Today is topped and tailed by Brexit, hardly unusual, but there is also some good stuff responding to today's events... Rival Brexit plans reveal Govt without a course Govt must act to prevent deaths on our streets Govt must end 'wild west' drone market Lib Dems: Public health cuts demonstrate Tories' duplicity Alun Cairns Must Resign if UK Government Back No Deal - Welsh Lib Dems Rival Brexit plans reveal Govt without a course Responding to rival Brexit plans set out by Amber Rudd and Andrea Leadsom, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake has said: While people at home over ...
A doubly unusual final trio of council by-elections before Christmas. All three seats up this week were Liberal Democrat held, but only two of them had Lib Dem candidates. Anstey, Charnwood John Sutherington was the one Liberal Democrat councillor on Charnwood, and with his decision to stand down there was no-one bidding to take his place: Anstey (Charnwood) result: CON: 50.8% (+17.1) LAB: 49.2% (+33.6) Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrat. No LDem (-25.6), UKIP (-16.1) and Grn (-9.1) as prev. — Britain Elects (@britainelects) December 20, 2018
An honest and oddly moving short video, directed by Amie Fretter and produced by Eleanor Thomas.
"The undeniable reality is that the House of Commons needs to clean up its act, that PMQs has been reduced to a pantomime and 'unparliamentary' behaviour tolerated far more than it should be. Instead of the undignified sight of Tories turning on the Speaker for upholding parliamentary procedure, perhaps efforts would be better spent on overdue reform of both procedure and the chamber itself?" Andrew Page offers his thoughts on Stupidgate. "Liberal Democrats ought to be cautioning against risking council finances on volatile investments, and there is an alternative, one which would have wider social benefits than property investment, and ...
Thu 20th
19:41
A new approach to youth services in Ludlow starts next year - we are going to tackle the big issue o...
Mental health services are being cut back. It can take weeks, even months, for a young person to get a mental health referral. Often, they must go to Shrewsbury for a consultation. Many youngsters can't or won't do that. Ludlow Youth Partnership wants to tackle this. We have partnered with the Children's Society which runs the Beam emotional wellbeing service in Shrewsbury and Wellington. Our new drop in service launches in February. It is supported by a lot of organisations and is the first independent commissioning of the Children's Society to provide emotional wellbeing services for young people in Shropshire. ...
Have you watched in horror as one organisation after another has got itself into hot water when an owner, a member or an employee has behaved in an appalling way? The impact of the #MeToo Movement has really highlighted the need for every organisation to get this kind of issue right. We are proud to say that the Lib Dems will be rolling out our new and upgraded disciplinary process in 2019. In order to become an effective, inclusive and diverse organisation this is absolutely vital. Whilst Brexit is grabbing all the headlines, we are going to need help from ...
For the last few years I've done a round-up of my my year on social media. This year I'm starting with the more traditional media pieces to which I contributed or in which I was mentioned, grouped by theme rather than in date order. Northern Ireland As usual, I got a lot of coverage on Northern Ireland issues — three small themes and one big. A BBC interview in the summer, marking the moment that Northern Ireland overtook Belgium's record for the longest period of time without a government, got me another bite of the cherry in the Belfast Telegraph. ...
Yesterday I received an email invitation to join the Conservative Party from Helen Whately MP, its Vice Chair for Women. From: Helen Whately MP, Conservative Party Vice Chair, Women Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 9:37 PM To: xxx@yyy.zzz Subject: Don't stand for this Today at Prime Minister's Questions Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May a 'stupid woman'. This is just the latest in a long line of misogynistic behaviour from Corbyn and his top team. Jeremy Corbyn 'mansplained' to the Prime Minister on International Women's Day, called for women only train carriages and has a Shadow Chancellor who called a female ...
As the Central Government grant to Local Government has been reduced towards nil, we've all seen the impact. A retreat from non-statutory services, such as buses and libraries, cuts to grants for the voluntary sector who, ironically, have done more than most to cushion the blow to residents of earlier cuts, and attempts to devolve services to the Cinderella tier of local government that is Town and Parish Councils. In an attempt to stem the tide, local councils have sought to generate income by borrowing at current historically low rates of interest to invest in commercial property. Unfortunately, suspicion is ...
Thu 20th
12:20
Britain's fate is in the hands of two people: Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. Which is the problem.
I'm back from Australia, but alas recovering from a bout of flu combined with tooth trouble. What with Christmas coming, normal service will not resume for a while. But I can't help myself from commenting on Britain's Brexit drama. It is striking that so much of what happens next depends on just two individuals, the ... Continue reading Britain's fate is in the hands of two people: Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. Which is the problem.
Earlier this month I did a whirlwind lecture tour of Almaty, Taraz and Kulan in Kazakhstan, in the company of the Aitmatov Academy's Director, Rahima Abduvalieva. The trigger for the visit was the 90th anniversary celebrations of the esteemed Kyrgyz writer, Chinghiz Aitmatov, author of Jamila and other novellas and short stories, as well as evocative memoir. [...]
The talk this week is of whether "managed no deal" is a real thing (it isn't, but many are clinging to the idea for political reasons) and wanting the holiday season to come, the latter at least partly because "managed no deal" discussions have worn on everyone's sanity. I figured May would have come out of the no confidence vote full of vigour, ready to do whatever needed to be done to salvage her deal, i.e. figure out what particular amendment would allow her to get enough Labour votes to make it all fly. Instead, she's still talking about how ...
As consensus on #Brexit continues to be out of reach, former foreign secretary Boris the Clown has re-emerged to cause ever increasing friction for Theresa May and the kids of Londonderry.
Wed, 12:56: The Golden Age of the iPhone Is Ending https://t.co/61PhsOhKB7 Too much of a good thing? Wed, 16:05: Ursula K Le Guin remembered by her son Theo Downes-Le Guin https://t.co/DRzn3aLaWk Inspiring. Wed, 19:06: This was quite a tough call, as the two have such different styles. In the end I am voting for Peter Darville-Evans... https://t.co/B8BnzqxjOh Wed, 20:48: Peace, Love and Jockey in Belfast https://t.co/U0Dwe8jxeM Very nice piece, again flagged by @wwhyte. Thu, 10:45: Rebranding an NGO. What could possibly go wrong ? https://t.co/oMFzmlTjLQ Fascinating case study from @CrisisGroup starring @@Hugh_Pope . Thu, 11:29: RT @StevePeers: 1) OK, there ...
Untitled I posted The Blood is the Life for 19-12-2018 to my dreamwidth blog Whisky-me If you know someone who likes a wee dram then you could do worse than get them (or yourself) this as a little giftette. I do, of course, have selfish motives for mentioning it: the more people sign up the better the service becomes. And I am looking forward to my fancy glass at the next level up. UK government officials have repeatedly met with anti-trans activists So hopefully they can shut up now about being silenced and nobody giving them a fair hearing. ...
[IMG: 3 Top Tips You Need To Know When Shopping For Your Kids] We get it! Shopping for your kids can be quite a challenge. You need to find something that is good looking, while at the same time – practical and comfy. Not to mention that children... The post 3 Top Tips You Need To Know When Shopping For Your Kids appeared first on FeministMama.
Responding to rival Brexit plans set out by Amber Rudd and Andrea Leadsom, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake has said: "While people at home over Christmas will be worried about Brexit uncertainty, these rival plans reveal a Conservative Government without a course. "Theresa May is looking more and more like Captain Bligh. Her mutinous crew have lost faith in her. We even have Andrea Leadsom so lost at sea that she is speaking irresponsible gibberish about an impossible 'managed no deal'. "Amber Rudd has land in sight by accepting a People's Vote is 'plausible'. Not only that, Liberal Democrats ...
Yesterday's news was dominated by the question of whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did or did not mutter the words "stupid woman" during PMQs. The alleged insult was not picked up my any microphones in the chamber, and the only video evidence has proved inconclusive with various lip-reading experts failing to conclude whether he said "stupid woman" or "stupid people". Some very quick thoughts in response to this: * Politics - and especially PMQs - has now become, for better or for worse, a media circus. * Whatever Corbyn said, he should simply apologise to the House for using the ...
In 1948, Idaho had a beaver problem. The answer? Planes, parachuters and beavers from out of town. Here's the remarkabale story.
On Thursday 20th October I started my nine-month internship with the office of Tim Farron MP and the Westmorland and Lonsdale Liberal Democrats. Less than a month before this, I was sitting in my University library worrying not only about completing my Master's dissertation, but also about the fact that I didn't have any form of employment lined up. I never would have thought that within a matter of weeks I would have moved up to the Lake District and secured the perfect role working for a political organisation which I am passionate about. Each day working for the Liberal ...
What will it take for MPs to take seriously the existential threat to this country posed by Brexit? Whilst the Government earmarks £4 billion towards preparations for a no-deal Brexit, including stockpiling food and medicines on a scale not seen since the second world war, the House of Commons yesterday turned into a full-throated pantomime. Theresa May led a chorus of Tory MPs from the despatch box, whilst Corbyn allowed himself to be intimidated and walked into a row of his own over whether he demeaned women or just people-kind as a whole. It does matter what the Leader of ...
From Scottish Water : As we come into the colder weather, Scottish Water is advising customers in communities across Scotland to prepare their homes for winter. Our winter advice encourages anyone with a home, holiday home or business premises to take action to heat, insulate and protect their properties. Visit www.scottishwater.co.uk/winter where you can find winter information and customers can also find further information online about their pipework responsibilities by visiting www.scottishwater.co.uk/responsibility.
Thu 20th
06:13How will the new local plan affect Ludlow? Come to a Shropshire Council meeting on 14 January to fin...
We are midway through updating planning policy in Ludlow and Shropshire. The current stage of the local plan review is looking at where houses and employment areas might be built. The council's site allocation consultation runs until 31 January. A meeting will be held to discuss the council's proposals on 14 January at 6pm in Elim Church Hall, Ludlow. Planning officers are holding several public meetings throughout the county. The aim of the meetings is to explain the local plan process and the proposals for local development. They will provide an opportunity to highlight issues, concerns or to suggest alternatives ...
