The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, has this evening announced that he is to step down after a decade at the helm. In a statement Willie said his party had "moved the debate and delivered change", but added that it was "time for a fresh face" to take the party forward. I'm not sure I can agree with him on either point. I think our impact on the wider political conversation has been peripheral at best and that Willie's strength has been not in being a force for change but in providing a ressuring continuity. He has, ...
After more than a decade in the role, Willie Rennie announced this evening that he is standing aside as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Watch his statement here: He leaves while he is still incredibly popular within the party – and the tributes he has received from outside it show how valued he is across politics. When he took over in 2011, he inherited a party that had been given the hoofing of its life in the Scottish Parliament elections, reduced from 16 MSPs to just 5. The small group he led had a big voice, though. Over the ...
Willie Rennie is standing down as leader of the Scottish Lib Dems after leading the party through 11 elections and referendums.
This is the latest post in a series I started in late 2019, anticipating the twentieth anniversary of my bookblogging which will fall in 2023. Every six-ish days, I've been revisiting a month from my recent past, noting work and family developments as well as the books I read in that month. I've found it a pleasantly cathartic process, especially in recent circumstances. If you want to look back at previous entries, they are all tagged under bookblog nostalgia. Lots of work travel this month. My Georgian client took me to Geneva to lobby the UN and other bodies there; ...
If, like me, you are one of the millions feeling rather 'blue' this Monday because of England's defeat yesterday then take heart of the 'soft' victories that emanate from Gareth Southgate's leadership. In a pandemic world where mental health awareness has skyrocketed and we are being urged to be compassionate towards others, I have developed ... The post Gareth Southgate is pure inspiration in my midlife appeared first on A Midlifer in London .
In England 19 July is "Freedom Day" when most covid-related legal restrictions will be lifted in England. This was first trailed a couple of weeks ago, when the government billed it as a major step forward in the battle against he virus, and delighted lockdown sceptics, which include a substantial number of Conservative MPs. Alas ... Continue reading The British government attempts a covid endgame
Following the Government's update on plans to ease restrictions on 19th July, the Liberal Democrats have called on businesses to be given the legal right to require customers to wear face masks on their premises. Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Business, has heard from businesses who want to protect young staff who have not received their second jab, and those who are clinically vulnerable, by ensuring face masks are worn by customers. Writing to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Sarah Olney MP said: Since the Secretary of State for Health and the Prime ...
Sun, 15:40: Titanic https://t.co/UYuOtU5NfS Sun, 21:03: This may not be such a long night after all.... Sun, 22:28: OK, *now* it's getting interesting. Sun, 23:54: Wow!!!!!!!!!! Mon, 10:45: Should You Connect With Strangers on LinkedIn? https://t.co/17Jgua3eQW Generally, I don't.
The New European reports on the views of the former supreme court president, Lord Neuberger, that the government's Brexit strategy threatens to drive the UK down a "very slippery slope" towards "dictatorship" or "tyranny". Speaking about the government's Internal Market Bill, He told lawyers on Wednesday that "Once you deprive people of the right to go to court to challenge the government, you are in a dictatorship, you are in a tyranny. The right of litigants to go to court to protect their rights and ensure that the government complies with its legal obligation is fundamental to any system ... ...
Looking forward to my first craft fair at Yandles this Saturday, with a range of handmade cards, crochet gifts and watercolours.
This is the call of the Health Foundation charity in its final report this month from a long-running enquiry into the impact of COVID-19. Calling on the Government to address the root causes of poor health, the report makes clear that the investment required into people and communities will involve jobs, housing, and education, plus action to 'level up' health. In the report, they say; The pandemic has revealed stark differences in the health of the working age population - those younger than 65 in the poorest 10% of areas in England were almost four times more likely to die ...
An old cutting from The Times brings this campaign idea from India, featuring parrots.
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 12 JULY 2021 City Fibre H3G Project - rolling road closures commencing on Tuesday 15 June for 7 weeks. Lochee Road (Cleghorn Street to Tullideph Road) closed from Tuesday 5 July for 4 days: Closures of Lochee Road (Dudhope Terrace to Black Street), Polepark Road, Cleghorn Street, Brewery Lane, Session Street, Brown Street, Argyllgait and South Ward Road to follow in July. Blinshall Street (Lochee Road to Guthrie Street) - temporary traffic control from Monday 5 July for 4 weeks for Street Lighting work. ...
