I have, mostly by dint of being too polite to say no, risen a surprisingly long way in the genteel world of Town and Parish Councils. I represent my county on the National Assembly of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), and chair a national committee and a national network. And now, my various terms of office are at an end and I find myself rather wanting to be re-elected. To that end, I attended a meeting of the Mid Suffolk Area Forum of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC) this evening where the first order of business ...
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was something about the immediate post-war period that made its most notorious murderers remain long in the public's memory. There was Christie at 10 Rillington Place, Haigh the acid-bath murderer and Neville Heath. Heath had already murdered one woman in a London hotel when he arrived in Bournemouth. Lindsay Neal takes up the story: A wanted suspect for the Margery Gardner killing, Heath fled London with the police on his heels and ended up in Bournemouth where, calling himself Brook after the World War I poet (but without the poet's final 'e'), he met ex-Wren Doreen ...
Tue 30th
18:49
Nottingham Post launches legal challenge over Reform UK council leader's refusal to talk to its jour...
Nottinghamshire Live, the online version of the Nottingham Post, has launched a legal challenge against the refusal by the Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to speak to its journalists. A report on the Live website says: The authority's leaders have until Thursday (October 2) to respond to the legal letter, which warns further steps may be taken if the council does not respond by reversing the ban. The letter, sent to the county council by CMS LLP on September 25, sets out the position adopted by Reach Midlands Media Limited, the publisher of Nottinghamshire Live and our print ...
Embed from Getty ImagesMark Pack reports on the announcement of a new, expanded Liberal Democrat frontbench team. The team has newly created spokesperson roles for migration, schools, cancer care, rural affairs and a shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. You can see the full team below. Two names that featured in pre-reshuffle speculation- Alex Brewer and Mike Martin - are not included. Liberal Democrat Commons Frontbench Team Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Ed Davey MP Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson - Daisy Cooper MP Chief Whip - Wendy Chamberlain MP Cabinet Office Spokesperson - Lisa Smart MP Health and ...
Tue 30th
17:40Corby man who set up vigilante group to protect women and children admits violent assault on former ...
Really, you could have knocked me down with a feather. The Northamptonshire Chronicle reports: A man who started a vigilante group to 'protect women and children' has admitted carrying out a shocking attack on his former partner. Reece McCarron started his controversial patrol group 'The Corby Guard' just three weeks ago, claiming he and his pals were carrying out public protection duties, to widespread public condemnation. He has also been responsible for putting up some of the town's lamp-post flags, regularly posting footage on his social media accounts. But this weekend he carried out a shameful drunken assault on his ...
A party press release brings the news of a reshuffle in the party's previous team: Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has announced a new, expanded frontbench team as his party takes the fight to Nigel Farage and Reform. As part of the changes to their frontbench team, the Liberal Democrats have created new spokesperson roles for migration, schools, cancer care, rural affairs and a Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. It comes after Ed Davey used his conference speech to criticise Farage's record of failure on immigration, his attacks on children with special educational needs and Reform's platforming of conspiracy ...
Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Germany's new Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, has raised important concerns about the EU AI Act. He argues that its regulatory framework is being introduced prematurely—before a strong European AI market has emerged—and stiffles innovation. "Sometimes it's wiser to pause and reassess when circumstances evolve," he told the Financial Times (link below), underscoring how the Act creates barriers that deter companies from experimenting and scaling AI within Europe. His remarks highlight a broader tension: Europe aspires to lead in AI, yet risks undermining its own ambitions by prioritizing control over cultivation. Regulations must ensure ...
News from Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats: Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that a second independent councillor on Rother District Council has joined the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Jimmy Stanger, who represents the St Marks Ward in Bexhill was previously a member of the Rother Association of Independent Councillors (RAOIC). He follows the move in July by Cllr Beverley Coupar, an unaligned Independent representing the Sedlescombe and Westfield Ward. The moves mean that Liberal Democrats now form the largest group in the Rother Alliance that controls Rother, with 9 Councillors, ahead of Labour with 8, RAOIC with ...
In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates - one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign. A million years ago – during the coalition years – when I had the honour of serving as President of our party, I saw first-hand just how vital that job is. The President doesn't set policy or lead the party in Parliament, but they provide a different kind of leadership: to keep the party grounded in our values, ...
Tue 30th
10:38
From Chișinău to London: why Moldova's European choice must spark Britain's EU re-engagement
Moldova is one of Europe's poorest nations, plagued by unresolved territorial disputes over Transnistria, entrenched corruption challenges, and persistent Russian interference. It's also the most recent country to have chosen a future as part of the European project over domination from Moscow. By contrast, Britain chose to voluntarily step away from the project, opting to go it alone in the name of "taking back control", encouraged by individuals who view Moscow's intimidation tactics and imperialist war in Ukraine as its right. So I must begin, dear reader, with a question: if Moldova can find the courage to embrace Europe, why ...
Another of the fringe meetings I took part in at the Lib Dem Bournemouth Conference was on the lessons from Joe Bidden on how to tackle small boats crossing the Channel. The former US President may not seem an obvious source for policy or political success on immigration, but his administration's record on tackling issues with the US-Mexico border points towards how the UK could successfully tackle its own issue. We're at #LDConf discussing 'How can liberals win the argument on immigration?' With @lisasmartmp.bsky.social @markpackuk.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social + US migration expert Frank Sharry. — British Future (@britishfuture.bsky.social) 2025-09-22T18:45:44.021Z
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! This is the last Tuesday surgery until after the October school holidays although we will be holding our Thursday night street surgeries as normal.
Nation Cymru reports on a mega-opinion survey of 45,000 people that, they say, shatters the far-right's "destructive portrayal" of a divided Britain, revealing instead a country that is tolerant, inclusive but crying out for real change. They say that the poll, conducted by Hope not Hate and backed by the TUC,t was commissioned by green entrepreneur Dale Vince and questioned people on more than 80 social, political and economic issues: Mr Vince said: "I wanted to know what Britain really thinks. That's why I commissioned this Giga Poll. "Our findings show we're being told fairy tales by the right about ...
