Mon 25th
21:28

Six of the Best 929

Michael Meadowcroft reviews the Lib Dems' election review. Jeremy Farrar is interviewed about science, public policy and Covid-19: "In my view, the infection rates in the UK are too high, at least today, to reopen schools. Will that be different in two weeks' time when half term ends and schools are potentially open? It might be. But if the question was 'should we open schools today?' my answer would be 'no'." "Tony had apparently - and fairly typically - spent a whole psychiatric career being labelled and drugged rather than offered the chance to look at his past. Until the ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

This post first appeared on the Radix blog... When my Tickbox book came out, the only vaguely negative review I received on Amazon was from someone who decided that, because I wanted to move the argument forward a little, that I was somehow 'anti-science'. I have to say that I've been itching to write about tickbox science ever since. Though I fear I may confirm my critic in his prejudices by doing so. I should say at the outset that, although I have no scientific training, I do have a degree in philosophy and I have always been fascinated by ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

Right from the start, Dominic Cummings's defence of his actions shows, at best, very poor judgement.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

In the next few days, Peking will unitarily make the final move to complete her takeover and eliminate the 'one country two systems' ('1C2S') from Hong Kong. Throughout history, the people of Hong Kong have pushed for higher degree of autonomy and democracy because it is the best defence to their culture and race. The democracy movement was magnified by large-scale protests and aggressions, when China pinned in the final nail to liberty and freedom by getting Carrie Lam to enact the Extradition Bill through dubious legislative procedures in June 2019. HongKongers physically blocked the Extradition Bill. Now, Peking returns ...

Posted by Nicholas Chan on Liberal Democrat Voice

* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary published in print or online.

Posted by NewsHound on Liberal Democrat Voice

For reasons which will swiftly become obvious, I am quoting the first paragraph of the third chapter rather than the second which is my usual practice:As discussed in Chapter One, the last analysis of Roger's Judicial Astrology was Nicholas Whyte's MPhil dissertation, published in 1991. Whyte relied primarily on two manuscripts from Cambridge University Library, with some additional material from a Bodleian Library manuscript (although he identified several more), while French, who also analysed some aspects of the text, relied primarily on a transcript he had made of one of the Cambridge manuscripts.1 In what follows all twenty-two known extant ...

It's a Bank Holiday – and, miraculously, the sun is shining! That's not very British, is it? It's also quite ironic, given that many of us can't get out and about to enjoy the day. The Government is, apparently, considering an extra Bank Holiday in October, but we can be pretty sure that the weather won't be like today. The UK tourism industry is really suffering this year. Already several hotel groups have collapsed or are struggling, and here and here. The coach industry is 'decimated'. Travelling abroad is a non-starter for most people because they will have to go ...

Posted by Mary Reid on Liberal Democrat Voice

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to reopen the British National Overseas Passport offer and extend it to give Hong Kong citizens the right to live in the UK following renewed police violence towards protesters in the Hong Kong. Reports from Hong Kong say police fired tear gas and water cannon at several hundred demonstrators on Sunday who gathered to protest plans by China to implement a controversial national security law on the former British territory. The Liberal Democrats, whose former leader Paddy Ashdown led the argument for securing the right of abode if China ever reneged on ...

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

Responding to the Prime Minister backing his scandal-hit aide, Dominic Cummings, at today's press conference, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:"Millions of people who've made huge sacrifices to keep to the rules will be astonished and angry at how the Prime Minister is now bending the rules for his closest aide. "By failing to act, the Prime Minister undermines his own authority to lead the country through this appalling crisis, bringing his own judgement into question."The Government's efforts to defeat coronavirus on testing, on PPE for frontline workers and on stopping the tragedy in our care homes ...

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

Thank you for doing the right thing and helping save the lives of others, even in the face of all that you've written about, John Wilson.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
YouGov

Our Headline of the Day Award crosses the Atlantic. Well done to the New York Post and thank you to the reader who nominated it.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

The Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) was a painful experience for the people on the Korean peninsula. The colonial authorities imposed their will brutally, even insisting that Koreans adopt Japanese names, though they did build up the country's industrial and transport infrastructure. That was mainly a matter of Japanese self-interest, of course, especially after the [...]

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer

As well as sorting out the Kendleshire junction on the A432, S Glos has made traffic orders to close Winterbourne High St (see the map for the exact bit), And for further down the Badminton Road, the other side of the ring road. Again, any time after 18 May for up to 18 months, though they say it will only be closed for about a fortnight within that time. HOPEFULLY they will have the sense not to close Winterbourne High St at the same time as the A432..... or we will be completely cut off.... Again the warning is - ...

Mon 25th
11:00

My tweets

Sun, 12:56: South Philly judge of elections pleads guilty to stuffing ballot boxes, accepting bribes https://t.co/Efg2WfKlva He... https://t.co/5mZFVtwiDJ Sun, 14:48: Good advice! https://t.co/D1czzoEzia Sun, 15:14: RT @UKLabour: There cannot be one rule for Dominic Cummings and another for the British people. https://t.co/ji9m9vg3WS Sun, 15:30: RT @tcgriffin: This is worse than a crime, it's a mistake. Protesting at his home makes Cummings the victim. Underlines by contrast the eff... Sun, 15:34: Very good! https://t.co/LZOSi5J0zC Sun, 16:10: July 2006 books https://t.co/1BF2LHNVfK Sun, 20:48: RT @nataliexdean: Japan managing to avoid an explosive outbreak has been surprising. Not even the officials understand exactly why. ...

For the past three months there has been a marked reluctance from politicians to criticise each other. We have recognised that those in control at both national and local levels are facing huge and unprecedented problems. They have been making ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

It is good news that Shropshire Council has received an additional £11.6m of government pothole funding. It is good news that it has fixed around 3,500 potholes. But it is bad news that it has just slapped down crude tarmac repairs on Harp Lane defacing our historic town centre. And it hasn't got on with other important town centre work we need done before we emerge from lockdown. Harp Lane is cobbled. Tarmac has no place. I am told the repairs are temporary. But as we know from the decaying state of the Grade II listed cobbles on Broad Street, ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

Most political scandals pass by without making that much of an impression on the public. That's because most of the time, the public doesn't pay that much attention to politics. Even when they do, scandals often remind the public how different the political class appears to be from their own lives. (That's a difference that is often, and malignly, exaggerated. But it's certainly true that, for example, even the lowliest of special advisors is on a salary many people can only dream of reaching way off in the future. Even the bottom end of the lowest pay band for special ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

I'm an enthusiastic Thursday 8pm clapper. The NHS and key workers deserve it. And its good to see our neighbours more than usual. But there comes a point when one has to ask: Well, do we keep on clapping every Thursday or actually show our support for the NHS and Care Homes where it counts – through with our bank accounts? Time and time again, over the last seventy years, the public have rejected greater public spending including for the NHS. Just a whisper of an income tax rise has been enough, in most cases, to ring the death knell ...

Posted by Paul Walter on Liberal Democrat Voice

They say that truth is the first casualty of war, and for Boris Johnson, who continues to hone his best Churchill impression, the pandemic is a war, so why were we surprised at his defence of Dominic Cummings at yesterday's press conference. To be fair, the misrepresentation of what actually happened lay in the omissions, the failure to answer detailed questions such as, did Cummings stop for petrol on his way to Durham and in doing so interact with others, and how many times has he travelled up north since the lockdown began. Indeed, the Mirror has published its own ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

This is a reminder that I welcome guest posts on Liberal England. As you can see from this list of the 10 most recent guests posts, I am happy to consider a wide range of subjects beyond the Lib Dems If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, please send me an email so we can discuss your idea. Why we need a GCSE in Natural History - Mary ColwellThree unlikely heroes from Grantham suggest a future for smaller towns - Brynley HeavenPolitical parties must be rooted in their communities once again - Mike GaylerWhy am ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England
eUKhost

We may still be in lockdown and being advised not to use public transport if at all possible but one day we'll get past this health crisis and be able to ride trains and buses once more. Being a railway enthusiast I try to keep an eye on what is happening across Merseyside and was interested to pick up on the latest developments for the Borderlands Line between Bidston and Wrexham which is now operated by Transport for Wales. We knew that new Class 230 train units, with the ability to run on battery power, were being supplied for the ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

Further update - for Monday 25th May - from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry) : EASING OF LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONSThe First Minister has published the route map through and out of the crisis. As from Thursday 28th May the following changes to guidance will start. You will be able to meet people from one other household, though initially in small numbers, and at 2 meters distance while you are outside. You will be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas. Some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart - such ...