As we start another week, is there an emerging consensus on where we go next? Tomorrow sees the meaningful vote in the Commons, whilst tonight saw a somewhat less meaningful one in the Lords, although it perhaps offers a portent of what is to come... Cross-party group publishes legislation for People's Vote Cable: Research shows UK companies hit hard by 'Leave' vote Lib Dems: EU letter changes nothing Lords defeat 'embarrassing setback' for Theresa May Cross-party group publishes legislation for People's Vote A cross-party group of MPs has today (January 14th) published legislation to bring about a 'People's Vote' referendum ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice

On Wednesday last week, Gateshead's planning committee considered a proposal in principle (PIP) for up to six houses to be built on the former depot and stable block in Whickham's historic Chase Park. Gateshead Council are keen to sell this part of the park for housing. Members of the Lib Dem Focus Team are equally determined not to allow this to go ahead. The business entrance to the park is

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

On Tuesday 8th January, Sunniside History Society held its first meeting of the year. The speaker was Jane Lowes, an author who had researched the fascinating life of Sarah Marshall, who was raised in Seaham in the 1880s but who emigrated to Australia as part of a programme to boost the number of women in the Australian colonies. There was also a detailed explanation of the events surrounding

Posted by jonathanwallace on Jonathan Wallace

I love a good index, and Mike Brearley's willingness to bring his wider intellectual interests into his cricket writing gave me high hopes for his new collection On Cricket. And I was not disappointed. Because it features such juxtaposition as: Barrington, Ken Béla Bartók Fowler, Graeme Freud, Sigmund Hogg, Quintin Hogg, Rodney idée fixe Illingworth, Ray Pietersen, Kevin Pinter, Harold Sutherland, Joan Swann, Graeme Verity, Hedley Virgil, The Aeneid Wittgenstein, Ludwig Woakes, Chris If you like good indexes too, I can also recommend Electric Eden.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Clear, can-do, liberal. You know how I've been banging on for ages that we need to tug on people's heartstrings? Well, finally, we produce a compelling video that tells people who we are and what we are for. We demand better than Brexit. You can too. Join our fight to give the people the final say and opportunity to stay in the EUhttps://t.co/Mp2XkNJx4v pic.twitter.com/cr3LlLFEde — Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) January 14, 2019 From the happy, optimistic days of 2012 to the xenophobic post Brexit hate, our decline is shown, complete with Farage, Rees-Mogg and Johnson. Then there is a strong statement ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

Shortly after I'd been discharged from hospital last September, I made a decision to attend the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychologists annual conference (DOPconf to its friends) in Chester. It was held last...Continue Reading The post Thriving at work – #DOPconf 2019 review appeared first on ten pence piece.

Posted by tim on ten pence piece

Yes, I know that they all want to leave the EU but frankly, that raises more questions than it answers. Look at this way:- * Do they want to leave under any circumstances no matter what the consequences to the UK economy, their personal finances and even their own jobs? Well yes, some do and are well prepared for it to cost them money and even the jobs of themselves and their close family; it means that much to them. But how many who voted for Brexit support this ultra position? * Or do they want Brexit and are prepared ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus
Mon 14th
17:52

Milkman, by Anna Burns

Second paragraph of third chapter: 'I'm confused,' he said. 'Is that passage about the sky? If it is about the sky then why doesn't the writer just say so? Why is he complicating things with fancy footwork when all he need say is that the sky is blue?' Winner of last year's Man Booker Prize, this was my first book read in 2019, and a promising start. I am sad but somehow not surprised to learn that Burns is the first Northern Irish winner of the prize in 50 years. The novel is very clearly set in North Belfast (I ...

Last week was a lovely way to tap into a sense of creative play as I began the New Year. This week was a little more challenging as I hit a definite slump and found it very difficult to become motivated to do the challenges each day. However, I enjoy crochet and knitting, and on the days when I had very low power levels, I did manage to make a couple of amigurumi toys, following a pattern I use regularly, so I feel as though I'm exercising a very little creativity through that without expending too much energy. Day One ...

Posted by Dani Tougher on More Than Nothing

This post first appeared on the Radix blog... Have we ever had such an incompetent government? Isn't it so embarrassing? That is how the chattering classes seem to be reacting to the admittedly dire performance of our own government when it came to rising to the challenge of Brexit. But I have to say: I don't really agree with their fundamental analysis. The problem with Theresa May's government is not that it is exceptionally incompetent, it is that most recent UK governments have been just as incompetent, but - for reasons that may be obvious - the members of the ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog
YouGov

As Remainers, we have lived by the first two parts of Churchill's famous saying from World War Two in our fight against Brexit. We have been by turns both resolute and defiant. Now, on the verge of victory (not yet certain I know but looking more likely) we need to start looking at how we can be magnanimous and promote, hopefully, good will. To do this, we need to look at the reasons why some many areas outside the main metropolitan areas voted to leave the EU. The lack of affordable housing, the concentration of economic development in the Home ...

Posted by Leon Duveen on Liberal Democrat Voice

We continue our look at how Lib Dem parliamentarians are arguing against the Brexit deal and for a People's Vote. In this instalment, Chris Fox debunks Tory clams that a no-deal Brexit wouldn't cost jobs and highlights that the poorest will suffer most. My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Hain, and I look forward to working with him when we move into Committee on the Trade Bill. When the Minister was looking in our direction, he spoke about the need for clarity. I understand that his right honourable friend the Secretary of State ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

The new episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs is now up; on "Hound Dog", Big Mama Thornton, and misogynoir

Posted by Andrew Hickey on Sci-Ence! Justice Leak!

There is a lot of noise on social media at the moment with Labour members having to confront the awful reality that Jeremy Corbyn really does support Brexit, and if he succeeds in passing a motion of no confidence in the government then that will be the general election policy of the Labour party too. Many are giving up on Labour and are looking for a progressive alternative. So how about the Lib Dems? There is the question of the ownership of the word progressive. There was an odd debate at conference in 2016 which rejected the "Progressive Alliance" because ...

Posted by Geoffrey Payne on Liberal Democrat Voice

What makes men send dick pics? This viral thread on what people can and can't say due to 'political correctness' is gold. Will Victoria Coach Station be relocated? Listed Art Deco site of London's biggest bus depot estimated to be worth as much as £150m I mean why have somewhere central for tourists to arrive at by coach? It's clearly madness! Send them to the outskirts where they belong! 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 ...

Mon 14th
11:00

My tweets

Sun, 12:56: Theresa May's single most important strategic mistake https://t.co/otrahuqEFi @Peston: failing to build parliamenta... https://t.co/tmaxgM2oqL Sun, 14:48: RT @tinyredbook: To celebrate finally submitting something, let me do a wee penis tree thread for you all. #medievaldicktwitter is getting... Sun, 15:21: RT @alexstubb: Ways the world improved in 2018, in charts — Quartz https://t.co/HWYvZU1RFB Sun, 16:16: Three Fourth Doctor audios: Destroy the Infinite, The Abandoned, Zygon Hunt https://t.co/QrwNxiursF Sun, 17:45: Favourite actor: I think to be fair this has to exclude anyone I've already mentioned. In which case, I want to sal... https://t.co/Gke9nyjhAO Sun, 20:43: RT @Paul_Cornell: I think this ...

There are several accepted "truths" about what would happen if there was another referendum on Britain's EU membership, pumped out by even the most Remainery of journalists and pundits. One, it would be more divisive and bitter than the first. Two, that it would lead to a rising of the far right the likes of which we've never seen before. Three, that Leave would win again, this time by a wide margin. Here's the thing: none of those assumptions have any basis in fact whatsoever and in some instances aren't even particularly salient guesses as to what might happen. They ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com

The Lords have also been debating the Brexit Deal and, as in the Commons, Lib Dems have been arguing for a People's Vote. This is Dick Newby's contribution: My Lords, it is somewhat odd to be debating an identical government Motion with a month's gap, during which time, in the Brexit negotiations themselves and despite the announcements the Government have made today, there have been no significant developments whatsoever—a reality reflected in the Commons simply continuing its adjourned debate on the topic rather than having a new Motion or amendments. There was therefore a temptation to simply repeat the speech ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 14th
09:00

Get fit, get walking!

The January to June programme of South Glos Walking to Health walks has been published (click here for the walks programme) Where possible the walks start at places offering toilets, parking and somewhere to go afterwards for refreshments and a chat. All walks are free and are led by trained volunteers. You are welcome to bring dogs as long as they are kept on the lead. Occasionally in the programme they may ask people not to bring their dogs, for example, a nature trail, or if the walk takes in fields of cattle. Simply turn up - there is no ...

Posted by Paul Hulbert on Focus on Sodbury, Yate and Dodington

The Guardian reports that the UK government has revoked parents' right to retract information on their children's nationality and country of birth submitted to the English schools census, months before Brexit throws the immigration status of 3 million European residents into doubt. They say that officials from the Department for Education (DfE) collected the data on 6 million English schoolchildren, before it was halted last June in the face of opposition from critics who said it was an attempt to turn schools into internal border checkpoints: They add that confusion over the policy had already led some schools to instruct ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black
eUKhost

Have we ever had such an incompetent government? Isn't it so embarrassing? That is how the chattering classes seem to be reacting to the admittedly dire performance of our own government when it came to rising to the challenge of Brexit. But I have to say: I don't really agree with their fundamental analysis. The [...] The post Such an incompetent government? No, it's worse than that appeared first on Radix.

Posted by David Boyle on Radix

Cllr. John Pugh Southport's former MP is still on the campaign trail as a Sefton Borough Councillor for Dukes Ward; here he's taking on the might of Sainsburys as the link below to a Liverpool Echo article details:-

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

At the City Council's Neighbourhood Services Committee last week, we agreed improvements at Riverside as follows : Central Reservation on Riverside Drive : Due to the nature of this island and with how busy this part of the road is, it is dangerous for staff to carry out cutting work on the grass here. To enhance the approach to the city, removing the grass and replacing with hard standing will be not only tidier but takes away the risk of working on this narrow island. Installation of bollards between the pavilion and Barnetts Motors : On several occasions, there have ...

The hikes in parking charges in the centre of Ludlow have been controversial. They were ill thought through and driven by a desire to make Shropshire Council a champion of "linear parking charges". The only potential upside was that the charges were going to draw in income for the council. Council leader Peter Nutting told us in Ludlow he was hoping to raise £2.5 million to help plug the looming gap in the council's finances. Alas, the new regime is going to raise just £400,000 a year across the county. Is that amount worth all the effort? I very much ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington