Johnson pandering to Farage over immigration Responding to Boris Johnson's promises to investigate an 'Australian-style' policy for immigration, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: Immigration has been a great thing for our country. But politicians like Johnson have vilified those coming to help build and contribute to our great country for their own political gain in the Brexit debate. Yet businesses across the country are already having to deal with acute shortages of staff thanks to the Brexit uncertainty, and this proposal from our potential next PM does nothing to solve that. If implemented, an Australian-style visa cap ...
The readmission of Corbynite socialist fellow traveller Chris Williamson MP to the ranks of the Labour Party is bad enough. Anti-Semitism needs to be tackled with more than just a light slap on the wrists. Meanwhile, Alistair Campbell has, in the eyes of Labour, carried out a more serious crime. He voted Lib Dem. There are no signs yet that he will be allowed to return to Labour's ranks. This
Only one council by-election this week, caused by Andy Abrahams being elected Mayor of Mansfield with a majority of just two votes. Sandhurst, Mansfield Alas, although the Lib Dems contested the ward in 2015 and 2019, there was no Lib Dem candidate this time and so bringing to an end – temporarily hopefully – the little run of weeks of really good Lib Dem by-election results. Full voting figures to come. These by-election results round-ups cover principal authority by-elections. See my post The danger in celebrating parish and town council wins for your own party for the reasons to avoid ...
[IMG: I am so proud to be the first Malaysian to appear on a Brit Reality TV Show] I had the honour of being interviewed by Malaysia's number 1 blogger and investigative journalist Mariam Mokhtar about my involvement with the Channel 4 documentary, 'Mums Make Porn'. I was one of the five mums... The post I am so proud to be the first Malaysian to appear on a Brit Reality TV Show appeared first on @ambitiousmamas.
Having inadvertently posted a video for the second time this week, I have decided to do it more often. After all, most of my readers now weren't born when I started blogging. So here are the children of The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 1958, performing part of Carl Orff's Music for Children. Surely this is the soundtrack from a lost folk horror classic? Certainly. it is the most frightening recording I know. I wrote a bit more about it when it first appeared on this blog in 2014. As I observed then, these days the Italia Conti ...
There have always been those who worry about Lord Bonkers' advanced age, but it has never worried me. The problem, I increasingly feel, is my own age. Suddenly my topical references aren't so topical. Can you believe I have readers who don't remember Graham Tope's victory in the Sutton and Cheam by-election? But how to account for Lord Bonkers' apparent immortality? When asked, he always puts it down to his annual trips to bathe in the spring of eternal life that bursts from the hillside above the former headquarters of the Association of Liberal Councillors in Hebden Bridge. That and ...
Back in February, when Change UK was launched, I wrote: Remembering the endless hours expended on seat negotiations by the Liberal Party and the SDP, I would be tempted to pursue a selfish strategy if I were in charge of TIG and it had grown into a national party. I would give the Lib Dems a clear run in the seats they hold and in another dozen where they had realistic chances of winning. After that, I would stand a candidate in every seat in the country and let the Lib Dems stand against me if they dared. So low ...
Following Plaid's talk of a possible cross-party Remain deal for the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, we now have news from the Greens: Remain alliance in Brecon and Radnor could be on the cards. Greens have just said they won't stand. Other parties discussing giving Lib Dems a clear run at seat. — Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) June 27, 2019 (An explanation of what MiniVAN is can be found here.)
There was a view in the Shropshire hills in the 1990s that the building of new roads around Shrewsbury had led to more crime. It was much easier to get to the countryside and out of it again than it used to be. But a Conservative councillor over the border in Powys has another explanation for rural crime. It's the ramblers. The County Times quotes Les George from Caersws contribution to a scrutiny committee meeting on crime: "With the ensuing policies of the Welsh Government that are opening up the countryside to the general public, this is obviously going to ...
Thu 27th
19:36
Severn Rivers Trust wants to remove half of Linney Weir to promote fish migration on the Corve and T...
Severn Rivers Trust has applied to remove part of the Linney Weir structure on the River Corve "to allow full and safe fish passage for migratory fish up and down the River Corve and Teme." The trust aims to remove a nine metre section from the 18 metre stone weir. The stonework removed will be used as rip rap to protect the remaining weir and the banks of the Corve (19/02540/FUL). This application is just in. There is no information about the impact of this work. The Linney Weir in within Ludlow Conservation Area and an assessment of heritage impact ...
Second paragraph of third chapter: 'Pardon. Sorry.' Ruth sniffed. Another short and digestible Bernice Summerfield novel, with two nicely intertwined timelines about a crashed spaceship and a randy corporate sponsor, it only becoming clear at the end of a short book how the two are relted too each other. Minor but enjoyable. You can get it here. Next in the Bernice Summerfield series: Adorable Illusion, by Gary Russell.
Following the special Never Mind The Bar Charts interview with Jo Swinson, now out is the matching interview with her rival for leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey.
Crossens Saturday, 13th July, St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens, from 11am to 12 noon. Churchtown Thursday, 25th July, BoxTree Kitchen for Queenscourt cafe, Manor Road/Cambridge Road, roundabout, from 10:30am to 11:30am. We will be there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in.
And this: And this: Please come and help at the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election campaign. Polling stations will be will open on August 1st. Please come as soon as you possibly can. We're campaigning full tilt already and this continue up to polling day. There is currently a "big push" to deliver newspapers. We can win this one, but we need your help NOW. There are two HQs - one in the south at Brecon and one in the north at Llandrindod Wells. They are both open every day from 10am until 7pm: Brecon HQ: 26 High Street, Brecon, LD3 ...
As most people now know Liverpool Council will have a meeting on 17th July devoted, apart from some statutory business, to climate change. This is a hugely important topic and is probably the most important topic facing the World as ... Continue reading →
Thu 27th
13:15
D66's Sophie in t' Veld MEP confirmed as Keynote speaker at Social Liberal Forum Conference
We delighted to report that D66 MEP Sophie in 't'Veld will be speaking at the SLF Conference and contributing our new book The Wolves in the Forest. Lib Dem Voice readers who watch BBC's Newsnight will be familiar with the contribution of Sophie in t'Veld who has frequently been brought on to patiently explain the reality of Brexit. You can register for the conference here. The new Social Liberal Forum (SLF) book will shortly be on its way to the printers. The editorial group are reading through the contribution and we are impressed by the quality of writing. Lib Dem ...
[IMG: Princes Parade] In moving the motion at the 26th June Folkestone and Hythe District Council Full Council Meeting to Save Princes Parade, I (approximately!) said the below. You can (for a limited period) see the speech as delivered on the webcast at The vote was won 15-14 after an hour long debate. There is more on the motion and debate here. "I'm proud to be proposing this motion tonight, and delighted to here to be able to move it. "As Councillors will know, the proposals for Princes Parade are for 150 houses, a hotel, a leisure centre, 1.5 ...
Former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has announced that he is leaving the Scottish Parliament to take up a job as head of External Affairs with Scottish Rugby. He's one of a handful of MSPs remaining who were first elected in 1999. Anyone want to have a go at naming the rest? Tavish led the Scottish Party from 2008-2011 and had three ministerial posts in the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalitions. In 2001, he resigned as a Minister for Parliament after refusing to support the Executive in a vote on fishing because of the impact on his constituents. He came back ...
Wed, 12:11: RT @AndrewDuffEU: @DenisMacShane @stam_claire @enmarchefr @ManfredWeber @C_Demesmay Weber's dignity would be better assured if he stopped h... Wed, 12:56: RT @jediknight1985: The British don't get that the struggle for Irish independence wasn't playacting. There's a residual sentiment among th... Wed, 16:05: Xi's G-20 Dilemma: How to Win Over Trump Without Changing China https://t.co/aGzdJ13Y8Y A perspective from Beijing. Wed, 18:28: In Another Light, by Andrew Greig https://t.co/EnaBpbOGSW Thu, 00:11: RT @LolaTempest: Europe is being hit with the biggest heatwave since 2003. Here are some things to consider before you tweet 'I live in Flo... Thu, 10:44: The Four Things ...
Thu 27th
10:13+++August 1st is date of Brecon and Radnorshire by-election - LDV video from the constituency
Please come and help @DoddsJane for the August 1st by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire pic.twitter.com/2y3Drk8R3r — paulwalteruk (@paulwalteruk) June 27, 2019 The government have just moved the writ for the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election – to occur on August 1st. As I say in the video above, please come and help here as soon as you can! We can win this and it is a beautiful area to campaign in! There are two HQs - one in the south at Brecon and one in the north at Llandrindod Wells. They are both open every day from 10am until 7pm: Brecon ...
Stay with us as Jo and Ed take part in a live head to head tv debate on BBC2 and BBC News Channel in a few minutes. This is particularly important as ballot papers are despatched tomorrow. The BBC have actually been promoting this well, too. Who should lead the Liberal Democrats? At 10am on @BBCTwo, the two contenders – @joswinson and @EdwardJDavey – join us for a special programme. Get in touch using #VictoriaLIVE pic.twitter.com/ISfiNfiGA8 — Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) June 27, 2019 The pair will take questions by a studio audience comprised of Lib Dem members and voters. And ...
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Gambling is, in my view, a fool's game: the odds are literally stacked against the punter. But, like anyone who's ever placed a bet, I still kid myself from time to time that I know more than the bookie. That's why I continue to bet on politics, although my powers of political deduction have somewhat [...] The post A betting certainty in UK politics? Or not? appeared first on Radix.
Brecon and Radnorshire is an enormous constituency. By my reckoning it takes up about a seventh of Wales. Geographically, it is the largest constituency in Wales and England. There are two HQs for the Brecon and Radnorshire campaign. The Brecon HQ is perhaps most accessible for those coming from the south of England. The HQ in Llandrindod Wells is probably a better bet for those coming from the north. Brecon is a fine town at the centre of the Brecon Beacons, boasting a cathedral. I called into the Brecon HQ on Wednesday morning, and was immediately rewarded with three large ...
It is getting to the stage where we are beginning to question whether the Labour Party really do have a desire to self-destruct. Their inability to deal with anti-Semitic tendencies within their ranks is becoming legion, while even when they have taken some steps to put an incident to bed, they cannot see it through to the end. Chris Williamson is a case in point. As the Guardian reports, Labour MPs have expressed fury at his re-admission to the party after having been suspended for suggesting the party had been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism. The paper says that party investigators ...
In connection with today's debate in Parliament, Brian Paddick, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson in the Lords, has launched a five-point plan to tackle the knife crime epidemic.His public health approach which he has called on the Conservative Government to enact is outlined below:Enabling parents to be there for their children by tackling in-work poverty & providing the support parents and their children need.Safe and healthy alternatives to gangs: providing a positive safety net for those whose parents can't provide the support their children need.Healing the damage caused by Adverse Childhood Experiences by addressing the psychological impact with intervention at ...
With the school summer holidays fast approaching, this evening at Blackness Primary School (pictured right), I hold my final surgery at 6.15pm sharp - the last until the new school term begins in August. During the summer break I can be contacted as follows :Home telephone number : 459378 (any time)Office telephone number at the City Council : 434985 (office hours Monday to Friday)E-surgery : esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk (any time)
I agreed to do some printing for a couple of wards in Gateshead today. Whickham North's Focus and Birtley's survey churned off the riso - or at least the front pages of them. They will be completed shortly. And then we have to deliver them!
