Boris Johnson admits no deal still on the table Chuka Umunna: Boris Johnson continues to let down Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Statement on Lib Dem campaign following London Bridge attack Lib Dems are the only party that can stop the Conservatives Boris Johnson admits no deal still on the table Responding to this morning's joint press conference with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Gisela Stuart, in which Johnson admitted that no deal preparations will continue, Liberal Democrat Shadow Brexit Secretary Tom Brake said: Seeing Johnson, Stuart and Gove back on stage together will give people flashbacks to the lies of the 2016 ...
Last night we had the unedifying sight of the Prime Minister refusing to turn up at a Leader's debate on climate change on Channel 4. ALL the other Leaders were there but at the last-minute Johnson tried to send a ... Continue reading →
Found, like all the best pictures, while I was looking for an image at work.
Yesterday I tweeted about Philip Dunne's remark (for which he later apologised) that a Sikh opponent was "talking through his turban". Now the Shropshire Star says: Police today confirmed they were treating the incident as a hate crime and said it would be fully investigated.Rest assured, however long this story runs I shall have enough photos of St Laurence's, Church Stretton.
Fri 29th
19:35
Jo Swinson's statement on the London Bridge attacks: Those who seek to terrorise or divide us will n...
Jo has issued the following statement on the London Bridge attacks: Our emergency services have once again displayed the courage and professionalism that keeps us safe everyday. I am hugely grateful to each and every one of them. My thoughts are with the people who were injured and all those affected by this appalling display of violence. Today's incident reminds us that we can never take our security for granted. We must never forget the vital work that our police and security services do to keep us safe. Those who seek to terrorise us, divide us or undermine our freedoms ...
I started showing my holiday snaps of Higham Ferrers with Chichele College and had planned to visit the town's church next. But this story from the Northamptonshire Telegraph intervened: Higham Ferrers Library is up for sale and will most likely close at the end of the year. The library is being sold by the county council for £400,000 although the authority says it would still welcome offers for the building that would allow it to continue as a community managed library. ... Community organisation Higham Ferrers Library Group had been planning to take over Higham Ferrers library but decided it ...
The big work news of February 2004 was the tragic death in a plane crash of Boris Trajkovski, the genial President of Macedonia who was very friendly with me and many others. This was the day after we published a report on pan-Albanianism (concluding that there was not much there there). I also went to London to shadow my boss at a Chatham House meeting where the other speaker was the late great Albert Rohan. The books I read in February 2004 were: Non-fiction 3 (YTD 6) How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy, by Orson Scott Card The Daily ...
In this third part of the series (part one is here, and part two here), Richard looks at the Singapore-on-Thames concept... Singapore has seen extraordinary levels of growth over the last decades. Where Western countries have long-term average growth rates in GDP per capita of around 2% a year, Singapore has seen nearer to 40%. Who could not want that, the average citizen seeing their income pretty much double every couple of years, above inflation. Even the worst off would see substantial increases in income, services, wellbeing... But the idea that a mature economy like the United Kingdom could achieve ...
Fri 29th
17:01
Third Finchley and Golders Green constituency poll shows Luciana Berger not far off winning
I hope Brenda from Bristol never moved to Finchley and Golders Green as it is looking like being the most heavily polled constituency in the country (especially when you remember that additional constituency polls are done and never made public). We're now up to three constituency polls there, with a new phone poll published by The Jewish Chronicle. All three show the same picture. The Liberal Democrats with Luciana Berger have moved up massively in support since 2017 and are the best chance of defeating the Conservative incumbent. The latest poll results are: Conservative: 43% Lib Dem (Luciana Berger): 36% ...
The Liberal Democrats have described Boris Johnson as a "lying charlatan", after his LBC interview today in which he once again misled voters and failed to come clean over key issues facing the country.The party has highlighted ten lies and mistruths from Johnson's LBC interview:50,000 new nurses: Johnson continues to peddle the Tory fantasy that they will recruit 50,000 new nurses. He clearly can't do basic maths when 19,000 of this figure is comprised by nurses who already work in the NHS. On top of this, figures earlier this week revealed that 1,116 EU nurses have left the NHS so ...
It's not generally known that the Office for National Statistics publishes a wealth of data on the subject of internal migration into the UK. With their data, it is possible to identify how many people moved from one region to another in the UK. Indeed, it can even be narrowed down to local authority area. ... Continue reading Internal migration in the UK
I have a second cousine living in Canada who seems to be more clued up on UK affairs than most of us here. i think she gets it from "The Economist," - harly a raveing left-wing source. She writes: Cousin Peter, Hello I think another blog issue. Net Migration to the UK NET in-migration from EU countries ONLY 48,000 !!! Down from 200,000. [And even that wasn't many.] So the fear of "those dreadful Romanians" which prompted people to vote LEAVE, is no longer an issue. 48,000 in a country of 70 MILLION !!! A well-attended Football game perhaps. Reasons. ...
Last month, when registration opened for York Conference, I noticed that the discount for booking early finished just one week after the election and before Christmas. I felt that this was unfair: Now, most of us are knocking ourselves out campaigning for the General Election. We're out in the cold and dark on a daily basis. Campaigning is not cheap. You have to pay to travel -and many of us are travelling to our nearest target seats. And we're all getting asked to contribute to local and national campaigns. This election is an unexpected and added expense just before Christmas. ...
Harold Wilson stated more than fifty years ago that a week was a long time in politics, and in a general election campaign this is especially true. There are just under two weeks left until the country goes to the polls, and a huge proportion is still up for grabs in this most divisive election. It is also the most important since Margaret Thatcher's election in 1979, which fundamentally changed Britain, for better or worse. It is therefore little surprise that two main parties have recently shifted their focus going into the final weeks and days of the campaign. Labour, ...
The latest edition of Never Mind The Bar Charts returns to the question of how the Liberal Democrat general election campaign. Stephen and I used my original blog post about the YouGov MRP results to structure the conversation, so here as the show notes is an updated version of that post. Those YouGov MRP results What to make of the YouGov/MRP election poll showing the Conservatives set to win? Here are five thoughts... 1. It's only one poll and this particular MRP model has only been tried once before. That said, it's a big poll, the overall voting intentions are ...
Thu, 12:40: RT @MichaelAodhan: Turns out Matt isn't too hot on history either. Nancy Astor was not in fact the first female MP elected..... And the fir... Thu, 12:56: What happens if a prime minister loses their seat in a general election? https://t.co/wRB45so8NS Nobody knows, but... https://t.co/VmX87vTfOg Thu, 16:05: My Grandmother Was A Radium Girl - Her Life Was Anything But Normal Afterwards https://t.co/RumsKUDhOZ A lovely and moving piece. Thu, 17:11: It Came From The Search Terms: Cold November Wind | Captain Awkward https://t.co/sUOlylfM0A Great as ever from @CAwkward. Thu, 18:45: Two Waterloo novels: One of the 28th, by G.A. ...
Two well kent faces from the world of television have backed the Liberal Democrats in the General Election. Historian and broadcaster Dan Snow says: This isn't hard. If you're frustrated by two deeply flawed parties, there is a proper alternative. A party led by a young, internationalist, progressive woman who will stop Brexit and take action on the climate crisis. I'll be voting for @joswinson and the @LibDems — Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) November 26, 2019 So this week, that's Michael Heseltine, Greg Dyke and John Tusa who will be backing the Lib Dems. * Newshound: bringing you the best Lib ...
I've mentioned this many times on this blog site because of the threat of fracking locally via a well site that is proposed for Altcar Moss between Lydiate and Formby in West Lancashire. Without wishing to rehearse all the issues again I think the letter below from The Moss Alliance to Lydiate Parish Council sums up the current situation very well:- Lydiate Parish Council, Lydiate Village Centre, Lambshear Lane, Lydiate, L31 2LA 5th November 2019 Dear Councillors, AURORA'S PLANNING APPLICATION – FINANCIAL SUPPORT Further to our presentation on 5th September and our request for financial support we would like to ...
Remainer Twitterland has been filled with "vote tactically for the person best placed to get rid of the Tory in your area" sentiment since the election was called. I have found this depressing – almost oppressive – yet I couldn't understand why. Something about it seemed off to me. Part of it was that many Labour supporters were clearly doing this to help their party as opposed to some grand plan to stop Brexit. They were able to take advantage of the fact that if you based who is best placed to win in any Tory-held seat based on 2017 ...
Fri 29th
09:02
New house building stats: Highest building rates are in South Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Warwick...
The latest government figures for the completion of new houses show that the highest rates of building are in South Derbyshire, Harborough (Leicestershire) and Rugby (Warwickshire). that is for the twelve months to June 2019. Here's a map showing the rate of new builds across the country: Government statistics also show that "affordable housing" build ... Continue reading New house building stats: Highest building rates are in South Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire
To be frank, I have heard so many lectures on what is and is not damaging to our environment, that nowadays I tend to switch off. I try to do my bit, choosing environmentally-friendly products when I can and recycling as much of my waste as is possible, but I know it is not enough. I just have to do what I can. One of the more common lectures is that the over-production of meat is especially bad and maybe driving climate change. I was amused therefore to read this article in the Times, where agricultural experts from Edinburgh University ...
It is an economic model called the Laffer Curve and it reeks of common sense and good economic stewardship. It is also being studiously ignored by the Labour and Conservative parties in their headlong race to buy votes with expensive election promises. The Laffer Curve is basically a bell-shaped curve which starts at zero on the left , rises to an optimum figure in the middle and then drops back down to zero on the far right. The zero on the left is the expected tax revenue that would be raised if the tax rate was zero, which is fairly ...
The Liberal Democrats have two new councillors this morning. Cllr Liz Withington held the Sheringham North seat in North Norfolk. Sheringham North (North Norfolk) result: LDEM: 48.4% (-15.0) CON: 43.0% (+17.8) LAB: 8.6% (-2.8) Liberal Democrat HOLD. — Britain Elects (@britainelects) November 28, 2019 * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Lib Dems: Johnson's Brexit plans would let thousands of criminals off the hook Liberal Democrats will invest £1 billion a year to restore community policing Lib Dems: Ofsted stats reveal Tory failure on school standards Lib Dems: Johnson's Brexit plans would let thousands of criminals off the hook Estimated 6,000 criminals could evade justice if Johnson's Brexit goes ahead UK police to be locked out of EU crime database used 1.6 million times a day Brexit would undermine UK's ability to tackle terrorism and organised crime The Liberal Democrats have warned Boris Johnson's Brexit plans risk enabling thousands of criminals ...
From Sheena Wellington : Tomorrow - Saturday 30th November Wighton Heritage Centre, Dundee Central Library at 11am Caim - harmony folk trio The three members of Caim harmony trio may be separated by the Irish Sea but they are not divided musically. Pauline Vallance's roots in Scotland, Jacynth Hamill's in N. Ireland and Heather Innes's in Zimbabwe, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Australia all contribute to Caim's strong and varied traditional repertoire. Heather's vibrant a cappella singing which served her well in her early days on the folk-club circuit, continues to provide a strong foundation in the group, as does ...
Responding to Boris Johnson's comments on single mothers, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine, said: "So many of us in this country know the reality of the sacrifice and effort made by single parents. But yet again these comments show Boris Johnson is not fit to be Prime Minister and is no champion of women's or children's' rights. "My father died suddenly at 44 leaving my mum with three daughters, none of whom grew up ignorant or aggressive. I am offended that my mother's parenting of three successful daughters should be characterised "The Liberal Democrats are committed to women's rights ...
The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to fund at least 52 police officers across Neath and 32 across Aberavon as part of an extra £1bn nationwide investment into community policing. This commitment amounts to 20,000 more police officers across England and Wales, enough for an extra two officers per ward. The Liberal Democrats will also fund an immediate 2% pay-rise for serving police officers. Liberal Democrat plans stand in stark contrast to Labour and the Conservatives, who have made big promises on police numbers, but have failed to commit the funding needed to deliver them. At the same time, Liberal ...
Following last night's Climate Change Leader's debate, Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor and Deputy Leader said: "Tonight Jo Swinson showed what it means to lead on tackling the climate emergency. "Boris Johnson's failure to even turn up shows his arrogant disregard for the climate crisis facing our planet. "Like Boris Johnson's ice sculpture, the Tories are happy to watch your future melt away, thanks to their disastrous Brexit which will leave us with less influence and less to invest in tackling the climate emergency. "Only the Liberal Democrats have a clear, realistic but radical plan to achieve net-zero by ...
Responding to reports that the Conservatives are threatening to review Channel 4's broadcasting remit if they win the general election, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary Chuka Umunna said:"It is appalling that the Tories are threatening Channel 4 in this way. This is a pathetic attempt to cover up for Boris Johnson's own cowardice. "Trying to intimidate the media like this is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook and has no place in an open and inclusive democracy."Time and again Johnson has tried to duck scrutiny for his repeated lies and damaging Brexit plans. This election is a chance to deny ...
