The result of the Liberal Democrats leadership election was announced this afternoon, with Jo Swinson notching up a clear win over Sir Ed Davey. That is no reflection on Ed's talents and experience, nor indeed on his selection campaign, which was robust, engaging and at times masterful. But clearly many of the 72% of LibDem [...]
So we're gaining more new members and supporters on the back of Jo Swinson's compelling speech just after she was elected leader. 1200 by the time she made her rally speech three hours later. Here's a selection: I just joined the Liberal Democrats – join me here: https://t.co/QJkHOvJ0uX Forgive the past. Time to look to the future. LibDems are the only #Remain game in town I really think Jo Swinson can pull this off. I've got to give her the chance to make a difference — Cardinal Biggles McFerryFace #FBPE [IMG: 🔶] [IMG: 🎓] [IMG: 🇬🇧] [IMG: 🇪🇺] (@CardinalBiggle2) July ...
This is a great piece of film, showing the Great Northern's route from Derby to Nottingham in its last days. The line closed to passengers in 1964.
So it was a one-horse race after all. Jo Swinson has won the Liberal Democrats' leadership election, polling 62 per cent of the 76,429 cast. I voted for Ed Davey because I had a clearer idea of what his leadership would mean and broadly supported his approach. It may be that Jo fought a front-runner's campaign and saw no need to upset anyone by being too specific, but I never did get a clear idea of what the liberal movement she advocates would look like. And the emphasis her campaign put on the appeal of her own personality has given ...
Last Friday I attended the count for the Northumbria PCC by-election. As Lib Dem candidate was I heading to for a completely unexpected victory? No! Did Labour see their usual easy victory? No! Previously Labour took over 50% of the vote. Therefore 2nd preferences were never previously counted. This time Labour's vote dropped from 56% to 37%. Our vote climbed from 10% to 18%. It was a
Liberal Democrats are gathering in London to welcome Jo Swinson as leader at a rally. Watch it live here. The first speaker is Ed Davey, after a generous introduction by Sal Brinton. A really classy speech, paying tribute to Jo, a few self deprecating jokes. But many people have a much higher opinion of Ed than they had at the start of the campaign. He said he looked forward to serving with Prime Minister Swinson. Next up Vince, with lots of thanks for staff and some tips for Jo. First one – on dinners. "Work out what to do if ...
I missed the live announcement of the Lib Dem leadership vote this afternoon as I was at that point in time sawing a horn stub off a billy goat. As far as excuses go, that is probably unbeatable! So congratulations to Jo Swinson. We now have our first female and our youngest leader. The challenge for Jo is to take us forward as a party and build on the political capital created under Vince's
Mon 22nd
18:00
In full: Jo Swinson's first speech as Lib Dem Leader: Don't just shout at the television, join us an...
Text below: Thank you all so much. I am delighted, honoured, absolutely over the moon to stand before you as the leader of the Liberal Democrats. And as the first woman to lead our party. I joined this party when I was 17. And over the last twenty two years, through all the ups and downs, the Liberal Democrats have felt like a family to me. Conferences, campaigns. By-elections from Brent to Brecon. Twelve years as an MP, three years as a Minister. Losing my seat. Winning it back again. And now standing here, as your leader. Ready, for the ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:Craig's biggest fear, however, was also probably the most realistic, and that was fire. House fires were a regular occurrence in Chicago, in part due to slumlords who let their buildings slide into disrepair and were all too happy to reap the insurance benefits when a fire tore through, and in part because home smoke detectors were a relatively new development and still expensive for working-class people to afford. Either way, inside our tight city grid, fire was almost a fact of life, a random but persistent snatcher of homes and hearts. My grandfather Southside had ...
In the space of two days two of the Country's three main Parties will have chosen a new Leader. Here's my take on the new Lib Dem Leader and the likely new Leader of the Tory Party. Meanwhile Labour staggers ... Continue reading →
Here's the result of the contest to succeed Vince Cable as leader of the Liberal Democrats: Jo Swinson 47,997 (63%) Ed Davey 28,021 (37%) Jo Swinson becomes the party's first female leader and already 200 more people joined the party during her acceptance speech alone. You can do too. Jo Swinson's 63%, ahem, compares with the 60% in my election survey. That results makes for a record number of members voting: 106,075 ballots were sent out and 76,429 votes cast, with a 72% turnout. The turnout compares with 56% for the 2015 Farron-Lamb contest and 64% for the knife-edge Clegg-Huhne ...
Liberal Democrat leadership election result: E. Davey: 28,021 J. Swinson: 47,900 Jo Swinson elected. — Britain Elects (@britainelects) July 22, 2019 Turnout 72% which equals the Huhne vs Campbell vs Hughes contest in 2006. In her first speech as leader, Jo said that she was a candidate for Prime Minister: It feels like our liberal values are under attack. We champion freedom - but Brexit will mean the next generation is less free to live, work and love across Europe. We value openness - but Britain is in retreat, pulling up the drawbridge. We cherish equality, so that every individual ...
His successor will be announced soon, but we really need to say a massive thank you to Vince for the work he has done over the past two years. He took on a party which was not in the best place. He leaves a party which is rejuvenated, united, determined, confident and has given up equivocation and nuance in favour of a give zero hoots attitude that has paid dividends in terms of the number of members, councillors and MEPs we have. I have had my disagreements with Vince during his time as leader. I felt that the emphasis on ...
Next year's Spring Conference will take place in York from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th March. Federal Conference made the announcement a short while ago just to give us something to think about while we wait for the leadership election result. York for me is a perfect venue for Spring Conference. It's easy to get to, gorgeous, has some excellent pubs and restaurants and a Lib Dem council to boot. I don't know about you, but the hour and a half since 1pm has felt like seven years. Only an hour and 29 minutes to go...... So I suggest you ...
Mon 22nd
11:55Chuka Umunna MP writes...Lib Dems are the only party committed to stopping Brexit and tackling the c...
As the Conservative leadership contest draws to a close, with both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt putting fresh paint on the impossible red lines set out by the Leave campaign, the threat of a a No Deal Brexit is closer than ever. Both candidates are disregarding all the facts about the disastrous consequences this would have for the UK, with Boris Johnson even searching for ways to suspend Parliament to circumvent MPs to run down the clock to exit day. Such a move would not only be a democratic outrage, but herald one of the most destructive acts of self ...
Sun, 12:56: Arthur. C. Clarke's July 20, 2019: Life in the 21st Century https://t.co/o6hYmRchmt Futurology, reviewed by @randyfmcdonald. Sun, 15:23: Stepping Stones: Interviews with Seamus Heaney, by Dennis O'Driscoll https://t.co/TgSI0JYoyN Sun, 15:23: RT @Robert___Harris: Time to confess that I was the one who broke the Watergate story but I was so busy doing my O-levels I passed it to Wo... Sun, 20:48: Thread. https://t.co/bVoq3NtxSc Sun, 21:14: RT @alexwilcock: OTD 1994: #DoctorWho Goth Opera & Blood Harvest (but not necessarily in that order) In which trad Terrance Dicks continues... Sun, 21:27: Has there ever before been a by-election within ten days ...
The reason you are getting this today and not yesterday is that I came across a problem faced by many voters in rural Wales – no wifi and not even a 4G signal. A good job that Jane Dodds is campaigning for better connectivity. Saturday started with a quick coffee with Jane. We did film an interview, but for some reason I can't upload it so I will have to find someone clever to help me. It looks amazing on my phone, though. Jane also caught up with Margaret, at her first by-election after 60 years in the party and ...
Darren Grimes wins his appeal against the Electoral Commission on the issue of him being fined £20,000; cue Leavers using this as massive vindication. I can understand why: Remainers had built his case up into the ultimate argument against Brexit. This was always a bad idea on the part of Remainers, as is the whole "Leave won by cheating" line of thinking. It is possible that something dodgy went on with the Leave campaign and if that is proven correct it will have huge implications for how political campaigns are run in the future. God knows, electoral law needs to ...
Over on the Guardian website, Layla Moran has written an opinion piece which says that the anti-semitism scandal in Labour is creating a fear among MPs of speaking out for the Palestinian right to equality, justice and statehood. Layla writes: My mother is Palestinian. These issues are deeply personal; we still have family in the West Bank. I am very worried that, at this critical juncture in the history of the region, activists, parliamentarians and journalists feel that they cannot speak out for fear of being branded as antisemitic. My plea is that we must speak more about Palestine, not ...
Jonathan Swift would be relishing the political havoc which awaits. He would recognise our current Lilliput. A land inhabited by politicians as troublesome and as brutal as their eighteenth century counterparts. Then they bound the gargantuan Lemuel Gulliver but today's Lilliputians are about to capture one of their own. Boris Johnson will be tethered immediately [...] The post Boris's Travels in Lilliput appeared first on Radix.
With the Royal Welsh Show starting today, it was inevitable that the BBC and other media would start to talk about agricultural matters, but this year the focus on the impact of a no-deal Brexit is particularly important. The BBC report on the view of FUW president, Glyn Roberts, that there could be "civil unrest" in rural Wales if the next prime minister opts for a no-deal Brexit. They say that the Farmers' Union of Wales has predicted protests, while NFU Cymru say it would not rule out campaigning to stop Brexit entirely. They were speaking in light of a ...
If you haven't yet voted in the leadership contest, you had better get your skates on as the ballot closes at 1pm today. If you are still trying to make up your mind which of our excellent candidates to vote for, our Liberal Democrat Leadership election tag, with our Ed's Day and Jo's Day series and other things might help. Their BBC2 hustings from Friday night is here. This is the time for @LibDems to be that positive alternative that I believe millions of people in our country are crying out for. That's why I want to lead the party, ...
After all the political fallout of recent years regarding Sefton Council's Local Plan the biggest controversy within that plan is coming to its detailed conclusion. Two separate planning applications for 1685 houses to be constructed on Land East of Maghull have now been put out to public consultation by Sefton Council. The planning application numbers are DC/2017/01532 and DC/2017/01528. and the closing date for objections is 17th August 2019. I understand that around 1100 letters have been posted out by Sefton Planning Services to those near the site and anyone who has submitted an objection previously. The vast Maghull East ...
Mon 22nd
08:00
"To all the vile antisemites out there: clear off from the Palestinian quest for freedom and justice...
Well said, Layla Moran: Genuine supporters of Palestinians' rights are fighting for equality, justice and freedom, aims that are in diametric opposition to any form of antisemitism. True champions of these causes both fight for Palestinian rights and also against any form of racism, including antisemitism. It is time to stop posing these as somehow conflicting choices. Many brilliant colleagues in parliament and elsewhere do this powerfully and passionately, week in and week out. No sinister conspiracy stops them from doing this... To all the vile antisemites out there: clear off from the Palestinian quest for freedom and justice. Take ...
Conservative Party reminded of Brexit realities Commenting on Simon Coveney's interview on the Andrew Marr Show, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said: The Irish Deputy Prime Minister has reminded the Conservative party of the realities of Brexit today. There will be no changes to the backstop and the fantasy of GATT 24 has been expunged once again. The Conservatives must not be allowed to waste any more time to push the country ever closer to No Deal Brexit. Parliament must show that the only real way forward is a People's Vote with an option to remain in the EU. ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 22 JULY 2019 Blackness Road (at Glenagnes Road) - off peak (9.30am - 3.30pm) 3 way temporary traffic until Tuesday 23 July for footway works. Perth Road (West Wynd to Seafield Road) - closed on Sunday 28 July for manhole repairs. Perth Road (at Union Place) - temporary traffic lights on Sunday 28 July for BT works. Forthcoming Roadworks Kirsty Semple Way - closed on Saturday 17 August for crane lifting operations.
The new episode of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs is now up! This one's on "Ooby Dooby" by Roy Orbison, and how even Sam Phillips could make very bad mistakes. And a reminder that backers also have ... Continue reading →
