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  <description>Aggregated Stories from LibDem Blogs</description>
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  <copyright>Copyright: (C) www.libdemblogs.co.uk</copyright>
  <lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:13 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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   <title>LibDemBlogs</title>
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   <title><![CDATA[Treading in the footsteps of royalty, aka what happens after a Parliamentary by-election]]></title>
   <link>http://www.markpack.org.uk/29050/treading-in-the-footsteps-of-royalty-aka-what-happens-after-a-parliamentary-by-election/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[This morning it was off to south west London to join campaigners from around and outside London for some campaigning to follow up the Feltham &amp; Heston by-election. Roger Crouch and his team did a great job holding on to third place and the deposit in the by-election. Now the election is over, the area is not being forgotten &#8211; particularly as parts of it may move into Vince Cable's constituency at the next general election. There are several similar moves around London where chunks of a borough in which the party is weak are being added in to the ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:39:36 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[LDV Caption Competition: Ed Davey "I've got Energy" Edition]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/ed-davey-energy-caption-competition-26955.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[There's no prize at stake - just the opportunity to prove you're wittier than any other LDV reader... (Picture from The Guardian.) Here's Nick Clegg welcoming new energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey to the cabinet &#8212; what do you think might be being said or thought by or about them? And the winner of our last caption comp is... Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, Eds Balls and Miliband "The Early Years" Edition. The winner, according to The Voice's judging panel of one, was this one by Cheltenham robin, with a highly commended offerings by ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:25:26 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Macroeconomics 1: Should I be good, or right?]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jocksplace/~3/qRHEbppFUoU/macroeconomics_1_should_i_be_good_or_right</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Tee, hee. We had our coursework assignment for Macroeconomics 1. I could have some fun with this... Individual Assignment Task: In 2011, Bank of England chose to maintain the Bank rate at its historic low even when the prevailing inflation rate was significantly higher than the targeted level. You are required to critically evaluate this particular policy decision of Bank of England. Using available information on the UK economy from 2000-2010: i. Outline the pattern of economic growth, inflation, and interest rate over the past 10 years. (This task requires that you find annual data on these economic variables over ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:24:58 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Meeting Adonis]]></title>
   <link>http://jonathanfryer.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/meeting-adonis/</link>
   <description><![CDATA['Everyone is born in a poetic state,' the Syrian-born writer and artist Adonis declared in an interview with Hans Ulrich Obrist at the Mosaic Rooms in Kensington this noon. But not everyone is destined to express themselves poetically. The sprightly octogenarian &#8212; who is viewed by many as the most significant Arab poet alive today ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:21:58 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Did slavery really exist in Africa before the transatlantic slave 'trade'?]]></title>
   <link>http://cllrlesterholloway.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/did-slavery-really-exist-in-africa-before-the-transatlantic-slave-trade/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The huge gulf between the kind of "slavery" than existed within Africa and the bloody horrors inflicted by Europeans is once again coming under the spotlight. Published &#8211; New Nation, 16th April 2007 Black historians believe there is simply no ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:05:26 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Missy the Cat]]></title>
   <link>http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/2012/02/missy-cat.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I thought I'd not blog today, so instead here's some pictures of Missy the new family cat, admittedly there are plenty more serious subjects to choose from locally and the greater world, stuff like Sainsbury's proposed new supermarket, which if it goes ahead will make traveling out of Margate a mission, as of course will the wretched plan to allow Tesco, to occupy an incongruous location for massive supermarket on the front of Margate seafront and of course not forgetting the equally out of place "occupy protest" outside the Turner Gallery Still its the weekend and for once I'm not ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[America 2012, part 2: The Little Guys]]></title>
   <link>http://asongofliberty.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/america-2012-part-2-the-little-guys/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[American politics is a bottomless morass that will suck you in deeper the further you wade into it. Such has been my experience, and now one randomly-planned and hastily-written blogpost has become three. Ron Paul's day, as ever, is not ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:49:27 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Headline of the Day]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2012/02/headline-of-day.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Today's award goes to BBC News (Glasgow and West of Scotland) for: Ear bitten off in fast food queue]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:19:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Fern BLOODY Britton]]></title>
   <link>http://whisperinthecrowds.blogspot.com/2012/02/fern-bloody-britton.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It was a terrible night's sleep. The tinnitus was raging and piercing into my night-time soul and left me in a constant state of REM. The drifting dreams of the sub-conscious. Many of my dreams are surreal (are not all of ours?), from flying to underwater breathing, to many a sexual liaisons with.....well that would be saying. However, at my age I am well past the teenagers' wet dreams. Do dry dreams count? The most disturbing dream I had though was a 'Trumanesque' reality one. Every aspect of my life was being commentated on, analysed by and criticised by Fern ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:17:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[EXCLUSIVE: 72% of Lib Dem members backed reshuffle return for David Laws. (But it wasn't to be.)]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/exclusive-72-of-lib-dem-members-backed-reshuffle-return-for-david-laws-but-it-wasnt-to-be-26953.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Earlier this week, LibDemVoice started asking party members signed up to our discussion forum a range of questions &#8212; the survey is still live, but one of the questions is already a little previous so we're reporting it early... We asked: Would you support or oppose David Laws making a return to government at the next reshuffle? Yes &#8211; to a cabinet post 58% Yes &#8211; but only to a non-cabinet post in government 14% No &#8211; he should not return to the government at the next reshuffle 21% Don't know / No opinion 7% In total, then, 72% of ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Snowing in Bath]]></title>
   <link>http://odddown.blogspot.com/2012/02/snowing-in-bath.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[We have received this email from the council's highways department With regards to today, due to the cold temperatures during this week the road surfaces are very cold and overnight the road temperature could be as low as -9c. Air temperatures are due to fall to -5c A few key pieces of information in the event of any enquiries. Our crews have salted the network regularly during the]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Pennyquick to be 50 mph ?]]></title>
   <link>http://odddown.blogspot.com/2012/02/penny-quick-to-be-50-mph.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Bath and North East Somerset Council proposes to make an order under section 84 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended, the effect of which will be that it is prohibited to drive a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding 50 miles per hour on that length of Pennyquick Hill, Bath which extends from a point 37 metres northwest of its junction with Poolemead Road in a north westerly direction]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Waiting for the barbarians]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2012/02/waiting-for-barbarians.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The last time there was an English Defence League march in Leicester, many of their supporters stopped off in Market Harborough on the way. I was out searching for a lost Medieval village that day (I have an image to keep up), but I am told that they took over the town centre with their chanting for a while. This morning all was quiet. There were a lot of police around and the Wethersoon's pub where the EDL congregated had not opended. I saw only about a dozen EDL types in the town. They were clustered around another pub, which ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Why do people think bullying on the internet is ok?]]></title>
   <link>http://neilmonnery.co.uk/2012/02/04/people-bullying-internet-ok/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The internet is largely anonymous. It is easy to make judgements on people we know and it is even easier to make snap judgements on people on the television. In this age where celebrity is a concept that has been diluted because of reality TV it has coincided with the explosion of social media. Therefore people on the TV and in the papers are more regular than before. Newspapers will run stories and photos of reality TV stars causing people to have more vocal opinions on said people. A few months ago Jesy Nelson was getting bullied over her looks ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:43:55 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Caption Competition - Results]]></title>
   <link>http://aviewfromhamcommon.blogspot.com/2012/02/caption-competition-results.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[And the winner is...George Potter "﻿Oh my god, I think he's trying to grow a mohican." George, DM me an address via @richardmorrisuk and I'll send you some sort of prize. I have no idea what. :-) And by the way - brilliant blogging this week George too. Thanks for all the entries ﻿]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Is Climate Change really happening?]]></title>
   <link>http://markreckons.blogspot.com/2012/02/is-climate-change-really-happening.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[We seem to have ended up in odd place regarding the debate about Climate Change. It appears that the majority of scientists that work in the field of climate say that the climate is changing and that there is a large anthropogenic component to this change caused by greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. There are however a significant minority of scientists and others who think that either the whole thing is overblown and/or that there is either no, or very little evidence that humans have contributed to this. Both sides have lots and lots of data to back up ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[How Lib Dem members rated Chris Huhne and Ed Davey before the reshuffle]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/chris-huhne-ed-davey-reshuffle-26950.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[LibDemVoice is currently conducting one of our regular surveys of party members to find out views on a range of issues. One of the questions we always ask is how satisfied Lib Dems are with key figures in the party. Though the survey is still open, a couple are now out-of-date &#8212; specifically, what members' opinions were of Chris Huhne and Ed Davey in the jobs they occupied until Friday. So here are their results... Chris Huhne: How would you rate the performances of Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change? Very satisfied 15% Satisfied 40% Total ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Going Global]]></title>
   <link>http://johnmarkcole.blogspot.com/2012/02/going-global.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Though my blogging musings have been lighter over the past month or so, this blog has nevertheless made some international strides in recent weeks. America Firstly around Christmas, I was contacted by a business from across the pond in America asking for an opportunity to advertise with selected links in blog posts that matched their product. You probably won't have seen then, but they are there and in the last few days, the $40 (&pound;25) payment reached my bank account via PayPal. It's only a small amount but after just over a year, it's a pleasant bonus to find that ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:16:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Clegg's worst nightmare: Chris Huhne]]></title>
   <link>http://andrewemmerson.co.uk/2012/02/cleggs-worst-nightmare-chris-huhne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cleggs-worst-nightmare-chris-huhne</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Chris Huhne resigned, I believed it to be somewhat inevitable whether or not he was charged by the CPS, obviously the court case is live, so little can be said on the case itself, but the political impacts are huge on Clegg, and no matter what happens now he's in a corner, let me explain. The Huhne case can go one of two ways, and both will be bad for Clegg. if Huhne is convicted and found guilty, Clegg is faced with the double charge of leading a corrupt party, losing a seat in parliament (which from my knowledge of ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:46:19 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Beliefs, Counselling &amp; Homosexuality]]></title>
   <link>http://paswonky.blogspot.com/2012/02/beliefs-counselling-homosexuality.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The New York Times reports of a law case where a trainee counsellor, Julea Ward, asked for referral of clients seeking same-sex relationship advice on account of her Christian beliefs. Ms Ward claims that she doesn't want to change her clients' minds and behaviour, nor does she want to discriminate against homosexual clients. Indeed, she would ask for clients to be reassigned if there were]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:41:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The nationalist myopia of Left and Right]]></title>
   <link>http://disgruntledradical.blogspot.com/2012/02/nationalist-myopia-of-left-and-right.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[On Facebook Simon McGrath has drawn attention to a letter to the Guardian from Labour MPs, already circulated by the Open Europe blog. The Labour MPs concerned include Gisela Stuart who has a long history of euroscepticism and Dennis Skinner who proudly proclaims the fact that he has never been abroad. How delighted these soi-disant left wingers must be that their ideas are shared by the]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The weekend debate: When should an MP rebel against their party?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-weekend-debate-when-should-an-mp-rebel-against-their-party-26841.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Here's your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate... In the Australian system even a single rebellion against your party can mean the whip is withdrawn but in the UK we're much more used to MPs 'crossing the floor' and voting against their party. In fact there's been a fair amount of coverage on Lib Dem Voice of Mark Pack's research on the number of backbench Lib Dem MPs who have rebelled against the government since the last election. One could argue that MPs have a duty to vote with ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Boundary Commission for England publishes details of stage two consultation]]></title>
   <link>http://www.markpack.org.uk/29040/boundary-commission-for-england-consultation/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Boundary Commission for England Newsletter 2012 #1]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:25:09 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[New energy from a fresh broom]]></title>
   <link>http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-energy-from-fresh-broom.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The loss of Chris Huhne from Government was inevitable once he was charged, however it is difficult not to draw the conclusion that the constant exercising of 'sharp elbows' was bound to end badly in some shape or another, whilst leaving few political friends to pick up the pieces. Having said this, the Liberal Democrats will miss Chris Huhne's presence in the cabinet, where he was a big hitter and consequently was able to press forward with the party's green agenda with impunity. We now have Ed Davey in his place, a Minister who has already achieved success in reforming ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Blood is The Life 04-02-2012]]></title>
   <link>http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1204996.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Almighty Johnsons episode 1 review - Den of Geek This review is possibly a little harsh, but it makes some good points, and I love the desc ription of Olaf as "God of Exposition". Probably still going to give it a couple more episode; I'm glad I did with American Horror Story, which Jessica Lange has been utterly fabulous in. (tags: telly ) The first page of H.G. Wells's version of Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds | Retronaut Am singing this now (tags: music ) Taxpayers' Alliance admits director doesn't pay British tax | Politics | The Guardian ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Usage and abusage in parliament]]></title>
   <link>http://keynesianliberal.blogspot.com/2012/02/usage-and-abusage-in-parliament.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Apparently David Cameron called Ed Miliband a hypocrite in parliament this week, but had to withdraw because you're not allowed to be so rude. This incident brought forth in the press the usual list of archaic insults ( eg stool-pigeon, guttersnipe, cad)which are still on the taboo list. In my view the most amusing incident with arose out of this convention occurred when Jeremy Thorpe was leader of the Liberals and was overheard to mutter "Stupid bastard" whilst the then Prime Minister, Edward Heath, was speaking. The interjection was loud enough to generate immediate demands that Thorpe withdraw , but ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Verulamium Park Management Plan consultation: have your say]]></title>
   <link>http://chriswhite.mycouncillor.org.uk/2012/02/04/verulamium-park-management-plan-consultation-have-your-say/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The following link will take you directly to the Council's consultation webpage:  The public consultation period will end on Sunday the 11th March 2012.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:13:12 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Council Digs Deep To Invest &pound;15,000 In New Allotments]]></title>
   <link>http://kingshedgesfocus.blogspot.com/2012/02/council-digs-deep-to-invest-15000-in.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Cambridge City Council has dug deep into its finances to provide &pound;15,000 for new allotments in the city. Seventeen allotments will be created off Kendal Way in East Chesterton and up to 50 plots will be provided by potentially extending Empty Common in Trumpington. The plots will be allocated to people who have registered on the council's 290 strong waiting list for allotments. Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Art, Sport and Public Places, Rod Cantrill said: "We are committed to helping people who want to grow their own produce. This helps them maintain a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and I ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Kitschies]]></title>
   <link>http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1889036.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I han't heard of The Kitschies - "the annual awards for those books which best elevate the tone of genre literature" - until very recently, despite my old friend Bex Levene being one of the judges, but I love the concept. In case anyone like me is struggling through Twitter to find the results, whkch are not yet up on the official site, they were: Red Tentacle (to the novel containing speculative or fantastic elements that best fulfills the criteria of intelligent, progressive and entertaining) - A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd Golden Tentacle (to the debut ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:59:29 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[9:29 pace]]></title>
   <link>http://woyce.blogspot.com/2012/02/929-pace.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I know exactly what makes me a slow runner - it's the belief that I'm a slow runner. I find the idea of pushing myself to go faster than is comfortable so much more difficult than the idea of plodding on for more and more miles. You know - slow &amp; steady, etc. I just never thought I could be faster, so I wasn't. That seems to be changing. Part of my marathon training involves tempo runs, which are supposed to be between 9:47 and 10:04 pace (my easy runs are supposed to be paced between 10:47 and 11:16). I ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Dissatisfied with bank's response over Student Branch closure]]></title>
   <link>http://www.dundeewestend.com/2012/02/dissatisfied-with-banks-response-over.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Following my writing to Royal Bank of Scotland last month following concerns about possible closure of the student branch at Balfour Street, I've expressed disappointment at a response I have received from the bank to reject calls to think again over the proposed closure of its branch at the university's student union. The response I have received from Jeffrey Hartley, RBoS's Head of Group Customer Relations, confirms the branch is indeed earmarked for closure and it appears the Royal Bank is adamant that it will not reprieve the well-used branch. In his letter Mr Hartley says : "I acknowledge that ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[If you agree with Nick Clegg ....]]></title>
   <link>http://peter4scottward.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/if-you-agree-with-nick-clegg/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[... that the income tax threshold should increased to &pound;10,000 more rapidly, there is now an e-petition on the HM Government website. It says: "Please sign this to persuade George Osborne to fast track the Lib Dem policy to increase ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:42:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[America 2012, part 1: Obama vs Romney]]></title>
   <link>http://asongofliberty.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/america-2012-part-1-obama-vs-romney/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I've been following the run-up to the American election this November more casually than many of my fellow political aficionados. To be frank, I'm not yet embedded enough into party politics to be the sort of person who views the ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:37:43 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[LGBT History Month 2012]]></title>
   <link>http://jenyockney.blogspot.com/2012/02/lgbt-history-month-2012.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[As a foolish thing to do for the BiMedia bisexual news website, I'm trying to mark LGBT History Month this year by giving a little dash of visibility to a different bit of bi history each day of February. Like a lot of LGBT work, History Month resources and events in my experience tend to be good on the LG bits and frequently good on the T strand but often the B is weak. But there has been plenty of bi history:albeit sometimes things we need to (re)claim. I have an assortment of ideas of things to highlight, and at ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Paul Burstow Champions Coalition Wins]]></title>
   <link>http://jonathanfryer.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/paul-burstow-champions-coalition-wins/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[When Nick Clegg planned a Liberal Democrat parliamentary away-day in Eastbourne this week he could hardly have known that the media hordes would descend on that seaside town, not to quiz MPs and Ministers about policy but rather about the fate of Chris Huhne. But if Plan A was to carry on as normal had the ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:01:05 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Friday favourite 44]]></title>
   <link>http://livingonwords.blogspot.com/2012/02/friday-favourite-44.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Given today's events I couldn't resist...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:52:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Congratulations Edward Davey]]></title>
   <link>http://livingonwords.blogspot.com/2012/02/congratulations-edward-davey.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The self destruction of Chris Huhne has not been edifying. But the appointment of Ed Davey as his replacement is unalloyed good news for the Lib Dems. Ed is a formidable campaigner - fighting the 'unwinnable' Kingston and Surbiton seat in 1997 - with no central help and a 15,000 Tory majority. The selection for the Tory nomination (between Richard Tracey and Norman Lamont) was seen by the media as the decisive contest. In the end Ed won by just 56 votes, but carried on campaigning so just four years later romped home with a majority of more than 15,000. ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The WRB - What have we done?]]></title>
   <link>http://chrismills.me.uk/2012/02/the-wrb-what-have-we-done/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I ask this question because I think a serious mistake has been made. The bill as it stands punishes those in serious need, and also those who try and help them. Many people will see their mobility allowance cut (meaning ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:26:04 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Best venue for a councillor's surgery ever]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2012/02/best-venue-for-councillors-surgery-ever.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Heather Kidd is holding a surgery at the Stiperstones Inn on 13 February.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:43:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[What I said to Channel 4 News about Chris Huhne]]></title>
   <link>http://stephentall.org/2012/02/03/what-i-said-to-channel-4-news-about-chris-huhne/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I was interviewed today by Sonia Rathwell for Channel 4 News for a profile of now-former Lib Dem cabinet minister Chris Huhne. Here's some of what I said: It could be said that the former secretary of state for energy and climate change has a rather chilly public persona &#8211; but despite something of a "grey man" image, Chris Huhne has a warm, devoted fanbase according to Stephen Tall, the editor of the Lib Dem activists' newspaper, Lib Dem Voice. ... "After the leadership battle, he could have gone away and sulked but he didn't, he backed Nick Clegg all ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:15:40 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Chris Huhne's resignation is a loss to the Liberal Democrats and the country]]></title>
   <link>http://nickthornsby.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/chris-huhnes-resignation-is-a-loss-to-the-liberal-democrats-and-the-country/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It's completely unsurprising that there will be many people in the country tonight who will certainly not be mourning the loss of Chris Huhne from the government. What is more surprising is that some of those people will be Liberal ... Continue reading &#8594;]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:05:08 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Come on Davey light my fire]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2012/02/come-on-davey-light-my-fire.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Liberal Democrat blogosphere has been an odd place over the past few days. There has been talk of "betrayal and loathing in the Lib Dems," our MPs have told to hang their heads in shame and someone appears to have declared war on the leadership. I have never been an enthusiast for conducting politics in this slightly paranoid language. That distaste is one of the many reasons I have never been attracted to the Labour Party. It reminds me of poor old Michael Foot waving his arms and talking about treason. Nor do I have any sense that the ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Boring God]]></title>
   <link>http://declineofthelogos.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/the-boring-god/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Today I stumbled across the blog of Shiraz Socialist, on which is a fascinating post about the mini-controversy surrounding Terry Eagleton's review of Alain de Botton's Religion for Atheists. The post is a review of de Botton's response to Eagleton's review, achieving a level of nested meta that Tarski would appreciate. It is well worth ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:23:32 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Nick petitions to keep St Mary in the Castle as an arts centre]]></title>
   <link>http://nickperrylibdem.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/nick-petitions-to-keep-st-mary-in-the-castle-as-an-arts-centre/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Please sign our petition here: ]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:18:35 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Losing my temper]]></title>
   <link>http://thepotterblogger.blogspot.com/2012/02/losing-my-temper.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Ahem. As my regular readers will know, I'm renowned for my considered, well-tempered and cautious approach to events. Okay, so that's a lie. But I do try not to lose my temper in debates as it just undermines the argument. And I also try, despite how passionate I feel, not to come across as too abrasive or insulting. Unfortunately, given the number of times I've seen people been told lately, or been told myself, that concerns and dismay about the impact of the Welfare Reform Bill (passed thanks to Lib Dem MPs) is actually nothing more than "hyperbole" or "exaggeration" ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Nick blasts Labour and announces intention to run for Council]]></title>
   <link>http://nickperrylibdem.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/nick-blasts-labour-and-announces-intention-to-run-for-council/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Nick Perry, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Hastings &amp; Rye, has announced that he intends to run for election to Hastings Borough Council on 3 May this year. Nick, who was his party's candidate at the 2010 General Election said to The Observer, "There are local and national reasons for wanting to be selected ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:09:12 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[No Knives, Autism Discussions and Drumbrae hub Opens for Business]]></title>
   <link>http://pauledie.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-knives-autism-discussions-and.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It has been another pretty intense week. My posting has not been as frequent as I would have liked. Sometimes it is difficult to decide what to post about out of so many issues going on at once. This afternoon I took part in the launch of the next phase of the No Knives Better Lives anti knife crime campaign. The No Knives campaign was trialled in Inverclyde with great results and we have rolled it out in the North of the city. Today it was extended to the Gorgie, Sighthill and Wester Hailes areas. We do not have huge ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Charles Dickens, Mr Dick and mental illness]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2012/02/charles-dickens-mr-dick-and-mental.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[There was a discussion of mental health on last night's This Week. Alastair Campbell was impressive, but I am not sure that Ruby Wax's insistence that poor mental health means that there is something wrong with your brain and you need drugs reflects the most enlightened view. Because other ways of understanding mental illness are possible, and I have come across a particularly interesting one in my day job. The clinical psychologist Caroline Cuppitt writes about Charles Dickens' view of the topic and the character of Mr Dick in David Copperfield in particular: There is no suggestion that Mr Dick ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[John Stuart Mill proved right ! (but not Right)]]></title>
   <link>http://disgruntledradical.blogspot.com/2012/02/john-stuart-mill-proved-right-but-not.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Mail Online carries a story that Canadian academics have shown that right-wingers are less intelligent than left wingers,thus proving John Stuart Mill right."I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Well I never! A Bloody Sunday troll!]]></title>
   <link>http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1889004.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Extraordinary.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:35:27 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[If anyone is wondering what I think about the forced cabinet reshuffle...]]></title>
   <link>http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1204935.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[... it's mostly bored resignation that in the midst of mouthing off about diversity, Clegg promotes two white middle class middle aged cisgendered het men, rather than one of the vastly more capable women he has available to him. I can't bring myself to be angry about it, like Caron is. I just don't have the energy any more. My irony meter went sproing a long time ago. It's like the fact that while the Welfare Reform Bill was going through Cameron was hosting a party for Children in Need. Because there's going to be so many more of them, ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:24:21 +0000</pubDate>
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