News from Fife, the home of nail-bitingly close election results: A Conservative councillor in Fife has quit the party and revealed she will now back the Lib Dems in a key marginal constituency at next week's general election. Linda Holt, who represents the East Neuk and Landward ward, sent her letter of resignation to party bosses on Monday in protest at what she called "deep-rooted dysfunction in the party at local association, council group and Scottish levels". The former deputy leader of the Conservative group on Fife Council will now sit at as independent. The councillor, whose ward is in ...
No, I didn't have much luck with churches in Higham Ferrers. This is the Methodist church and My Wesleyan Methodists explains its current state: Higham Ferrers, High Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was probably built around 1900. In 1940 it seated 571 persons in pews and had a schoolroom and ten other rooms. The premises are at present undergoing a major redevelopment. The chapel had been closed and stands empty while the buildings to the rear have been demolished and a temporary structure erected in their place.Derelict Places has been inside and posted some photos of what was once clearly a ...
Siobhan Benita, our London spokesperson and 2020 mayoral candidate (right), has been campaigning for LibDem candidates all over London. Yesterday she spoke to me about how things are going. This was her assessment: I think it is going really well. We're definitely seeing, in some of our key target seats, what we've heard here (in City of London and Westminster), which is (that) especially traditional Conservative voters, are (coming across to the LibDems). (This is) not just about Brexit – what we were hearing in Kensington yesterday, for example with Sam's team, and a lot of the older voters there ...
King of the perennial holly-groves, the riven sandstone: overlord of the M5: architect of the historic rampart and ditch, the citadel at Tamworth, the summer hermitage in Holy Cross: guardian of the Welsh Bridge and the Iron Bridge: contractor to the desirable new estates: saltmaster: moneychanger: commissioner for oaths: martyrologist: the friend of Charlemagne.This is the first of Geoffrey Hill's Mercian Hymns, but what does it have to do with the egregious Johnny Mercer? Read his tweet about Diane Abbott. This wonderful lady just made my day. Son in the military. Said she's convinced Diane Abbott thinks MI5 is a ...
Current The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo Hild, by Nicola Griffith Last books finished Dragon's Claw, by Steve Moore My Century, by Günther Grass Survivants: Anomalies Quantiques, vol 1, by Leo Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikowsky Survivants: Anomalies Quantiques, vol 2, by Leo Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw Revelation of the Daleks, by Eric Saward Next books Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution, by Stephen Zunes She Was Good-She Was Funny, by David Marusek
Responding to the publication of Labour's work manifesto, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary, Sam Gyimah said:"If you're willing to work hard and play by the rules, you should have a secure job with proper rights and fair pay. But employment rights and protections haven't kept up with new technology and economic changes."Labour and the Conservatives are too backward-looking to grapple with these issues. The Tories have not done enough to support workers as they are sucked into insecure, poorly paid jobs. Labour's ideological and old-fashioned approach to work would destroy the flexible jobs that people value and harm the economy. ...
When asked on the Today Programme this morning whether the government is still prepared to crash out of the EU with no deal in 2020, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said "yes absolutely." Responding, Shadow Liberal Democrat Brexit Secretary Tom Brake said:"Dominic Raab has been forced to admit the Tories' dirty secret: a no-deal Brexit is still on the table. "Boris Johnson's extreme Brexit plan would lead to us crashing out of the EU by the end of 2020, egged on by Donald Trump who wants to exploit a weakened UK."People deserve better. It's not too late to stop the ...
Responding to comments by President Donald Trump this morning denying the NHS will be on the table in future trade talks, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary Chuka Umunna said:"Like Boris Johnson, Donald Trump is hardly known for his honesty. Voters will rightly take these comments with a lorry load of salt."Trump has repeatedly made clear in the past that everything including the NHS will be on the table in future negotiations."If Boris Johnson wins a majority he'll be so desperate for a trade deal with Donald Trump that he'll become his poodle. Johnson can't be trusted with our health service, ...
Mon, 12:56: Thread. https://t.co/78cH83dITy Mon, 16:05: Lisa Page Speaks: 'There's No Fathomable Way I Have Committed Any Crime at All' https://t.co/sutQsHztYK A chilling... https://t.co/p1YwvbbpH4 Mon, 17:11: RT @miss_s_b: Rare Not The Asshole https://t.co/LlDTXzdwyb Mon, 18:32: Halo: The Thursday War, by Karen Traviss https://t.co/LQg6TGgA9e Mon, 18:45: RT @DavidMuttering: Suggestion for @BarristerSecret: Can you next blogpost please start: "Dear EU, Please may I revoke that Article 50 thi... Mon, 20:48: RT @cstross: I remember when Dilbert seemed edgy AND funny, back around 1993. (When executives came to visit the regional software developm... Tue, 08:36: RT @Veronique8802: 26 yrs ago Florence was born ...
Here, from Getty Images, is a slideshow of Hugh Grant's visit to support Chuka Ummuna yesterday, and Luciana Berger on Sunday evening. Please use the arrows to go back and forwards across the slideshow, and hover your mouse or finger over each photo to read its caption: * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
The Sunday Times has the story – see extract below:- So much for Labour's 'surge' in Southport. Apparently, according to the Sunday Times, it's going so badly for Labour in Southport that they're pulling the plug. No longer one of Labour's NW target seats. Please click on the newspaper extract to enlarge it for reading.
Tue 3rd
09:04
Lydiate (and Maghull) – Primary NHS services – This one keeps doing the rounds with sadl...
The last Lydiate Parish Council meeting was attended by the Director of Place – North Southport & Formby Clinical Commissioning Group South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and if that title has not made you turn away from this posting already (have you ever seen a job title so long?) then please read on. As a bit of context the Director told us there were 30 GP practices in South Sefton and she was keen to promote the new 7-Day Access Service. I've provided a link to that service below:- This service may be an important break-through as the reason ...
Tue 3rd
08:55
Hugh Grant on Boris Johnson: Sinister, narcissistic and alarming with potentially no principles at a...
Chuka Umunna and Hugh Grant talk with the press yesterday in St John's Gardens, London SW1 "Could someone interview Hugh Grant tomorrow?" came the call from our esteemed LDV editor Caron, late on Sunday. Well, one of the advantages of being gloriously retired is that you can often turn on a sixpence. So I jumped at the chance to interview the great man despite basic logistics issues such as "where" and "when" being still unclear. As these basics remained unclear as hours passed I realised I would have to bring forward my powers of initiative and assertiveness. Fortunately, thanks to ...
Is UKIP a racist party? Well its latest interim leader, Pat Mountain seems a little confused by that question, insisting that she that has only met "a few" racists in the party, and that none of them were "seriously racist": Speaking at the launch event, Ms Mountain told members of the media: "We are here, we want to answer your questions. We want you to give a good impression, please, to the public that we're not nasty racists - we are good, honest, caring people. "I've never met any racists in Ukip - well, maybe a few people on the ...
From Sheena Wellington : Tomorrow - Wednesday 4th December at 1.15pmLunchtime Recital with The Wighton SingersWighton Heritage Centre, Central Library The last event of the Friends of Wighton year is traditionally a concert with our own Wighton Singers and this year is no exception. Under the musical direction of Amy Lord, the Wighton Singers have had a busy year with concerts at sheltered housing complexes, guilds, day centres and Inchture Folk Club. Amy's harmonious arrangements are beautiful and there will be the usual rich mix of Scottish and seasonal songs. Admission free, although donations welcomed.
