As displacement activity, as opposed to actually doing something practical as the country careers towards a cliff-edge Brexit, arguing about whether or not Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May "stupid woman", or said "stupid Tories" or "stupid people" seems to hit the spot. * deep sigh * It's so much more courteous down the corridor in the House of Lords... And the Press Team are still hard at work... Tory immigration plans would bring chaos, not control Corbyn must apologise for PMQs remarks Cable: EU planning reinforces PM must rule out no-deal Tory immigration plans would bring chaos, not control Responding ...
Look what's arrived in the post. It's the programme for my only West End appearance. The cast list reveals no star names beyond Danny La Rue - I get the impression he had his own company of regulars - but there are some very 1969 advertisements I shall share with you one day.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse can now point to a solid achievement. The government, reports BBC News, has agreed to pay compensation to thousands of Britons who were sent abroad as children under a resettlement scheme, often to a life of drudgery and abuse.. Back in 2010, Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the government, referring to a "shameful episode" in Britain's history, and the Department of Health said it would set up the compensation scheme as quickly as possible. But since then nothing has happened. So it looks as though it was the inquiry's March hearings into ...
Liberal Democrat members in Weaver Vale constituency have selected Daniela Parker as their next Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC). A graduate in psychology, she went on work for 12 years with substance misusing offenders in custody and is well known locally for her campaigning to improve the appearance and road safety of the urban village where she lives. On being selected, Daniela Parker said: I am thrilled to have been selected as the PPC for Weaver Vale. I am committed to working with all the members of the local community and demonstrating that our party's policies can deliver a real improvement ...
I first met Jeremy Corbyn back in, I think, 1985. He came to Aberdeen University to speak in a debate in Women's Week in favour of the motion "This House should ban Page 3." Jeremy Corbyn genuinely gets feminism more than most men, to be honest, so I find it hard to believe that he would deliberately make a sexist comment. I do think that there is an issue with misogyny in left wing politics and I think he could do more to tackle it in his party, so this isn't an entirely clean bill of health, but there are ...
Responding to the Government's immigration white paper, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: "These Tory immigration plans would bring chaos, not control. Does anyone really believe that the Home Office can cope with a massive new temporary worker scheme? It already can't cope with managing non-EU migration."Every year, tens of thousands of employers would for the first time have to apply for visas - with all the costs, bureaucracy and delay the Home Office specialises in. "Britain's immigration system isn't broken because of the EU, it's broken because Home Secretaries like Theresa May pandered to populism and failed ...
Responding to the European Commission's plans for a no-deal Brexit, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: "The European Commission should not be playing the same game of chicken as the UK Government."We cannot allow British citizens in Europe to lose their right to live and work in the EU. Nor can we allow the damage that a no-deal Brexit would inflict on the UK economy and the EU alike. "It doesn't need to be this way. I disagree greatly with the Prime Minister on a range of issues, but surely she would not allow the country to fall ...
Watch how the borders within Europe have changed over the last thousand years in this fascinating video.
Jacob Rees-Mogg and Mark Francois could hardly hide their delight. Their attempt to depose Theresa May had of course failed but they had dealt her, and her Withdrawal Agreement, a mortal blow. With over a third of Conservative MPs voting to remove Theresa May in the recent No Confidence vote, and forcing a concession from [...] The post How the UK hard right will try to triumph in 2019 appeared first on Radix.
Who we Liberal Democrats are, and what we have to offer The finding of a You Gov survey of 5000 people, reported in the Sunday Times and then here by Caron, that in the event of Jeremy Corbyn's Official Opposition supporting Mrs May's proposed deal with the EU there could be a massive switch of support among the voters from Labour to our party, raises the question of our identity, perceived and genuine. The voters who told You Gov that they would switch to us knew our commitment to staying in the EU and demanding another referendum to try to ...
That's a good question at the moment, one I'm constantly asking myself. To be clear, I'm looking at this question from the holistic point of view, that is - why be a Liberal Democrat at all? I'm not going to give you a list of reasons justifying membership. Considering the current shambolic state of our nation, the appalling failure of our Government and the ineffectual weakness of the supposed Opposition (the not-much-confidence motion, I ask you), it is almost inexcusable that we, the party of Remain, should be still scraping along the bottom in the opinion polls. Even our improving ...
Monday. Four days of the working work to come! "Things never change" thought Michael as his self-driving car drew up and he hopped in and caught up with some work. Still, the rat-run to work! Still, everyone copied in on emails! On the radio, Nigella Farage wittered on as ever about "country rights" in Europe to Joanna Humphrys as Today marked the centenary of Brexit in 2019. Moreover, Michael inwardly moaned that maybe equality for women had gone too far! His grandfather had talked glowingly at breakfast about how the Lib Dem government had taken Britain back into Europe in ...
This week the Government published a consultation on Waste Strategy, which has been criticised for its lack of ambition. The strategy aims to: – Introduce a tax on single use plastic with less than 30% recycled content. – Consider banning plastic packaging where there are alternatives. – Legislate to allow government to specify a core set of materials to be collected by all local authorities and waste operators. – Commit to a deposit return scheme for bottles and cans. – Ensure all households get food waste collections. – Try to build a stronger UK recycling market. But critics are angry ...
First posted on Liberal Democrat Voice. I want somebody to take away from me what I have and give it to other people. I'm a pensioner in a comfortable place in the most comfortable part of the UK, the south-east. Our incomes are high relative to every other region of the UK; more of us own our own houses than any other region. Government policy persistently works to protect us and boost us more than any other region. One of the most important considerations for Liberal Democrat policy on inequality must be to reduce the very substantial difference in income, ...
Yesterday I attended a meeting of Gateshead Council Cabinet. There wasn't a great deal on the agenda but I was interested in the review of allotment rents (I don't rent from the council). The recommended rise matched inflation so was not in any way controversial. I did however raise the issue of the need to carry out community asset transfers of the allotment sites. I have been arguing for this
Delivery of our Whickham Focus newsletter is underway and on Saturday, I delivered a patch in my own ward. My plans to deliver three patches however was shelved. I whimped out after doing one patch to to home, warm up and have lunch! The two remaining patches will be done shortly.
After a rather sleepless night, there was excellent news from the hospital this morning. I have almost normal blood again and there was no evidence of lymphoma on my PET/CT scan. In January I will...Continue Reading The post Transplant +98: The beast is soundly asleep and snoring appeared first on ten pence piece.
On the theme of Brexit distracting government from dealing with other pressing reforms, today's Times reports that Theresa May is to start culling Tory manifesto commitments after her cabinet decided yesterday to accelerate planning for a no-deal Brexit. There is no majority in the House of Commons for us to leave the EU without a deal, but of course there doesn't have to be one. The law says that we leave on 29th March 2019. The only way that can be modified, extended or stopped is through legislation, and given that there does not appear to be a majority for ...
Oh, my Whovians! Knit a Pair of Dalek Mittens With a Free Pattern! | KnitHacker Um... I thought daleks reproduced asexually, but this seems to give the lie to that... 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
Tue, 12:46: RT @CrisisGroup: NEW POSITION | We are looking for a Publications Volunteer Intern to assist the Communications department with @Crisisgrou... Tue, 12:56: Reality Check: The false claims about the Brexit deal https://t.co/OCFcFlBkGB A good list. Tue, 14:13: Creative maths from POLITICO; far from defending four seats in the European Parliament, @FiannaFailparty currently... https://t.co/9I9RPpA1BW Tue, 14:20: Behind the Brexit Chaos, a Faulty U.K. Negotiating Strategy https://t.co/BbS5qXz8s1 Excellent @WSJ analysis from... https://t.co/KYeNZEKPL4 Tue, 15:24: The Democrats have *never* run a candidate for President or Vice-President based outside what are now the Eastern o... https://t.co/GjhQBpK1go Tue, 16:05: Northeastern and Clarkson are ...
Just to take the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for your support and our very best wishes for 2019. Emails take a break for a couple of weeks and back in January!
Opening times for many public services are different over the Christmas and New Year period. Bury Council Over Christmas and New Year, most Council offices will be closed to the public from 5pm on Friday 21 December until Wednesday 2 January, unless stated otherwise in the information provided below. Throughout the Christmas and New Year period you can continue to report problems and make payments online. Please be aware that we may not process reports or payments until Wednesday 2 January 2019. Report it Make a payment Customer Contact Team Closed from 5pm Friday 21 December 2018. Open 10am to ...
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a new public transport offer for apprentices, potentially saving them more than £300 on Metrolink and bus travel across the region. The deal sees eligible apprentices receiving a free 28-day System One travel pass, followed by significant discounts on the next three 28-day passes that they buy. Previously, apprentices were only entitled to four weeks' free travel, with no further discounts, so the new scheme offers even better value for money. For those who prefer their commute on two wheels, TfGM and the GMCA also offer a free refurbished bike, cycle training and ...
Bury Council's Licensing team are reminding the public to use only legitimate taxis and private hire vehicles when travelling home from Christmas festivities. Their message is clear: 'Don't get into an unregistered, untraceable car which isn't displaying taxi plates'. Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles operating in Bury must have a council licence, and drivers must wear council-issued ID. Angela Lomax, Bury's head of trading standards and licensing, said: "By using vehicles licensed by Bury Council, passengers can be sure that the vehicle has been properly tested, the driver has undergone vetting and criminal background checks before being issued with ...
Here are a handful of Brexit-related topics that have been on my mind: 1. We need a more balanced discussion of the risks of a far right surge There are plenty of arguments about the risk of a People's Vote or Article 50 revocation fuelling the rise of the far right and/or violence. Whether or not that is likely, making policy in response to threats of violence has no place in a democracy. But it is equally important that we attend to the risks inherent in the alternative future trajectory. Brexit will deliver a negative economic shock in the short ...
Wed 19th
07:33
Lydiate & Maghull – Those Neighbourhood Plan Referendums – We were given a vote on ...
Here I am looking at what was protected Green Belt and presently still is high grade agricultural land off Lambshear Lane in Lydiate. It's been reserved as building land in Sefton's Local Plan. If you live in either community did you vote in the 2 separate referendums on the Lydiate or Maghull NP's on 18th December? I did but with little enthusiasm even though I had a hand in putting the Lydiate one together. Why my lack of enthusiasm? Because these Neighbourhood Plans will have only marginal influence on the big planning issues that people are concerned about. The significant ...
For details of bus services over the Christmas and New Year period, please follow the links below :Xplore Dundee details here.Stagecoach details here.
Wed 19th
06:14
My submission to the government's review of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty
In recent months we have been discussing the idea of creating a national park in South Shropshire, perhaps extending into Herefordshire to embrace the Mortimer Forest and into Telford and Wrekin to include Ironbridge. There has been a pretty cool reception to this idea from policy makers but a warmer reception from business and members of the public. I have always emphasised that the government is not at this stage proposing to create new national parks. It is reviewing the way that national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty operate and the scope for extending them or creating new ...
Responding to reports the Government's migration target has been left out of draft proposals for a new immigration system, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: "If the Conservatives really are dropping their manifesto commitment of a net migration target, that is good news. "It's an admission that Brexit won't control immigration as Mrs May promised - otherwise the target would surely be kept. "This was yet another deception of the people by the right-wing nationalist Brexiteers. The truth is that it's the needs of our economy and the NHS that drive recruitment from overseas, not membership of the ...
Responding to the Cabinet decision to increase preparations for a no-deal, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said "The decision to ramp up the no deal pressure is psychological warfare. The Conservative Government are attempting to scare MPs, businesses and the public with the threat of a no-deal. "Theresa May is irresponsibly trying to run down the clock so that the only option is to support her discredited deal."It is time to stop playing political games with our future and take the issues at hand seriously. The only real way out of this deadlock is to hold a People's ...
