Just in, a council by-election result and yet another Labour vote collapse (and Lib Dem gain!): Middleton Cheney (South Northamptonshire) result: LDEM: 44.3% (+10.2)CON: 39.8% (-2.3)GRN: 10.3% (+6.2)LAB: 5.7% (-14.1) Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative. Labour could explain the result by suggesting they were squeezed in what is a marginal ward. Had this been a three way battle, the
Five council by-elections this week, of which two are Liberal Democrat defences and all five have a Lib Dem candidate. (Hooray!) St Mark's, Rushmoor Thomas Mitchell stood for the Lib Dems in Rushmoor, where I was last Friday doing an event with the local party. He was defending Alain Dekker's seat after work changes took him away from the area. And he did so successfully, with a big increase in the majority: St Mark's (Rushmoor) result: LDEM: 54.7% (+16.6) CON: 35.9% (+2.2) LAB: 9.4% (-6.1) Liberal Democrat HOLD. — Britain Elects (@britainelects) September 12, 2019
Emma Lewell-Buck is the Labour MP for South Shields. She was David Miliband's replacement after he resigned to spend less time with his brother who had just beaten him for the Labour leadership. While David went on to be the head of the charity International Rescue (I'm trying to avoid references to Thunderbirds to the rescue), Ms Lewell-Buck headed to Parliament as the new MP. She is not without
[IMG: 'The challenges a Muslim woman faces'] "I only get half share of any inheritance of what my brothers get." "During prayers, I cannot pray in the same row as my sons but must always be behind them." "As a wife, I... The post 'The challenges a Muslim woman faces' appeared first on @ambitiousmamas.
Some photos from my walk last Saturday. I also visited the Wistow church and the little church at Newton Harcourt.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has confirmed that there are serious talks about election pacts underway between her party and Plaid.
I have seen no evidence that Tim Farron wants to rip out the pews at St Asquith's and make everyone sing 'Shine, Jesus, Shine', but Lord Bonkers is clearly obsessed with the idea. He is also on record as saying he is not prepared to kiss the person next to him in church - "unless it's Alan Beith, of course". Sunday Whenever I leave the village I fear for what I shall find at St Asquith's on my return. I am pleased to report the Revd Hughes is still firmly in charge: his curate Farron has not ripped out all ...
Second paragraph of third chapter of Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Campaign, by Julieann Campbell:Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary was the launch of Eamonn McCann's book, Bloody Sunday: What Happened in Derry, commissioned by the Sunday Initiative (BSI) and published by Brandon Books. Regarded as one of the seminal books on the issue, McCann's book helped to renew interest in Bloody Sunday and contained a background analysis of the events leading up to the killings. Most remarkable was the series of interviews with relatives and friends, conducted by Maureen Shiels and Bridie Hannigan of ...
One year ago ... ... and today. First rebirthday and continuing to kick the arse of The Bastard Beast™. The post Transplant +365: First rebirthday appeared first on ten pence piece.
In last week's spending review, we saw yet more smoke and mirrors. Just half of the promised £3.7bn is new cash and £1.85bn will be coming from pockets of hard-pressed council tax and business rate taxpayers who are at breaking point. The money announced will help meet rising cost and demand pressures in 2020/21. But not much more. As I have said time and time again additional freedoms and flexibilities are all very well, but its new hard cash that local government needs. This must be backed up a commitment that is not just for 12 months, but a sustainable ...
Tomorrow, Liberal Democrats will be gathering at Bournemouth for the Autumn Conference. This is the main conference, traditionally held during the parliamentary recess, as opposed to the shorter Spring Conference and the two conferences held per year in each Region/Nation. If you watch the conference on BBC Parliament you will see the proceedings in the main hall - the debates, the set piece speeches and perhaps the procedural bits. Sometimes news or politics programmes will carry excerpts from the rally or fringe meetings. But this doesn't give the members' full experience of conference, which also includes the exhibition, training sessions ...
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to unambiguously condemn the statement of Israeli PM Netanyahu, in which he pledges to apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan valley and northern Dead Sea if elected next week.Commenting on this worrying assertion from Netanyahu, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:"Such a move would be a clear breach of international law, as set out in UN security resolutions, and would kill any hope, however fragile, for meaningful peace talks based on the two state solution."It could also result in yet more instability in the region and give succour to extremists everywhere."If ever ...
The next Liberal Democrat President needs to be focused on helping to transform our party so that we can deliver on our hopes for the country.
For the last five years, Jeanne Tarrant has had the herculean task of guiding our party towards following best practice in safeguarding and dealing with complaints, updating policies and developing training. Now she's leaving us. She told us: After five amazing and turbulent years, I'm off to pastures new. I have been (un)lucky to experience two General and European elections and referenda during my time and worked with an incredible bunch of people in the wider membership and at the Liberal Democrats HQ. I have seen how remarkable and dedicated individuals here in HQ and the wider Party have contributed ...
Donald Trump's main export to Canada has been a sense of national smugness, that his outrages and absurdities could never find purchase here. But it would be an act of monumental self-deception for Canadians to believe that we are an island set above the rage bubbling across the world.
We published our latest eFocus for the Whickham area earlier this week. Issues covered include: Tour of Britain cycle race coming to Sunniside, Whickham and Swalwell on Tuesday 10th September; Dunston house building plans rejected; Whickham Social Club to be demolished; Mayor re-opens Marley Hill Bowling Club's pavilion; Dunston School Plans submitted; Teddy bears picnic in Sunniside. You can
Jonathan Calder reports that the local Lib Dems have been told to halt the selection of their Parliamentary Candidate amid speculation that Central Command may be holding back certain selections awaiting high profile arrivals into the Party. But he ends his piece, "You have to be an optimist to see Canterbury as a Lib Dem candidate target. But politics is in such flux at the moment, who knows?" I am an optimist in these matters and took up the challenge to make a case for our team in Canterbury. It is inconceivable that Lib Dems can be strong contenders in ...
I was a little shocked on Tuesday morning to find that one of the biggest policy shifts in Lib Dem history seems likely to be pushed through Conference with less than 6 days' notice. The problem I have with the new policy of "Revoke if we win a majority", is that it puts at risk some core beliefs of our Party and validates the accusations of being the "Lib Undems" which we have been successfully resisting for the last three years. I see the strong attraction of Revoke; no messy referendum, no arguing over the question on the ballot paper, ...
Wed, 12:33: RT @LordAshcroft: @ConHome And if there were a referendum tomorrow, how would you vote? https://t.co/muhAdZ5LUh Wed, 12:56: RT @gerrylynch: This is your regular reminder that nobody has the slightest clue what would happen in a snap election and anyone saying the... Wed, 14:21: RT @GMLspokesman: A War on Truth: part 2 Western banks and law firms are helping #Putin's men to put their wealth in a safe place, where t... Wed, 16:05: RT @benjaminbutter: This normal looking photo is an historic first: the gay prime minister of Luxembourg and his husband meeting with the l... Wed, 17:11: On ...
Thu 12th
10:59
Karen Ward to fight North Norfolk and Munira Wilson to fight Twickenham for the Lib Dems
Two key selection contests have concluded this week. Last month both Norman Lamb and Vince Cable announced that they would not contest their seats in the General Election we know is just around the corner. Karen Ward will contest the North Norfolk seat which Norman has held since 2001. From the Eastern Daily Press: Ms Ward added: "I will also fight for decent affordable housing for local people, better education and training for our children, and a new deal for social care funding for the elderly." The key areas she hopes to address are climate change, social housing, people-led town ...
Here below is the Conference Brexit motion in full. It is motion F17 "Stop Brexit" to be debated at 11:50 on Sunday. In the main Conference Agenda document, this motion simply appears as "F17 Europe" with no detail. This was to allow a motion to be written closer to conference that is up-to-date. The motion text appears in the Conference Extra document which has now been published. You can find all the Conference papers here and the excellent Conference app is available for iOS/Apple and Android. With the app you can read through the agenda and fringe meeting list. You ...
Yarn Bombing – 'the action or activity of covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crotcheted material, as a form of street art' If you live in Lydiate you may have noticed this:- As seen on Southport Road, Lydiate I spotted this on a recently refurbished (by Lydiate in Flower Volunteers) street bench next to a bus shelter. Across the road in the beautifully maintained gardens adjacent to the Nedens Lane junction a tree has also aquired a colourful addition made the same way. I mentioned this to my daughter and it was she that told ...
I think most people understood that leaving the EU without a deal would be disastrous for the country and the economy, but the publication of the UK Government's Yellowhammer papers in today's papers, sets out the stark reality in a way that must give everybody pause for thought. As the Guardian outlines, the government's own analysis suggests that a no-deal Brexit could result in rising food and fuel prices, disruption to medicine supplies and public disorder on Britain's streets: The document, which says it outlines "reasonable worst case planning assumptions" for no deal Brexit, highlights the risk of border delays, ...
I joined the Labour Party over 50 years ago. I never thought I would leave. I was active at all levels. Chair of the Labour students, 15 years at party HQ, 27 years a Labour and Co-op MP. I told the Corbynista trolls the only way they would get me out was in a box. I was very tribal Labour. I remain Labour to my core. But after the 2017 election I realised that, to be true to my core Labour party values of solidarity, compassion, social justice, equality, internationalism and anti-racism, I could not stay in Corbyn's Labour. I ...
From the City Council : THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of crane lifting works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Oxford Street (from Elliot Road to Eton Street), Dundee. This notice comes into effect on Thursday 12 September 2019 for 1 day. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes are available via Elliot Road / Cambridge Street / Eton Street. For further information contact 433082. Head of Roads and TransportationDundee City Council ...
