This blog first appeared on the Radix website... I heard an amazing radio interview a couple of weeks back with two voices from the past, Joe Haines and Bernard Donoughue from Harold Wilson's kitchen cabinet. What, they were asked, would the great fudger Wilson have done if he had been Theresa May? The answer was as clear as it was elegant - he would have reached out to Jeremy Corbyn and offered him a general election in return for his party's support getting the Brexit deal through. I'm not sure I really would go so far as to wish we ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

So, it was quite surprising that MPs backed the stronger No Deal amendment, especially after one of its Tory proposers bowed to the pressure of the whips and tried to pull it. But John Bercow, who gives zero hoots when it comes to preserving the rights of the House against the Executive, refused to allow her to withdraw it. The rebel majority was just 4. It was certainly a dramatic moment and yet another key defeat for Theresa May. But I wouldn't get too excited about it. In fact, while we may be closer than ever to a People's Vote, ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

By a margin of just four votes, the House of Commons has voted against a No Deal Brexit.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Continuing the pattern across the country in the last few weeks, this week brings news of another councillor joining the Liberal Democrats. East Suffolk Liberal Democrats report: Today we are pleased to welcome Waveney District Cllr Paul Light to the Party. A former Independent councillor, Paul brings with him a long and distinguished period of public service as the councillor representing the residents of the Carlton Colvile seat on Waveney District Council and Carlton Colville Town Council. Paul was the former Conservative councillor for Carlton Colville for 11 years, and resigned to stand as an independent... Paul is proud to ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

The 2014 election victory by Lutfur Rahman in the contest for Mayor of Tower of Hamlets was eventually over-turned for electoral corruption, but police investigations did not result in criminal convictions. The resulting controversy over the police's actions resulted in Operation Lynemouth: an investigation into what the police did and why. The final report from Operation Lynemouth is now out, and it is pretty damning: The policing of the election and the subsequent investigation were deficient in too many areas. There was a lack of corporate responsibility, a lack of training and insufficient resources for the MPS's special enquiry team's ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

In part one I set out some of the things missing from our consultation paper https://www.libdems.org.uk/sconf19-consultation-paper-137. In this part, I will set out what we could do mostly for children and adults to remove them from poverty. Returning to Local Housing Allowance, when introduced the rate was supposed to be the 30th percentile of the local market rates for private rented accommodation. This means that only the 30% cheapest properties in the area are affordable to those claiming housing benefit. Therefore only increasing LHAs in line with local rents does not restore it to the 30th percentile. Restoring it to ...

Posted by Michael Berwick-Gooding on Liberal Democrat Voice

So those who are interested will have already seen Zoe's report on which amendments were taken and weren't and I am happy to answer questions about individual ones if people really want me to, but I think there are two things that need to be covered that are merely skirted in Zoe's article:The Supporter's Scheme, and how the votes on it are going to work So, you will see from Zoe's article that we rejected a whole load of separate vote requests. This is not because we are not going to be taking lots of votes. We are going to ...

A fairer share for all – ending poverty in the UK Part One In our consultation paper https://www.libdems.org.uk/sconf19-consultation-paper-137 A Fairer Share for all, we have a section on "reducing poverty and increasing opportunity" which mentions the UN Special Rapporteur "damning statement on the level of poverty in the UK today". It doesn't mention the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's latest report, "UK Poverty 2018" (https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2018" which states the following as the poverty line for different household types in 2016/17 (amounts per week): Single person no children £148 A single person with two children £306 Couple with no children £255 Couple with two ...

Posted by Michael Berwick-Gooding on Liberal Democrat Voice

Luldow, held for the Liberal Democrats by Matthew Green 2001-5, has a new Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliament Candidate (PPC): Rick Eling. Following his selection, Rick Eling said: We don't know when the next election will come, but when it does the Liberal Democrats will be fighting right here to offer voters a real choice. The Tories' lacklustre local record shows they take this seat for granted. Ludlow deserves better, and we demand better. He has particular policy interests in rural youth services and reform of the tax and benefits system. Rick Eling has made his home in Church Stretton for ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Cable: Spring Statement a predictable 'non-event' Responding to the Chancellor's Spring Statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: "Brexit has crowded the usually significant Spring Statement out on to the margins of relevance, and the Chancellor has managed to make it even more of a non-event. "Despite continuing austerity for most government departments and a violence epidemic on our streets, the Chancellor announced no meaningful new funding and failed to even confirm a date for the crucial upcoming Spending Review. "There is little good news in Brexit Britain's growth record either. ...

Posted by Tahir Maher on Liberal Democrat Voice
YouGov

[IMG: Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Dauntless in the Mediterranean ] Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Dauntless in the Mediterranean We must claim back Europe's role in the world from populist Eurosceptics Image: Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Dauntless in the Mediterranean (Royal Navy, used under the Open Government License) When campaigning for Europe, we must be unapologetic, and we must be frank with our stance. Europe as an idea and the EU as an organisation are both under enormous pressure from within and without. To recognise Europe's value, we must avowedly call for reform, and we must be the dynamism needed for ...

Posted by Charlie Murphy on Liberal Democrat Voice

The problem with Brexit is that it is undoable, say many Remainers. They are actually softening the blow when they say this; the truth is, Britain is unable to do Brexit because it simply isn't up to it. I know, I know, this is the thing no one is supposed to mention. But look at the evidence: the government has been hopeless on Brexit. And this was the government that the British voters chose, the one that was also, objectively, the best one available since all the other options were either terrible or completely unrealistic. If our government, or any ...

Posted by Nick on nicktyrone.com

Young people play a vital role in the party. Beyond our ability to deliver vast sums of leaflets, or to liven up that local party picture, we shape the Liberal Democrats. We stand for public office; we lobby for youth issues and representation, we ensure that as society changes the party changes with it. However, lately the boundaries of who is young have changed, and the Young Liberals need to change too. That is why we are looking at possible structural reforms, including raising the automatic membership age cut off from 26 to 30. No longer can even the luckiest ...

Posted by Erin Yarrow on Liberal Democrat Voice
Wed 13th
11:29

Brexit: where now?

At last the option of revoking Article 50 has surfaced in the mainstream (rather than just on this Blog.) Mrs May gave it as an option in her speech in the Commons last night night in which she acknowledged the second massive defeat of her deal. The presenter of the BBC 1 then mentioned it on the 10pm bulletin, and it has been cited again on the news this morning. I'm surprised that this oblivious course has taken so long to emerge as a serious possibility. For MPs to revoke Article 50 is the simplest way to get us out ...

Posted by Peter Wrigley on Keynesian Liberal
Wed 13th
11:00

My tweets

Tue, 12:30: RT @tconnellyRTE: Key points from Geoffrey Cox: The legally binding provisions of the Joint Instrument + the content of the Unilateral Dec... Tue, 12:56: The Great Star Wars Heist | Carl Cunningham and Rancho Obi-Wan https://t.co/1OPzQ0ItpB Extraordinary and rather sad story. Tue, 15:24: RT @NigelDoddsDUP: Sufficient progress has NOT been achieved at this time. https://t.co/tZpLQ5giUy Tue, 16:05: John Bolton: Trump's Shrewd National Security Adviser https://t.co/QY1zgqIY7M '"He could have risen faster if he ha... https://t.co/Afg9gI1gxz Tue, 17:11: Jeremy Corbyn and the truth about Tom Bower's book https://t.co/fXw4fYdHqZ A thorough and damning demolition by... https://t.co/kqRNaJmtQ8 Tue, 18:13: RT @amcunningham: Thanks ...

Ahead of Philip Hammond's Spring Statement today, business leaders have signed a joint statement with Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable warning that the UK faces more uncertainty if Brexit proceeds. Twenty business people, from a range of backgrounds, agree "Any investment which is 'pent up' will remain so if Brexit proceeds, during a period of protracted and acrimonious further negotiation. "The Chancellor is labouring in an absurd delusion by suggesting the economy will receive any Brexit Boost. Instead, there will be a heavy price to pay for business and for citizens. "The Government's Withdrawal Agreement leaves a panoply ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Yesterday Liberal Democrat Lords inflicted two significant Government defeats on a Bill which could have allowed healthcare deals offering access to the NHS to be signed in return for trade deals. The two cross-party amendments, which restricted the application of the Bill to the EEA and Switzerland and also restricted the scope of the regulation making powers, were passed by the House of Lords by 36 and 38 votes respectively. The Healthcare International Arrangements Bill legislates for the Government to makes reciprocal healthcare agreements with other countries. However, the Bill does not just guarantee that UK citizens can continue to ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Today, the House of Lords will vote on a Liberal Democrat amendment to the Trade Bill which will require the Government to preserve the free economic movement of people should the UK leave the EU. Speaking ahead of the vote, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords, Dick Newby, said: "Now that the Commons has resoundingly defeated Theresa May's damaging Brexit deal twice, Jeremy Corbyn cannot dither on his support for a People's Vote any longer. It is time his opposition to a damaging Brexit deal is put to the test. "If his front bench fails to support this ...

Posted by LD Neath on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Although there is still more than a year and a half left until the presidential election on the first Tuesday of November 2020, the US election campaign has already begun. Hillary Clinton has given up, but candidates for the Democratic party nomination are multiplying. The party of Roosevelt and Kennedy has never been so divided. [...] The post Is Trump coasting towards a second term? appeared first on Radix.

Posted by Renaud Girard on Radix

For those who have read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, seen the TV series or listened to the radio programmes, the last few days must seem very familiar. After having subjected us all to their bad poetry on sovereignty, the ERG (Vogons) are about to cast the UK (Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent) out of an airlock into the vacuum of space. The only hope for our heroes is a two-headed alien, Zaphod Beeblebrox, who is titular head of the European Union, his side-kick Trillian, a paranoid android called Marvin, who presides over the elected Parliament and their improbability drive. ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black
eUKhost

No sooner had I blogged about Lydiate's fallen in World War 1 than Bill Honeyman got in touch to tell me about a similar project covering Aintree and Melling undertaken by two friends of mine Bill Borland and Peter Gill, what's more Bill supplied me with a copy of their excellent booklet. Here's a link to the Lydiate booklet blog:- The deaths of 81 servicemen from Aintree & Melling are attributed to the Great War Many of the deaths are commemorated on memorials at St. Giles Church Aintree and St Thomas' Church Melling including Henry Mattocks who died aged ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

One thing I have always noted is that some of the Tories are arrogant. This is not just their politicians in parliament but at the local level and some of their members. I don't feel that is the case with members of other parties, but I have often thought that some of the Tories tend towards being guilty of their own inflated self-importance. I came across a small piece that dealt with this issue about the Tories. For the Tories apparently, it isn't about going to the right school or even education it's about confidence. Confidence is perceived to come ...

Posted by Tahir Maher on Liberal Democrat Voice

Following the success of the Original Boogie in the Bar in Aberdeen, Alzheimer Scotland's Dundee Dementia Resource Centre is launching its very own Boogie! A Boogie is a community lead activity where people have an opportunity to come together to enjoy music, dancing and company. There will be a professional DJ and thanks to the committee of the Lochee Bowling Club, Alzheimer Scotland has secured their fantastic premises for the event. If you would like to come along to the first Dundee Boogie this Friday - 15th March - please contact the Dundee team at Alzheimer Scotland on 210200 to ...