I'd always been a strangely reluctant Chair of my Parish Council, something which might surprise those who have watched me carry out my duties. But, if you're going to do something, you might as well give it your best shot and, besides, I've probably benefitted from my observations of committee chairs good, bad and indifferent over the years. And, of course, I have views. But, at last year's Annual Parish Council Meeting, I made it absolutely clear that I wouldn't be serving a fifth year in the role, leaving it to my colleagues to find a replacement from amongst their ...
The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton NI Protocol Changes: Risks starting a trade war with our largest trading partner Welsh Liberal Democrats call for 24/7 mental health service The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton Responding to the announcement that the Tiverton & Honiton by-election will take place on Thursday 23rd June, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: People in rural communities like Devon have had enough of being neglected by this Conservative government. The Conservatives' failure to tackle the cost of ...
John Rogers takes us on another London walk. This time it's from Gray's Inn Road up the Caledonian Road to Caledonian Park in Islington. I was in Housmans bookshop [09:00] the other week and emerged with a novel by Rose Macaulay. I still haven't got the hang of this "left wing" thing.
I am indebted to my friend and fellow Liberal, John Cole of Bradford, for this succinct analysis of how the UK government, apparently in good faith, signed the International Treaty containing the Northern Ireland Protocol. 1. In 2017 Mr Johnson then a member of Theresa May's government, spoke vehemently against any customs sea border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 2. In an effort to avoid a sea border Mrs May negotiated a complex "Northern Ireland Backstop". The Backstop became almost universally hated on the Conservative benches and in consequence: 3..When he became prime minister Johnson re-negotiated with the EU ...
Responding to the latest ONS figures showing regular pay fell by 1.2% in January to March 2022, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "These figures confirm families are facing a cost of living nightmare, with wages failing to keep up with soaring energy bills and food prices. "It is the worst possible time to be raising taxes on struggling families, yet still the Chancellor is ploughing ahead. "Rishi Sunak has cashed in billions of pounds in extra VAT receipts this year as prices go through the roof. He needs to put some of this money back into people's ...
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on Boris Johnson to haul petrol firm bosses into Downing Street, after research by the RAC found they have failed to pass on nearly half of the fuel duty cut to consumers. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for an emergency VAT cut that would save the average family £600 a year. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "This Conservative government is sitting on its hands and allowing petrol firms to rake in eye-watering profits at the expense of hard-pressed families. "This government's failure to tackle soaring prices of petrol and diesel is ...
Tue 17th
15:12
The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton
Responding to the announcement that the Tiverton & Honiton by-election will take place on Thursday 23rd June, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: "People in rural communities like Devon have had enough of being neglected by this Conservative government. "The Conservatives' failure to tackle the cost of living crisis has left millions struggling to pay their bills, while people wait hours for an ambulance and weeks for a GP or dentist appointment. "The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Tiverton and Honiton. On the 23rd June voters can send Boris Johnson's government a ...
Tue 17th
15:09Northern Ireland Protocol: Changes risk starting a trade war with our largest trading partner
Responding to Liz Truss's statement on changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Any responsible Government would today be announcing an emergency VAT cut to combat soaring bills and food costs. Instead Boris Johnson's Conservatives are putting forward plans that will make it even harder for the millions of families who are struggling to make ends meet. "If the Conservatives go ahead with these plans, they risk starting a trade war with our largest trading partner which will turn a cost of living crisis into a catastrophe. "At a time when we ...
She spoke to me quite openly, about aspects of her lifeand episodes...Sometimes I met her eyes, sometimes her eyes looked downin hesitance... We'd kissed. I'd held her hands, and helped her with her dress –the zip was kind...Her oral skills were wonderful, at least as good as mine:hungry; practiced... Her touch was soft, her body [...]
The Writ has been moved for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election to take place on 23rd June. The by-election was caused by the resignation of Neil Parish after he was discovered watching pornographic videos during parliamentary meetings on two occasions. Ed Davey said that the by-election gave voters the chance to send Boris Johnson's Government a message they cannot ignore and elect a local Lib Dem champion to fight for them: People in rural communities like Devon have had enough of being neglected by this Conservative government. The Conservatives' failure to tackle the cost of living crisis has left millions ...
Tue 17th
12:14
Putting the Mayor in charge of the Council's money is like putting a fox in charge of the chicken co...
My Liverpool Liberal Democrat Group colleagues and I have reacted with incredulity to the news that the Mayor of Liverpool has completed a reshuffle of her Cabinet team by making herself the Council's spokesperson on Finance. The move follows the ... Continue reading →
As fuel and energy prices continue to soar, it seems that the cost of food is next. The Mirror reports on the view of the chair of Marks and Spencer that food prices could soar by 10% this year. Archie Norman, a former Tory MP who chairs the supermarket, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: It wouldn't be surprising to see food price inflation over the course of the year running towards 8% to 10%. But we don't know that yet because it runs through the year, some has gone through now but quite a lot's still to come." Asked ...
The writ was moved in Parliament today for the tractor porn by-election in Tiverton and Honiton, to be on the same day as the Wakefield by-election: Conservative chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris moves the writ in Commons for by-elections in Wakefield and in Tiverton & Honiton. Bumper by-election day likely on 23 June. — Ashley Cowburn (@ashcowburn) May 17, 2022
Mon, 12:56: Pat Leahy: Brexit's back, and this time it's snarlier than ever https://t.co/nyRvHu2KTX I largely agree. Mon, 16:05: RT @bbcdoctorwho: The DoctorDonna has absorbed our website energy! Read the full story here on @bbcpress ➡️ https://t.co/8NtpdmJMRd Mon, 17:11: RT @MrBradPreston: @bbcdoctorwho The past 7 days have marketed the show better than the past 5 YEARS. Mon, 18:48: RT @gerardofortuna: Of course, the EURACTIV touch couldn't miss: here's a story of the 3 former MEPs who were also former #Eurovision conte... Mon, 20:08: Carnival of Monsters, by Ian Potter (and Robert Holmes, and Terrance Dicks) https://t.co/ObJgTnu9fq https://t.co/q2gZaOMJmh Mon, 20:19: RT ...
This post first appeared on the Radix UK blog... I can't be the only person in the country at the moment who wakes in the early hours of the morning worrying about a nuclear attack. As Dr Johnson said about hanging, the impending loss - not just of my own life - but everyone I know and love and our whole tradition and history too, certainly concentrates the mind wonderfully. I can't believe it is good for my mental health - or anyone else's either. Added to which, there was the historian Antony Beevor spelling out the extraordinary peril that ...
Second homes are a growing issue in many rural areas of the country. Although visitors with second homes bring economic benefits, they also reduce local housing stock and drive up house prices by making offers that most locals can't match. The squeeze on housing availability drives up rents as well as prices. Yet when second home owners arrive for the weekend, for the week or for a holiday, they rely on local people for their services in shops, pubs and bars. But many people can't afford to live in a settlement where second homes are popular. In 2018/19, an estimated ...
As Liz Truss prepares to tell Parliament how exactly the British Government intends to ride a coach and horses through the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated by itself, Christine Jardine writes in the Scotsman about the dangers this poses to the Peace Process. She starts by writing about how she felt when the IRA first announced its ceasefire back in 1994. But in that moment it seemed, for the first time, that there might be a bright, positive peaceful future for the people of Northern Ireland. For everyone touched by the euphemistically named 'Troubles'. Thirty years later, they have reached a ...
Everyone is feeling the squeeze of rising food and fuel costs. The cost of electricity, gas and heating oil has soared and without action from the government, will soar further in October leading to a cold and miserable winter for many people. The Bank of England says that inflation could hit 10% this year. Yet Shropshire Council wants to increase car parking charges at the very point when people have less to spend on our high streets. Shropshire Council argues that costs must increase with inflation. I don't buy that argument. The council has not made a case for additional ...
#GreenHealthWeek runs until next Sunday, with free activities for everyone. 🌻 You can read more about the events taking place at : www.facebook.com/GreenHealthPartnershipDundee/events
