Lib Dems secure cross-party call for Govt to take up Hong Kong Bill Govt must prevent disadvantaged pupils falling behind due to COVID-19 Govt must help businesses and people excluded from support schemes Govt wrong to deny Brexit extension Lib Dems secure cross-party call for Govt to take up Hong Kong Bill The Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party support demanding the Prime Minister take up legislation to go further in UK support for Hong Kong. The cross-party groups of MPs, led by Alistair Carmichael MP, has secured the support of former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in calling for a UK ...
This is the first video in Jim Butler's Hidden Histories series on Leicester.
For six decades from 1948, the Colony Room Club in Dean, Street, Soho, was a moth-trap for London's Bohemians. Its life span — not bad for a club — fell into three distinct periods, like the Ages of Man, each presided over by a boss whose personality impacted on both the membership and the atmosphere. [...]
Tue 9th
18:30
"Indefensible for statue to be standing in Bristol in 2020" - Lib Dems speak out on Colston
Leading Liberal Democrats have been speaking out on the controversy surrounding Sunday's public removal of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol. Wera Hobhouse, who is MP for neighbouring Bath, wrote on her website: ...it was indefensible for the statue to be standing in Bristol in 2020. Protestors literally took things into their own hands and toppled the statue. This was a symbolic act. History is dynamic. It is not fixed. Yesterday was part of the history of race relations, not only here in the South West, but for our nation as a whole. We must face up to, accept and ...
Although I studied a little bit of history at tertiary level, and have taught it from time to time, I hadn't heard of Edward Colston until this weekend. I've known since childhood of course that William Wilberforce of Hull, and therefore a Yorkshireman, led the movement to abolish the slave trade. I've also known since childhood that: "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue" and so "discovered" America. I've only realised this weekend, by coincidence and from the book I am reading at the moment,* that he too was a slaver. I presume there are statues to ...
It's very rare I talk about council issues because the last thing any group needs is a former leader trying to back seat drive but forgive a little I told you so post because I got grief from all sides, including my own over this issue You see, talks have collapsed to create a Humber wide devolution deal which would have meant more local decision making and money coming into Humberside. ( yes I know it doesn't exist any more just accept some have never got over it) NINE wasted years! I told everyone from Vince Cable down that devolution ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:I'm a mathematician with an interest in higher-dimensional topological deformations, and a recent career track that includes designing visualization systems for directed exploration of stochastic market movements with application to the Black-Scholes model—a weaponized banker, in other words. I have zero training or understanding of architecture, facilities management, structural engineering, or logistics. So I'm somewhat puzzled that Management have shoved me out here with Pete (who, as a vicar, is just as unqualified as I am) to tramp around various decaying crown estate assets in West Yorkshire and pronounce on their fitness for refurbishment for various ...
Have you heard of GoodGym? Put simply, they combine exercise with helping their communities – their motto is "Do Good, Get Fit". It's a brilliant idea, and one that is spreading across the UK, with 58 branches and 17,500 members already active and more branches under development. They say: We are a community of runners that combine getting fit with doing good. We stop off on our runs to do physical tasks for community organisations and to support isolated older people with social visits and one-off tasks they can't do on their own. It's a great way to get fit, ...
Responding to the news that 8.9m jobs have been furloughed & 2.6m claims submitted to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:"The furlough scheme and income support for self-employed people, which the Liberal Democrats fought hard to get, are providing a lifeline for millions of families."However, far too many people are still excluded from this support, including those who recently became self-employed and those who operate as limited companies. The Chancellor must expand the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to cover these people."The Government must not leave behind people and businesses without the support ...
Responding to reports the UK Government will tell the EU on Friday it is not going to seek an extension to the Brexit transition period, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "Food shortages, medicine shortages, and an unprecedented hit to jobs and livelihoods: that is what the UK is facing if we crash out of the EU without a deal. "Boris Johnson's ideological stubbornness will see the most vulnerable in our country hit hardest. "With the country is already struggling as a result of Covid-19, it beggars belief that the Government are happy to pile Brexit on top of ...
On their website, Bristol Lib Dems have published an article titled "Calling time on Colston statue". With their permission, we reproduce it here in full below: Lib Dem candidate and equal rights activist Tara Murray said: I want people to see beyond this statue being taken down by protesters. This statue was a symbol of how Bristol as a city still venerated a slave merchant that ruined tens of thousands of African lives and made his money off the backs of these slaves to step up the financial and aristocratic ladder of his time. The actions during his lifetime should've ...
'Black Lives Matter' is an ingenious piece of political messaging because it hits on something so emphatically undeniable that to try to alter or contradict it is to reveal profound ignorance. A powerful and undeniable phrase that shines an ultraviolet light on some of our society's most uncomfortable truths, privileges and injustices. As the recent protests and social media campaigns have shown, there are lots of ways that all of us can help but I want to highlight one campaign that should strike a chord with anyone of a liberal persuasion and that is the campaign against school-based police officers. ...
The new Abbotswood paved area is open, the snazzy planters are in - and Carene from the Armadillo is going to be planting them up. The seats are going to be stripped and repainted. Many thanks to the councillors and staff at Yate Town Council who raised the cash and ran this project to deliver what residents said they wanted. Do have a look.But please, DO NOT USE THE PLAY EQUIPMENT. It is really tempting, but play areas are still closed off under government rules, because it is so easy to spread the virus by touch and the equipment cannot ...
How will you vote in the forthcoming Lib Dem leadership election? What qualities are you looking for in a leader? Will it be the candidate with the best policies? Maybe you'll plump for the individual with the most charisma? Or perhaps you'll play smart and choose the person who's tallest? It might be helpful to consider the qualities you consider most important in a Leader. Given the party's election process, here are some things you might well consider: You like them as a person You know them as a friend You think they have good policies You trust their judgement ...
A couple of days ago I saw a rather stupid debate about whether or not the UK is a racist Country. It appeared to depend on your definition of racist. What is abundantly clear to me is that there are ... Continue reading →
To tackle the queues which have been causing significant problems at all the Council tips since they reopened last month, a new booking system is being introduced on Thursday. Under the new system: * You can book a visit via this link. * Only cars with a booked visit will be allowed on site. No booking, no entry. * Each vehicle will have a 15 minute slot. * Users must use the vehicle that's booked in. * There will be a limit of one visit per week. In addition the Council tips (Household Recycling Centres) will move to normal summer ...
Tue 9th
11:12If tearing down the Colston statue is OK, then anything is OK as long as you can justify it to yours...
None of us was born yesterday! We all know the wheels of history don't turn with gentle persuasion alone, sometimes it takes people to step beyond what's permitted by the law before things really change. And yet there was something frightening about Sunday's protests in Bristol that culminated in the tearing down the statue of Edward Colston. Some Conservative MPs have described it as mob rule. In a way it was: a group of demonstrators got it into their heads that this was legitimate, and egged on by mutual encouragement, they toppled a public artefact and dumped it in the ...
Mon, 12:56: My first boss paid £29.3k of my wages into his own bank account -and kept it. Now, I'm speaking out... https://t.co/msp0P9l26i Mon, 14:08: I wouldn't put it quite so strongly as far as the EU quarter goes. About half the places in Place du Luxembourg are... https://t.co/wOvMdKYCmS Mon, 16:05: Where the science went wrong https://t.co/04rcXaopah The murky story of the UK's mistakes. Mon, 17:56: RT @Sophie_Wilmes: Vandaag heropent de #horeca! Ik heb ervan geprofiteerd om samen met mijn man iets te gaan eten. Voor wie een sector wil... Mon, 18:52: A Border Too Far: The Ilemi Triangle Yesterday ...
The Guardian reports on the rather predictable decision by the UK Government to abandon plans to push ahead with reopening schools in England, after the government admitted that not all primary school pupils will be able to return to the classroom before the end of summer. The paper says that Boris Johnson's aim "to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages," with these schools opening to pupils in reception, year one and year six from 1 June, has run into practical difficulties. They add that attendance statistics collected by the Department for Education to be published on Tuesday are ...
Tue 9th
09:40
Ludlow holiday lets are set to qualify for on-street parking permits - decision on Monday
Holiday lets across Ludlow town centre have been losing bookings because visitors cannot park nearby. One told they would have to park in one of the public car parks, often some way away, they have booked somewhere else where parking is more convenient. On Monday, Shropshire Council's cabinet will consider a recommendation to allow each holiday let a single on-street parking permit. The decision must be made by cabinet because Ludlow Town Council has objected to the move, saying a wider range of businesses should have been included. I disagree. This is a straightforward action that will help ensure the ...
The Northamptonshire Telegraph has a report on a campaign for better rail services from Corby to Derby, Melton and Oakham. It quotes David Fursdon from the Corby Rail Users Group: "We have the infrastructure in place, track and signalling, we just need the political will and of course rolling stock to get this to happen. "We have a Derby return service once a day and the Pie Train to Melton Mowbray and back but there's no reason why we shouldn't a better, more frequent service from Corby.
To those outside of the often complex world of education reopening schools even on a phased basis during our health pandemic may look to be a straight forward matter, indeed government often gives such an impression. The reality of course is very different. I'm a Trust member of a High School Academy and have been for around a year now. The school, which I also happened to attend many years ago, is not the issue here as this affects all schools across the UK. However, what I've learned especially since lockdown hit us is that keeping a large school of ...
Tue 9th
08:20
In order to end the culture war, we need to understand what each side values in a real sense
This week, Britain has seemed, at least to me, to be more divided than I can ever remember it. Far from the culture war cooling, it seems to be getting worse. The particular flare point was the BLM protests in central London and in several other British cities, with one incident in particular dividing people: the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol. What has happened since the statue submerging took place is our whole era in miniature. The extremes on both sides of the debate go in hard, with those on the left describing the existence of the ...
2 big stories New Zealand appears to have dealt with Covid-19, with no new instances and the last case having been cleared. Clear messaging, early action and a community spirit has proved to be most effective, which perhaps puts the UK Government's efforts into perspective. Meanwhile, the dash away from science continues as far as Matt Hancock is concerned, with key measures dropped or downplayed in the haste to reopen the economy. The key question is, if you open things up, and people decide that they'd rather not take the risk, is more damage done to, say, the hospitality sector, ...
Further update - for Tuesday 9th June - from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End) and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry) : TEST AND PROTECT - IMPORTANTEveryone aged five and over who has COVID-19 symptoms of a new continuous cough, temperature or loss or change in sense of taste or smell should go to NHS Inform online or call 0800 028 2816 to book a test. People will need to isolate with their household as soon as they have symptoms and, if they have a positive test result, they will be asked to provide details of all recent close contacts to ...
Responding to the Immigration Minister announcing an increase in Asylum Support from £37.75 a week to £39.60, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:"People will be appalled that the Home Office thinks that a derisory increase of less than £2 a week to £5.66 a day is somehow sufficient for vulnerable people to live on during this crisis."The way the Home Office is treating these vulnerable people is unacceptable. People who've come to the UK having fled war or persecution should be welcomed with compassion and enabled to contribute to our society, not trapped in poverty."Instead of this miserly ...
Responding to reports that No Deal Brexit stockpiles have been "significantly reduced and/or used up entirely" because of the Covid pandemic, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:"These reports show the recklessness of the government's approach to Brexit negotiations and protecting our economy and NHS."The stockpiles created to protect against the risk of a no deal Brexit have now been used up, and building them back up to safe levels by the end of the year is going to be very difficult. "So by pushing the UK into a no deal Brexit the Conservatives could be putting more ...
