meet Well if it's not I would hate to be a passenger on one that is even worse. Last night I attended an open meeting of OPSTA (Ormskirk, Preston & Southport Travellers Association) and the stories of absolute chaos on this rail route were sad and numerous. An 80-year-old lady told the meeting how she can't get to hospital appointments in Preston due to cancellations and the fact that some of the rail replacement buses don't call at all the stations on the line! She lives in Croston and without the train, as ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable has described Theresa May's political declaration as "pathetically weak". Speaking in the House of Commons today, Vince Cable said: "This is essentially an agreement to have an agreement. It is full of worryingly vague aspirations. How, for example, can the Prime Minister justify Clause 24 which relates to medicines, chemicals and aviation safety when we currently have strong agreed cooperative standards?"The Liberal Democrat Leader added: "The Prime Minister has managed to negotiate an agreement where we, and I quote, 'explore the possibility of cooperation.' That is pathetically weak. It will cause great anxiety ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Responding to the National Audit Office report on rolling out smart meters, Ed Davey, former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: "The smart meter programme's aims are positive and making the energy system smarter is essential if we want to move to a low carbon economy. "However, the Tories have bungled this rollout badly. When I left Government we were expecting 2nd generation meters and a central database within a year; we currently have neither. Instead, because of Conservative failings, suppliers are still rolling out 1st generation meters that go 'dumb' when you switch. What's ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

On December 1st it will be the annual Christmas Cracker in Street, Somerset. I'm delighted to be exhibiting at the pop-up gallery in the Old Tesco Building again. Come along and see the great range of art on exhibition and for sale at Unit 6, Crispin Centre, Street, BA16 0HP. Exhibition runs through till December 15th 2018. 'Gulp'framed watercolours & hand painted cards and fridge magnets

Posted by Trisha xx on ripplestone review

News from North Somerset Liberal Democrats of the selection of Ashley Cartman as the party's Prospective Parliamentary candidate.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Have you got a burning idea that could make a positive difference to people's lives? If so, then why not write it down, get some supporters and submit it as a motion to Liberal Democrat Spring Conference. The lovely people at the Federal Conference Committee will even give you drafting advice. The motion deadline for Spring Conference isn't till 9th January, so why am I telling you this? Well, FCC, lovely as they are, don't give drafting advice over Christmas. Everyone deserves a break, after all. So you have to ask for that by 19th December. That's less than a ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

With May's Brexit arrangement facing an uncertain future in the Commons, some of the palace intrigue shifts to the idea of a vote of no confidence in the government should HMG fail to gain a majority for May's plan in the House. But what would actually happen if this were to occur – and more importantly, how would it occur and how exactly might it unfold? First off, I should explain how votes of no confidence in the government work since the adoption of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011. If a vote of no confidence in the government is ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com
Fri 23rd
11:00

My tweets

Thu, 12:56: A wedding magazine is shutting down so it doesn't have to feature same-sex couples https://t.co/RNVPob3LuP Diddums. Thu, 16:05: Impact of DUP falling out with business community will be subtle https://t.co/rjKRTFeu2K Don't hold your breath for... https://t.co/CZvWTJIsta Thu, 20:48: You Snooze, You Lose: Insurers Make The Old Adage Literally True https://t.co/RgemFZxyZ5 This is appalling. Fri, 00:22: RT @douchebagstrat: Is Facebook Live the new iPhone? Fri, 09:21: RT @amcunningham: @nwbrux surely, you don't snooze, you lose... as the CPAP helps sleep so those not using, sleep less well - and have trea... Fri, 09:30: RT @DavidHenigUK: Realistic timescales to negotiate ...

Vince Cable questioned the Prime Minister yesterday when she made her statement on the political declaration of the EU withdrawal agreement. He highlighted one particularly worrying aspect of it: This is essentially an agreement to have an agreement, and it is full of worryingly vague aspirations. How, for example, can the Prime Minister justify paragraph 24, which relates to medicines, chemicals and aviation safety, where we currently have strong agreed co-operative standards? She has managed to negotiate an agreement to "explore the possibility of cooperation". That is pathetically weak, and it will cause great anxiety to millions of people who ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

This graph most struck me in the latest polling from Lord Ashcroft, showing as it does that Jeremy Corbyn's ratings amongst Remain voters have continued to slide.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
eUKhost

As so often, we end the week in the family pew at St Asquith's. The Church of Rutland, incidentally, still adheres to the back foot no ball law. Sunday The Revd Hughes gives it both barrels at St Asquith's this morning: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." I turn to my neighbour in the pew and remark: "Fella's expectin' a hard Brexit." Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South West, 1906-10.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
Fri 23rd
09:12

Do 20mph zones work?

I live in the middle of a 20mph zone, but I have not seen much evidence of changes in driver behaviour other than in those streets where we have introduced traffic calming. That anecdotal conclusion is supported by a study by the Department for Transport which is reported in the The Times. They found that the introduction of 20mph zones across Britain has had no effect on the number of accidents in inner cities, with "no meaningful difference" to casualty rates compared with other roads. They say that some councils have spent up to £1.7 million on making the change ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

JTheresa May is a frightened woman. She is not frightened by the pile of Conservative MPs' letters demanding her departure. They are still a long way from the 48 required. And even if it reaches the magic number, the bookies are betting on Mrs May retaining the leadership in any consequent vote. Even if she loses, Theresa May can take solace from Enoch Powell's truism that all political careers end in failure and that her successor will be faced with the same brick wall of insoluble Brexit problems as she was. Neither is Mrs May worried about Spain's latest sabre ...

Posted by Tom Arms on Liberal Democrat Voice

Three Conservative Party defences, one Labour defence and four Liberal Democrat candidates are the basics of this week's council by-elections. Given the week of politics we've had, the Conservative performance was rather strong across these wards as the full results below show. Bush Hill Park, Enfield Robert Wilson was the Liberal Democrat candidate in this Conservative ward. CON HOLD #BushHillPark, #Enfield with 53% (+13) of votes. LAB were 2nd on 28% (-9), LDM 3rd on 11% (+1), GRN 4th on 4% (-7), WEP 5th on 3% (+3) and IND 6th on 2% (+2). pic.twitter.com/mcHQoULioK — Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) November ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

From the City Council : Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating service connections for a new housing development. The Order is expected to be in force for two weeks from 26 November 2018. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months. The effect of the Order is to prohibit all southbound vehicular traffic in Bellfield Street from its junction with Blackness Road to its junction with Hawkhill. Pedestrian access and vehicular access to premises will be maintained where possible. Alternative ...