Having made a promise at the last general election, Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd felt he had to vote for the government's Brexit deal, resigning the party whip as a result. But...
From LBC: The UK's leading election expert Sir John Curtice told LBC he expects parties other than the two major ones to have a record number of MPs in the upcoming General Election. The UK is expected to go to the polls on 12th December after Jeremy Corbyn told Labour MPs to back Boris Johnson's proposal for an early General Election. Sir John is the man who predicted Brexit and has been in charge of the accurate exit polls in the recent elections in 2015 and 2017. And speaking to Shelagh Fogarty, he gave a surprising prediction of what we ...
At the weekend Talking Pictures TV screened a documentary about the career of the film director Lindsay Anderson. One of the people interviewed was David Wood, who had appeared in Anderson's most famous film If.... That's him in the still above with Malcolm McDowell. This reminded me that I had mentioned David Wood when writing about my memories of watching a dramatisation of Susan Cooper's Over Sea, Under Stone in 1969 and my puzzlement as to the exact format it can have taken. Well, David Wood - today celebrated as a writer of plays for children - has a website ...
Responding to news that the commemorative 50p coins minted to mark Brexit on 31 October will now be melted down, Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Brexit said: "This meltdown is symbolic of the waste that is Brexit."These coins were commissioned simply to prop up Boris Johnson's ego. The Royal Mint should not have to foot the bill for the Tory Government's failure to meet its self-imposed Brexit deadline. "This comes on top of the millions of pounds that Boris Johnson has thrown away on his pointless 'Get Ready for Brexit' propaganda campaign. This is cash that could have ...
From Guardian Live: Boris Johnson's wish for a general election on 12 December looks set to be granted after MPs voted in favour of it by 438 to 20; a majority of 418. The prime minister had already defeated an attempt to change the date to 9 December – the only serious opposition remaining to his proposal - and the bill that seeks to implement a 12 December general election will now pass to the Lords, who are expected to wave it through. Jo Swinson commented: This general election will decide the future of our country for generations. It is ...
Cambridge Westminster voting intention: LDEM: 39% (+10) LAB: 30% (-22) GRN: 12% (+10) CON: 10% (-6) BREX: 7% (+7) via @Survation, 16 - 17 Oct Chgs. w/ 2017 result— Britain Elects (@britainelects) October 29, 2019With a general election before Christmas on the cards, it's time to boost the morale of my fellow Liberal Democrats. So take a look at this constituency poll for Cambridge, a seat we held between 2005 and 2015. Labour's support for the Iraq war lost them the seat in 2005, so it's not so fanciful to suggest their luke-warm opposition to Brexit could cost them again ...
Tue 29th
19:30
Planners say plans for eight homes at Linney House are likely to be thrown out because of damage to ...
In March, a new proposal was submitted to build eight homes of modern design in the grounds of Linney House. Now Shropshire Council's planning officers have said the plans contravene planning policy and are likely to be refused. A letter sent to the site developer eight days ago is a lengthy 14 pages. But the message it conveys is clear. The environmental damage and harm to the Ludlow Conservation Area from the proposed scheme would be unacceptable. At most, three houses can be accommodated on the site and there is already permission for this. Shropshire Council is likely to reject ...
I was out this morning in Whickham East. 370 tabloids to deliver. Job done in under two hours.
Labour were apoplectic with rage last night when Lib Dems and SNP called for a general election on 9th December and proposed a route by which it could be achieved (through a short Parliamentary Bill). The real leader of Labour, John McDonnell, was spitting venom at the Lib Dems. He claimed, "Looks like the Lib Dem and Tory pact of 2010 is being re-established. They are back together, selling out
The Guardian reports: The Liberal Democrat MP Heidi Allen will not stand at the next general election, citing the "nastiness and intimidation" she has endured as a politician as being behind her decision to quit. The former Tory, who defected to Change UK before joining the Lib Dems on 7 October, said in a letter to her constituents in South Cambridgeshire: "I am exhausted by the invasion into my privacy and the nastiness and intimidation that has become commonplace. Nobody in any job should have to put up with threats, aggressive emails, being shouted at in the street, sworn at ...
Following the release by the Liberal Democrats of a constituency poll for Luciana Berger's hoped-for new constituency of Finchley and Golders Green, comes this one for Cambridge. It's promising news for Rod Cantrill: We conducted a telephone method constituency poll (f/w) Oct 16-17) on behalf of the Liberal Democrats in Cambridge. Headline voting intention (candidate prompt) with chgs vs GE 2017 were: CON – 10% (-6) LD – 39% (+10) LAB – 30% (-22) GRE – 12% (+10) BREX – 7% (NA) AP – 1% (+1) — Survation. (@Survation) October 29, 2019
Current Normal People, by Sally Rooney The Calcutta Chromosome, by Amitav Ghosh The Camelot Club, by Brian Killick Last books finished The Nannies, by Brian Killick Luck and the Irish, by Roy Foster The Heralds, by Brian Killick The Bastard of Istanbul, by Eilif Shafak The Computer Connection, by Alfred Bester Beneath The Dome, by Brian Killick Next books Two Brothers, by Ben Elton The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Following up Rob Blackie's popular post about making the most online of the People's Vote march, here's his advice for the imminent general election: OK, the general election is about to kick off. Here are some things you can do immediately to kick off your campaign online. Today Update your website to welcome the election and set out that it's a chance to stop Brexit. There's no shame in cut & pasting from national literature! On your website make sure candidate details are right, and that your messages are aligned with our national messages. Fairly obviously our point of view ...
So, we're now getting a General Election. The day after the Labour Party piled in on the Lib Dems for saying that it is now the only way forward and only hours after one of their front bench spokespersons attacked ... Continue reading →
This week's Economist (Bagehot column) addresses the implications of the current crisis for the UK constitution. The Preamble to the Lib Dem Constitution says: We ..... commit ourselves to the promotion of a democratic federal framework within which as much power as feasible is exercised by the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. Bagehot says: "High on the list of British oddities is that it is a composite of four nations—England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Holding this group together was always difficult given the different sizes of the parts (England is ten times as populous as Scotland) and ...
With a general election looking imminent, two of the recent joiners to the Liberal Democrats have news of their plans.
With Labour now also supporting a pre-Christmas general election, it's looking about as certain as anything can be in current British politics. It's a contest that the Liberal Democrats can enter with a high degree of optimism: It will be a general election in which the future of Brexit can be determined. Giving people that decision is good for democracy. What's more, from a narrower Lib Dem self-interest it gives a chance to change the Parliamentary maths from the current set-up which has voted against a People's Vote seven times. The election can be made about Brexit yes or no, ...
Mon, 12:34: RT @janinegibson: Boris Johnson's "inflammatory language" tracked to spikes in toxic tweets aimed at MPs, analysis of over 2m tweets by @FT... Mon, 12:56: RT @tcpolymath: * Parents died mysteriously * Perceived as a wastrel playboy * Incomparable manservant * All interactions are with people w... Mon, 16:05: Ursula K. Le Guin's Playful and Profound Letter-Poem to Children About the Power of Books and Why We Read... https://t.co/o3o69i7OS2 Mon, 17:11: J&K Block Development Council election results: New Delhi hails new and youthful leadership, but disregards local d... https://t.co/8ryODtiBkS Mon, 17:24: Been out all day and come home to ...
From search and rescue dogs to those that are trained to detect Orca scat (yes, that's Killer Whale poo). Continue reading →
I wasn't going to say what I'm about to say in this article. I was going to remain silent on this topic. Yet the combination of Remainers on Twitter putting out some variant of "Want a People's Vote before a general election, please" and the visible, public melting of the People's Vote campaign itself has spurred me into action. The People's Vote spat this week seems to revolve around two senior members of the campaign, Tom Baldwin and James McGrory, attempting to be edged out and a resistance against this taking place. Baldwin was Ed Miliband's "spin doctor"; a highly ...
A while back I posted about proposed plan to build a safe cycle path/route from the M58 at Ashworth alongside Prescot Road and into Kirkby. Here's the relevant post from May 2018:- Well things are starting to move and the photos in this posting shows the scene on 27th October. The shot immediately above is looking back towards the M58 junction and you can see where the present highly dangerous end is to the cycle path around the junction. I say dangerous as it's just past the end of the bend where someone thought it would be great place ...
Tue 29th
08:55
The Environment Bill takes the emergency out of climate emergency and is full of holes
As the Brexit skirmishes continue, it is easy to lose track of other important pieces of legislation struggling to get parliamentary time. One of those is the Environment Bill. The second reading of the bill on 23 October was abruptly cancelled to make way for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. That's ironic as a large part of the Environment Bill is concerned with reinstating the environmental protection the UK will lose if it ceases to a member of the EU. The bill aims for a lot more, including a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, measures to improve air quality, and ...
In my decades in politics, my colleagues and I have always had to fight against the idea that politicians as a body are dishonest, liars, at best people who will say anything to get what they want, and people who break promises. Suddenly, we have a government who has adopted all the worst stereotypes and made them their own. Since Boris Johnson came to power, we have had impossible promise after impossible promise - all broken. We have had grandstanding on a huge scale and we have had reckless, uncosted spending promises, seemingly made because the government know that they ...
Tue 29th
08:33
Reporting Back: Council Cabinet - Prestwich regeneration and Sedgley Children's Centre
Earlier in the month was the regular meeting of the Council's Cabinet. This is the meeting consisting of the eight Labour Cabinet members. Opposition Group Leaders are invited but cannot vote. Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Tim Pickstone reports back: Prestwich Regeneration Residents will be aware of the VERY longstanding discussions about regenerating the Longfield area in Prestwich 'village' centre. A couple of years ago the Council announced that it was working with a developer – MUSE Developments, but is now reporting that this company, although it is still interested in being involved, is not interested in being the 'lead ...
Heaton Park is one of the largest bonfire night attractions int he North West. The bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm, followed by fireworks. Organisers are urging vistors to Stay safe: please do not bring your own fireworks, sparklers or alcohol. All bags will be checked and any such items confiscated on entry. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a torch. Parking on site is limited, so please use public transport; plan your journey at www.tfgm.com. The Visit Manchester website has a larger list of bonfire night events on different nights, and there will no doubt be more local events. ...
Commenting on the Government's announcement that they have paused the 'Get Ready for Brexit' campaign, Liberal Democrat shadow Secretary for Brexit, Tom Brake said: "These adverts were the latest example of the Conservative government pouring money down the drain in reckless pursuit of Boris Johnson's do-or-die 31st October Brexit deadline. "The money spent on these adverts could have, and should have, gone into our NHS, our schools, and tackling the climate emergency. Instead it was wasted. "Brexit is a national embarrassment. It has taken far longer and cost far more than anyone ever said it would. Liberal Democrats will continue ...
Details of roadworks for the month below. For the full list see the GM Roadworks site here The Major roadworks in November are: – Heywood Road at the junction of Hope Park Road 2 way signals until 5th November 2019 (Bury Council) – Woodhill Drive is closed 18-22 November 2019 (Bury New Road end) (Bury Council) – Multi-Way signals on Fairfax Road, near the junction with Poppythorn Lane on 17 November 2019 (Transport for Greater Manchester) – 31 October – 1 November Bury Old Road (Carver Avenue to Heys Road) multi-way signals (United Utilities) – Not in Prestwich, but in ...
Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the distinctive railway (now tram) bridge over the motorway near Besses station, reports the Bury Times. Throughout its construction leading engineers warned that the project was a white elephant which would never stand nor carry a single train. Construction of the bridge put Besses on the civil engineering map, in part thanks to the young engineer Mr Davies' unusual and ground breaking design, but primarily because of the huge difficulties British Rail surmounted to ensure its completion. At the same time the simultaneous construction of the road bridge saw some 4,000 cubic yards ...
Many thanks to the large number of residents who have completed our Waste and Recycling Survey in the last few months in the Prestwich area. Many residents talk to us about problems with bin collections and waste and we're passionate about finding ways we can help the environment by reducing waste and recycling more.Please let us know your views so we can best represent you. Please let us know your views so we can best represent you. If you've not already had chance to complete the survey you can do so online here.
