Boris' no-deal spells disaster for farmers Commenting on Boris Johnson's visit to Wales today, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: It would appear that Conservative aides have finally dusted off a map, given Boris Johnson the nametag for their candidate and pointed him to Brecon and Radnorshire. This last minute quickdash visit is symbolic of just how much the Conservatives have taken local people for granted. People deserve better than the Tories' half baked plan to crash the UK out of the EU without a deal and thereby lumping farmers with an eye watering 40% tariff on Welsh lamb. By ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on Liberal Democrat Voice

Now the Muslim Khatri Association Community Centre, this building is described by Leicester's 2016 Local Heritage Asset Register as: A good example of an early-20th century former Church of Christ. Built circa 1924 to the designs of architects G. Lawton Brown and Percy C. Jones, the church makes good use of brindle mix brickwork and a prominent 3-storey corner tower that has a strong presence within the street scene. With its William Morris touches, it is more appealing than most churches of this period. And there is more. The Register entry ends:The church replaced a temporary corrugated iron church, erected ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

This post first appeared on the Radix blog... It was watching the final Avengers film with my children that gave me the clue. Sometimes I have spent many of these films in the lovely Worthing tea shop outside the Dome cinema - though I must confess that I quite enjoyed Captain Marvel and Captain America (the fact that there are too many captains here is part of the underlying issue. So here is my proposition, the Marvel franchise represents an explosion of nostalgia in American culture that I have a feeling explains something of the parallel phenomenon of Donald Trump. ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

The agenda for the Lib Dem federal conference coming up in Bournemouth, the first with Jo Swinson as party leader, is now out. You can read it in full below, and when doing so watch out for the following in amongst the other important items: Motion F4, "Continuing the Fight for Gender Equality", has plenty of substantive policy to it. It also – potentially – sets out the framework for the party to run campaigns much more in the style of a pressure group. That is, building coalitions with others to bring about substantive changes in how our country is ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
Tue 30th
20:30

Six of the Best 878

Delivering Focus is good for the brain and cheaper than gym membership, argues Geoff Reid. Alex Marshall rediscovers Boris Johnson's forgotten novel: "Sonia Purnell, a former colleague of Johnson's at The Daily Telegraph who has written a biography of him, said 'Seventy-Two Virgins' had proved invaluable to her research. 'He is a very secretive person, but he allows glimpses of himself.'" Woodstock's 50th anniversary is involving a surprising degree of litigiousness, reveals Kenzie Bryant. Ameila Bryant looks at the fashion for buying up and developing old camera films. "From its opening moments, with Leonard Bernstein's interpretation of Britten's 'The Young ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Merseyrail Class 508 EMU at Maghull Station Well here's an opportunity, if an expensive one, to see behind the scenes at our local train operator A Merseyrail electric unit at Bootle New Strand Station.

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus
Tue 30th
17:51

Tuesday reading

Current Grimm Tales, by Philip Pullman Kate Bush: Under the Ivy, by Graeme Thompson De Bourgondiërs, by Bart Van Loo Ben-Hur, by Lee Wallace The Time Ships, by Stephen Baxter Last books finished The Secret Lives of a Secret Agent, by Tim Crook Het Amusement, by Brecht Evens The Ghosts of Heaven, by Marcus Sedgwick Under the Molehill: An Elizabethan Spy Story, by John Bossy Small Wonder, by Barbara Kingsolver The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells Next books The Dispossessed, by Ursula Le Guin Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky

At the Annual Meeting of the Council I seconded the nomination of Cllr Peter Brennan as Lord Mayor of Liverpool. I did so as Leader of the main opposition Party. It is a custom that the Leader of the controlling ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

 

 

YouGov
Tue 30th
14:59

Grant Forms

 

Folkestone and Hythe District Councillors have up to £3,000 per Councillor they can agree as ward grants during the course of a year. The forms and guidance notes to make an application to a Councillor are at: District Councillor Ward Grant Application Form and Guidance Notes 2019-20 [PDF] District Councillor Ward Grant Application Form and Guidance Notes 2019-20 [Word] There are, clearly, a large number of projects and organisations that could make use of grant funding, and the money is limited. I'd massively prefer if you contact me to discuss any potential application and project before starting to complete the ...

Sometimes, what looks like a clever strategy is just someone making a mistake.

Posted by Nick Barlow on Stories by Nick Barlow on Medium

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill calling on him to block the appointment of Dominic Cummings as an Advisor to Boris Johnson on grounds of suitability.The letter cites that Cummings has previously been found in contempt of parliament for refusing to attend a Select Committee and highlights a track record of dubious behaviour in relation to leaked documents and unsubstantiated campaign claims during the EU referendum. Commenting on Cummings appointment and the representation to Sir Mark Sedwill, Layla Moran said:"The appointment of Dominic Cummings should send shivers down the spines of UK citizens. ...

Posted by Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats achieve remarkable successes on the foundation of determined campaigning, enthusiasm, and passionate promotion of liberal values. But money also matters. And shortage of money, compared to Labour and (above all) the Conservatives, is one of the major obstacles to a political breakthrough. Last year our federal party raised £6.2m, and spent £6.5m. That meant some painful cuts in staffing, as well as missed opportunities in media projection, campaigning, and organisation. Those who complain in commenting on Lib Dem Voice postings that our media team are failing to make the most of our rise in the polls do not ...

Posted by Lord William Wallace on Liberal Democrat Voice

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I pick over the results of the Liberal Democrat leadership election. Why did it turn out that way and what next for the party? Show notes Results of the Liberal Democrat leadership election. The Lib Dem Newswire survey on the 2019 contest. The Lib Dem Newswire survey on the 2017 contest, showing what a strong position Jo Swinson started the 2019 one in. Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Responding to Robert Buckland's swearing-in speech as the new Lord Chancellor today, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Jonathan Marks QC has challenged him to "match his warm words about Legal Aid with action". In his speech, the Lord Chancellor said: "I remain firmly of the belief that as far as possible the right support must be provided for those who need it, particularly where actions of the state directly affect the liberty, livelihood or welfare of the individual." Following the speech, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Jonathan Marks QC said: "The new Lord Chancellor must match his warm words about Legal Aid ...

Posted by Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats
Tue 30th
11:25

Project Fact

I have no holidays planned for this year. Having spent the first 7 months of the year fighting elections, there was no time for getting away. While I yearn to see the rest of the world, the lack of a vacation may actually turn into a financial blessing in disguise. Boris Johnson's first gift to the nation as PM is the sinking pound. What immaculate timing! Just as people (not me obviously!) are

Posted by Jonathan Wallace on Jonathan Wallace
Tue 30th
11:00

My tweets

Mon, 12:56: A topical thread, with @Dublin2019 looming. https://t.co/VhapfDvGvJ Mon, 16:09: Well worth taking 20 mins to read this paper on what a no-deal Brexit means for the UK government. (And the thread... https://t.co/lwe6qmlzlU Mon, 17:11: RT @Mermaids_Gender: THREAD: 11 days ago, we contacted the @Guardian to offer an interview with a transgender kid and her mum who are both... Mon, 18:00: Adorable Illusion, by Gary Russell https://t.co/Iezko931r2 Mon, 21:00: 60 hours left to vote in the 2019 Hugo Awards and 1944 Retro Hugo Awards! Two categories are still within a 1-vote... https://t.co/UuioprYKFM Mon, 21:35: Graft Mon, 21:59: RT @gerrylynch: ...

Just over a year and a half ago, Kishan Devani joined us from the Conservatives.He writes for AsianLite International about Jo's election as leader and what that means for the Liberal Democrats and the country: It was evident to me and all those present we were not looking at the leader of a UK political party, but in fact, we were witnessing the making of an international leader who can take on world issues and still care for the injustices felt by people domestically. Her courage to call out Trump so openly shows that she is not scared to take ...

Posted by NewsHound on Liberal Democrat Voice
eUKhost

Earlier this month was the regular meeting of Greater Manchester's Corporate Issues and Reform Scrutiny Committee – specifically focussing on the proposals from Greater Manchester Fire for changes in the fire service going forwards. Each of the three GM Scrutiny Committees consist of 15 councillors from across Greater Manchester (at the moment that is – 11 Labour, 3 Conservative 1 Lib Dem). Prestwich Lib Dem Councillor Tim Pickstone was elected Chair of the Scrutiny Committee for 2019-20, and reports back: The meeting was held at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Training and Safety Centre in Bury – the ...

Posted by timpickstone on Tim Pickstone

Some serious roadworks for us this month with road closures and temporary traffic lights in a number of areas – for the full list see the GM Roadworks site here The Major roadworks in July are: – Heywood Road/Rectory Lane – multi-way signals until 8 August 2019 (Cadent Gas) – Scholes Lane (near end of Ostrich Lane) Multi-Way Signals 2-16 August 2018 (Cadent Gas) – Lowther Road/Sandy Lane junction – road closures 4-15 August 2019 (Electricity NW) – Heywood Old Road – road closures (Rochdale Council) 8-25 August 2018

Posted by timpickstone on Tim Pickstone

If we Fight a Snap Election, I have a Couple of Requests... With the new Prime Minister having taken residence in No. 10, without the majority in Parliament to carry out his controversial Brexit policies, and possibly not even the majority to survive a confidence vote, there is an increasing chance of a General Election this Autumn. Should this happen, I would like to request the following of our campaign: No "Vote for us to have another vote!!" "Stop Brexit" should only start a sentence, not end it. No "Vote for us to have another vote!!" Shortly after the 2016 ...

Posted by Daniel Henry on Liberal Democrat Voice

It didn't take long for Boris Johnson to make his mark on government, even if that is entirely negative and reactionary. The Independent tells us that the Prime Minister's new Brexit chief wants to scrap Theresa May's commitment to protect British workers' rights, and has suggested Brexit is an opportunity to escape the EU's "heavy labour market regulation". And then there is the attitude towards women. As others have pointed out, the man now installed in Number Ten Downing Street,who had police called to his London flat following a loud row with his girlfriend, has now decided to drop the ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

More than 300 children face becoming homeless during the school holidays this summer as a result of the housing crisis, the equivalent to a primary school's worth of children, councils have warned. The Local Government Association estimates 320 homeless children in England could be placed into temporary accommodation over the next six weeks, based on trends for the last two years. The number would exceed the size of an average primary school, which has 282 pupils. The LGA, which represents councils, is calling on the new Prime Minister to make tackling homelessness an urgent priority. According to latest government figures, ...

Posted by timpickstone on Tim Pickstone
Tue 30th
08:28

GMSF Delayed Again?

It looks like the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework could be delayed AGAIN, with no further proposals now until AFTER next May's local and Mayoral elections........ The current draft proposals would see Prestwich lose around 40% of its green belt land for development with 2,700 houses on green field sites to the east of Prestwich. The Planning news service Place North West and the Manchester Evening News (click for the full news stories) have both reported that the Framework has been delayed again. Under the existing timescale for the GMSF, the next version would have come forward this September, before being ...

Posted by timpickstone on Tim Pickstone

In my latter days as a Sefton Councillor I opposed the rebuild of Southport Indoor Market, indeed my Lib Dem Council Group did too. It was pushed through via a Tory/Lab coalition on the then balanced council. We Lib's said it was not a wise project and that we felt the rebuild would not be the economic success which was at that time being promoted. It seems our concerns were well placed. The BBC has an article on its web site about the current situation of the market – see link below:- www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-49045174 I mentioned the rebuild of Southport Indoor ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

It was watching the final Avengers film with my children that gave me the clue. Sometimes I have spent many of these films in the lovely Worthing tea shop outside the Dome cinema – though I must confess that I quite enjoyed Captain Marvel and Captain America (the fact that there are too many captains here [...] The post Boris, backstops and Captain America appeared first on Radix.

Posted by David Boyle on Radix

Following the carers consultation and workshops, carers have told Bury Council and NHS that they want online information, advice and forums which can be accessible at any time. Bury Council and NHS Bury CCG need your thoughts, opinions and ideas to contribute to the design and to help develop the online carer information site and to explore an online carers forum. They would like to invite carers and people who support carers to attend one of the workshops to help shape an online offer which is fit for purpose, easy to use and meets the needs of the carers of ...

Posted by timpickstone on Tim Pickstone

Residents will recall that, back in May of this year, BT promised me that it would repaint the phone box on Magdalen Green that was badly in need of a lick of paint. I am pleased to say that BT was as good as its word and the phone box was repainted last week : Before After