Peter Black says the Liberal Democrats must continue to oppose national identity cards. Wealthy donors are increasingly funding political campaigns, eroding the public's trust in the political process. The government has the opportunity to reverse that trend by limiting the allowed individual donation amounts and capping campaign spending by political parties, argues Rose Whiffen. "Our results showed that being bullied was associated with significant reductions in extrovert traits and conscientiousness (that is, being dependable and organised). The drop in conscientiousness could be because the target feels demotivated by the unfairness of being bullied - or the bullying may even take ...
Bournemouth was my first Liberal Democrat Conference in I don't know how many years - I suspect the last one was in the same town in 2008. And, of course, many of the people I knew then aren't at conference these days. So next time I attend Conference, and I don't intend waiting another 17 years, I shall make more effort to go to events and fringe meetings. I was more ready for the internet cafe (ask your parents) in St Michael's Road from which I posted an edition of the Britblog Roundup (ask your parents) no longer being there. ...
Tue 23rd
18:19
Paul's Conference diary #2: Gleeing oneself hoarse, our Yorkshire Devonian friend, a lizard and the ...
Late Sunday To ease the full on assault on my bank balance, I had a burger and chips at a fish and chip shop on the way back to my room. Straight out of the fryer, piping hot, the first few mouthfuls were the most delicious things I have eaten for a long while. Monday Rather than have another fast food breakfast I invested in some eggs, tomatoes and cheese to make one of my microwave omelette-type thingees. I still have the ingredients for another one on Tuesday. To the Reimagining International Development fringe with a panel including Monica Harding ...
I've just seen a mention on BBC news reporting that Mr. Netanyahu has called in recent comments for Israel to become a, quote, "super-Sparta". This has been considered a big enough deal as a speech that it has its own Wikipedia article. He did also liken Israel to Athens in the same speech, but it was Sparta that got the "super" epithet: the result was a clunky misstep of a speech that seemed to be calling not just for more defence spending and local production (which was the case he probably wanted to make) but for autarkic economics, a prospect ...
I was absolutely delighted to be invited, by the Migrant Democracy Project, to attend as a speaker and panellist to my first Liberal Democrat Conference. Topic? Yes, one of my favourite ones; migrant voting rights in the Local Elections. The event went really well, we spoke about a number of issues in relation to voters' legislation. This afternoon, the Leader of Reform UK (Prime Minister in making?) presented his party latest policy idea, which includes scrapping the indefinite right to remain for migrants. Quite a contrast to my last night's event, which was inclusive, very welcoming and which recognised the ...
Our joint weekly ward surgery takes place tonight. This week it is as follows : Blackness Library (Tuesdays 5pm - every week during school term time) All welcome - no appointment necessary!
We have been here before of course, when Tony Blair tried to introduce ID cards back in 2004 or thereabouts, arguing that they would assist in the war on terror, an assertion that was subsequently debunked by, amongst others, the government's own anti terror law reviewer, a Home Office Minister and the former head of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington. All these are referenced in blogs I wrote at the time that can be read here. Liberal Democrats were, of course, at the forefront of opposition to Tony Blair's plans, but has there been a change of heart at the top ...
