Embed from Getty ImagesBecause of sexism and her early death, it took years for the contribution of Rosalind Franklin to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA to be properly acknowledged. Her latest posthumous accolade is our prestigious Trivial Connection of the Day Award, because Franklin's great uncle was the Liberal Party leader Herbert Samuel.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Never Mind The Bar Charts and the most excellent Lib Dem Pod teamed up for another joint show, taking a look this time at lessons in coalitions and cross-party cooperation. We have an excellent panel to discuss it all: Kirsty Williams the brilliant Liberal Democrat Minister of Education in the Welsh Government and member of the Senedd since 1999 Duncan Brack from the Liberal Democrat History Group Polly Mackenzie, Chief Exec of the think tank Demos and special advisor to Nick Clegg during the Westminster coalition This was our first attempt at a joint live show, so feedback very welcome, ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

"So, who am I to lecture anyone on the environment?" asks a man that flies in private planes and owns big homes. Okay. He is trying to mitigate his impacts through sustainable fuel and carbon offsets. But is Bill Gates the man to tell us how to fix climate change? Bill Gates' philosophy is one of improving life chances and lifestyles while cutting carbon emissions. It is an unashamedly market-led approach, creating incentives through carbon pricing and reducing the cost of greening energy. His approach is to roll out new technologies for energy and food production, not to change the ...

Posted by Andy Boddington on Liberal Democrat Voice

I've always included the party's Weekly Whip round-up of news from the Westminster Parliament. But I've now broken it out into an email of its own that you can sign-up to here.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack
Sun 28th
17:14

February books

Non-fiction 5 (YTD 9) The Last Manchu: The Autobiography of Henry Pu Yi, Last Emperor of China My Father's Things, by Wendy Aldiss A Buzz in the Meadow, by Dave Goulson Ties That Bind: Love in Science Fiction and Fantasy, ed. Francesca T. Barbini Goodbye To All That, by Robert Graves Non-genre 2 (YTD 4) Sugar and other stories, by A.S. Byatt Three Daves, by Nicki Elson SF 13 (YTD 23) The Kappa Child, by Hiromi Goto Koko Takes a Holiday, by Kieran Shea Ring Shout, by P. Djèlí Clark The Autumn Land, by Clifford D. Simak The City We ...

I am grateful to Ian for bringing to my attention the case of Patience Kershaw, a girl whose testimony to the Antony Ashley-Cooper's Children's Employment Commission (Mines) has been adapted and set to music, performed by many including The Unthanks:It's good of you to ask me, Sir, to tell you how I spend my days Down in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay. The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head. It isn't lady-like, but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread. I push them ...

Earlier this week, we reported on Liz Barker's speech on the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill, in which she compared the demonisation of transgender people today to the discrimination she and others faced during the 80s. The Bill was a simple one – designed to give ministers leave when they have a baby, something that our Jo Swinson and Jenny Willott did not benefit from when they had their babies. There was a concerted effort by socially conservative peers to change the Bill's gender neutral language. In the first of two speeches, Sal explained why it was important to ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

At last September's conference the Liberal Democrats adopted Universal Basic Income (UBI) as national policy. I'm part of a campaign group within the party called Lib Dems for Basic Income that helped make that happen, and in this piece I want to turn to May's local elections, our first opportunity as a party to take UBI to the public. We also have a series of events coming up, run in partnership with the Social Liberal Forum and the Compass-hosted Basic Income Conversation, starting with an all-star panel discussing "How to win with UBI" on the evening of 9th March. You ...

Posted on justLiberals
Sun 28th
11:00

My tweets

Sat, 12:40: May 2010 books https://t.co/oRS0p94UZ1 Sat, 12:56: Picasso's anti-war "Guernica" tapestry removed from U.N. headquarters after decades on display https://t.co/i17KfO0TGS Sad news, but I guess it was only ever on long-term loan. Sat, 18:54: Megaliths of Western Belgium - blog post with maps and extra pictures https://t.co/BdNZ9e8DZ8 Sat, 19:24: Some silly people have been complaining that Mel never met the Daleks. Maybe not on TV, but.... https://t.co/2Dfl0Ksu5a https://t.co/9Ahp5d66Bj https://t.co/HKCwRdIhSN https://t.co/fSWQNUHZji https://t.co/VKUGMgymlW Sat, 19:38: RT @theherogram: @nwbrux Audio Mel is one of my favourite companions across all media. Bonnie Langford is a treasure. Sat, 19:55: RT @Nickpheas: @theherogram @nwbrux I ...

I continue to work my through the photographic collection of Neil Reston, a former BR employee, who lived in Maghull. His collection of mainly 1960's black and white railway photos was generously passed on to me by his relatives. This posting is all about a visit to Unilever's Port Sunlight premises by the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society on 26th October 1963 and takes the form of a look at the small brochure produced for the visit and a number of photos. Enjoy...... Duchess of Kent loco Control Centre Control Point Main line to factory Lever Bros guads van Lever ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus
YouGov

The fall in infection rates is continuing, though not in Ludlow where cases have reached their highest level. In the week to last Sunday, there were 27 positive tests for Covid-19 among Ludlow residents. Before this, the seven day rate of cases briefly hit 30. These are the highest rates we have seen and are due to localised outbreaks. Only Market Drayton has a higher rate in Shropshire, seven day infection rate of 341 per 100,000 people compared to a rate of 246 in Ludlow. We understand this is due to localised outbreaks and that all those who have tested ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington

The Mirror reports that Housing Minister Eddie Hughes has admitted millions of pounds intended to help rough sleepers stay safe during the winter in England has gone unspent. The paper says that the Housing department manages the £10m Cold Weather Fund and the £15m Protect Programme, which supports efforts to provide accommodation for rough sleepers during the pandemic, but with winter drawing to a close around £4 million between the two funds is still unallocated. The Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson argues that it is "wrong and misleading" to say the money had gone unspent as ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

Here's a song that anyone who likes sixties music will know, even if many will be pushed to remember which band had a hit with it. Yesterday Has Gone was originally recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials, though the strong vocal by Terry Rice-Milton makes it reasonable to prefer this cover version. What really interests me about Cupid's Inspiration is that they came from one of my favourite nearby towns: Stamford in Lincolnshire. And to prove it, here is a 2019 story from the Stamford Mercury: Original members of the Sixties band Cupid's Inspiration are returning to their roots ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

President Joe Biden must have mixed feelings about the public's continued fascination with the Donald Trump story. On the one hand it is a distraction from his own agenda. And on the other, it allows him to move forward quickly and efficiently while attention is largely engaged elsewhere. He is doing the latter. This weekend Biden will celebrate 50 million covid-19 vaccinations, putting his administration well ahead of the target 100 million jabs in 100 days. He is also expected to shortly push through Congress a third major pandemic spending package. This one is worth $1.9 trillion and will focus ...

Posted by Tom Arms on Liberal Democrat Voice

Jane Dodds, leader of Welsh Liberal Democrats, says: None of us want to see children in our community go hungry while school is out. That's why I am proud that Lib Dem Education Minister Kirsty Williams has ensured the Welsh Government provided free school meals over half term in Wales, ensuring children throughout Wales got a decent meal even when not in school. Join the campaign today Meanwhile, in England, the Conservatives have been shamed into action every single time. And going into this May's vital Senedd elections, the Welsh Liberal Democrats want to continue Free School Meals over all ...

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

At the end of a sad week in Liverpool politics and an even sadder week for the Liverpool Labour Party Liverpool's Labour comrades shot themselves in the foot when their attempted coup against themselves failed last night. For those not ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

i) births and deaths 28 February 1912: birth of Mervyn Pinfield, who was Associate Producer for Doctor Who from An Unearthly Child (1963) to The Romans (1965) and also directed The Sensorites (1964), Planet of Giants (1964) and The Space Museum (1965). 28 February 1969: birth of Murray Gold, composer of New Who music from 2005 to 2017. ii) broadcast and production anniversaries 28 February 1970: broadcast of fifth episode of Doctor Who and the Silurians. The Silurians release a deadly virus to wipe out humanity. 28 February 1976: broadcast of fifth episode of The Seeds of Doom. The Krynoid ...

Craft It On is Feeling Strong's latest art project that can be done by young people from the comfort of their own home, designed to promote connectedness and community while lockdown continues. Young people will be given their own art supplies and a canvas delivered to their door. This canvas will be divided into four squares, and young people will have the task to complete their own square using prompts provided by Feeling Strong Volunteers from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Once completed, this canvas will be delivered to another young person with a different prompt, visiting ...