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  <title>LibDemBlogs</title>
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  <description>Aggregated Stories from LibDem Blogs</description>
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  <copyright>Copyright: (C) www.libdemblogs.co.uk</copyright>
  <lastBuildDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:30:01 UTC</lastBuildDate>
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   <title>LibDemBlogs</title>
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   <title><![CDATA[BBC Question Time Live Chat - 11th March 2010 - #bbcqt]]></title>
   <link>http://markreckons.blogspot.com/2010/03/bbc-question-time-live-chat-11th-march.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It's not clear if I am actually allowed to watch this week's #bbcqt as it is apparently an all female audience. I'll give it a go though and just put on a high pitched voice if anyone asks. Let's have a shot at still doing the Live Chat on here at 10:30. The panel includes the former Europe minister Caroline Flint, shadow communities minister Justine Greening and Lib Dem foreign affairs spokeswoman Jo Swinson. The broadcaster Monty Don and journalist Kelvin McKenzie will also be joining David Dimbleby on the programme broadcast from Dewsbury. Join us from 10:30pm below: BBC ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:20:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[TV election? Not where it matters most]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/markpack2/~3/ixUc847F4EQ/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Left Foot Forward has an eye-catching headline today: 2010 will be the "television election" say social media experts, and in some ways it's certainly a welcome change for internet pundits to be talking down rather than talking up an imminent internet-fuelled revolution in British political campaigning. However, I think the post (or rather the people who the post reports on) underplays two important issues. First, social media and TV aren't competing promotional tools - whether for parties or for companies - but are complimentary. The impact of the party leader TV debates will be felt, but that impact will be ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:06:42 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[A bizarre political injury]]></title>
   <link>http://jeremyrowe1.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/a-bizarre-political-injury/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I've written before about my continuing problem with radio phone-ins, and today I received the physical proof that it is bad for my health. The occasion was George Osborne's appearance on Victoria Derbyshire's BBC FiveLive morning show. Gideon has quite an effect on me, and not in a good way. He slithered into the BBC's Westminster ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:55:45 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Economist interviews Nick Clegg]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2010/03/economist-interviews-nick-clegg.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Lib Dem leader is everywhere at the moment. The new issue of The Economist has an interview with him: Mr Clegg denies that his leadership amounts to a move to the "right" (Lib Dems, with a touch of sophistry, argue that such labels are anachronistic). The left certainly approves of his civil libertarianism and his (now diluted) policy to abolish university-tuition fees. Though he has not called for an end to the war in Afghanistan, he has pleased the left by "rattling the cage" over its conduct. Still, more than his recent predecessors, he is contemptuous of the idea ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[What's their excuse this time?]]></title>
   <link>http://cllrmikebarker.blogspot.com/2010/03/whats-their-excuse-this-time.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[In today's Echo the Conservative agent in Darlington said the failure to include an imprint on the recently delivered Tory leaflet was a mistake made by the printer. So what's their excuse this time? The Advertiser has a wrap-around four page advert for the Tory candidate (Ashcroft's money being to put to good use, it seems). Yet again, there's no imprint. No "printed by...", no "published by..."]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Imaginative Simile of the Day]]></title>
   <link>http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2010/03/imaginative-simile-of-day.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Well done to Vanessa Kimbell, an "incensed mum" complaining about the pool-side changing rooms at Market Harborough Leisure Centre in the Harborough Mail. She says the floor: looked as if a "Yeti had been attacked".]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:55:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Substandard care, substandard government]]></title>
   <link>http://aulibdems.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/substandard-care-substandard-government/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The NHS is often discussed in the abstract in the political debate, but for many of us, the issues facing healthcare in our country can be a much more personal issue. My grandmother is unwell, suffering from blindness in one eye due to cataracts, severely painful ulcers in her feet and her arthritis has been getting ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:47:58 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Vince Cable: Swedish video hero]]></title>
   <link>http://carons-musings.blogspot.com/2010/03/vince-cable-swedish-video-hero.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[See, we're not the only ones to love The Almighty Vince. This was the work of my friend James and it made me smile. Maybe the BBC should do something like this. Interesting as well that you seem to be able to pay your broadcasting fee in Sweden by putting in your personal number. I presume it's a bit like your NI number. It shows that it's possible for bureaucracies not to be complex, incomprehensible monolithic nightmares.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[UPDATE: What the Liberal Democrat position on homeopathy IS]]></title>
   <link>http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2010/03/11/what-the-liberal-democrat-position-on-homeopathy-is/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Since I previously wrote about what it was, and then wasn't, I feel it is encumbant on me to include here what the official line on homeopathy now is: A recent report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee examined the provision of homeopathy through the NHS and called for funding by the NHS ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:24:14 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[A one man project speaks]]></title>
   <link>http://freethinkingeconomist.com/2010/03/11/1904/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I have been elevated to a project all of my own by Hopi Sen, a position of some responsibility, and one that if anything increases the pressure to opinionize on every thing that ever happens, economics-wise. Hence (again from Hopi) my views on a new letter calling for more fiscal stimulus. They are the same as ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:01:53 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Hollow Labour, influential journo explains why he deserted]]></title>
   <link>http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/2010/03/hollow-labour-influential-journo.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[John Kampfner, former editor of the New Statesman, Chief Exec for Index on Censorship, sometime BBC reporter and Chair of the Turner Contemporary Trust has written a tract on a hollow and bankrupt (my view) political party which is all about self interest for activists at any cost and screw social justice and the likes of me and you. I got sent this email (see below) announcing publication of the pamphlet Lost Labours, a couple of days ago, sent to me as one of the benefits of belonging to the Liberal Democrats, I thought it might appeal to my fair ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Reform have a rather good tax report out]]></title>
   <link>http://freethinkingeconomist.com/2010/03/11/reform-have-a-rather-good-tax-report-out/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Now I'm a policywonk/nerd/geek, so when I say 'rather good' I do not mean 'they agree with me, unlike the evil/stupid/captured by the capitalist discourse people who don't agree with me'. Perhaps I am not political enough. I mean it is a good report; full of useful details, some excellent arguments, some clear proof that ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:38:29 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[I attended a Social Media Summit #LewisSMS]]></title>
   <link>http://bracknellblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-attended-social-media-summit-lewissms.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[MarkReckons has done a review of the event which I also attended see here. This was originally going to be attended by Iain Dale but he had to pull out due to the event being moved to a later time. Iain Dale was replaced by Paul Waugh from the Evening Standard who blogged on the event here. Steve Webb Liberal Democrat MP was also originally due to attend and he also had to pull out which meant that there was no Lib Dem representation at this event. I don't often attend these events as my blog does not only cover ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:38:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Charms of Hugo Chavez]]></title>
   <link>http://carons-musings.blogspot.com/2010/03/charms-of-hugo-chavez.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[What is it about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that has certain leading lights of the UK political left swooning? Andrew's written about the fawning motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by 4 SNP MSPs and 1 Labour MSP which would not be out of place in the Order of the Brown Nose column in Private Eye. It's one really to file under "you couldn't make it up". Just to add to what Andrew said, another of President Chavez's best friends was Ken Livingston, who did a deal to have Chavez's oil fuelling the London underground trains. Ken had a wee ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Nick closes one can of worms. But has another one just opened up?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.liberal-vision.org/2010/03/11/nick-closes-one-can-of-worms-but-has-another-one-just-opened-up/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[[IMG: nick_clegg_large1] Nick Clegg is the media darling today. Following his interview with the Independent , everyone is speculating that the possibility of a Liberal coalition (with the party "with the strongest mandate") is back on.... Well, perhaps not quite... What he appears to say is that all options are open "including a formal coalition with Liberal Democrats sitting in the Cabinet..". That did not seem to be feeling coming from Lib Dem high command previously. So a subtle shift towards the possibility of coalition (taking into account the 4 steps to fairness)? Certainly looks like it. Another interesting twist ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:19:49 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[PM's Two Lies in Two Days]]></title>
   <link>http://nickthornsby.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/pms-two-lies-in-two-days/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Why does he do it? Why does Gordon Brown feel the need to constantly make things up? And worse, why does he tell flagrant lies? At yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions, Gordon Brown said: "expenditure of the Ministry of Defence has been rising in real terms under this government." It is a statement he repeated today on ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[government spends &pound;300 per applicant on ID card propaganda]]></title>
   <link>http://carlminns.blogspot.com/2010/03/government-spends-300-per-applicant-on.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Identity and Passport Service has published details of its marketing and communications spend on 'voluntary ID cards'. The spend has now topped &pound;1.3 million. According to ZDNET UK this works out at &pound;300 for every ID card applicant so far. The figure covers both online and offline advertising in the north west of England and London so the figure is likely to be much higher when the rest of the UK is factored in. At a time of massive budget deficits I would have thought the government could have found better ways to use our money than propaganda for ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[politicalbetting.com &raquo; Blog Archive &raquo; Forget voting intention: What about the country's "mood"?]]></title>
   <link>http://neilstockley.blogspot.com/2010/03/politicalbettingcom-blog-archive-forget.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[via www2.politicalbetting.com Today, politicalbetting.com has reported on a study by researchers at Manchester University of the public's mood across a large number of issues. This "macro-competence" measure is running heavily against Labour and is now about where it was in the party's locust years in the early 1980s. The researchers note that the Conservatives' "macro-competence" has been on the up since 2005, but not to the extent that Labour's has tracked downwards. This may help to explain why current opinion polls suggest that a general election held now would result in a hung parliament. But the Labour "macro-competence" chart also ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Nick Clegg's Lib Dem conference Q+A #ldconf]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/nick-cleggs-lib-dem-conference-qa-ldconf-18287.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[In addition to his speech on Sunday, Nick Clegg is doing a Q+A session on Saturday at the Liberal Democrat spring conference in Birmingham &#8211; and this time with an added online twist: Straight after he comes off stage, he's keen to answer questions sent in from people who are unable to attend the conference. When: 13 March at 15.25 Where: Online, answers will be posted on his website, Facebook and Tweeted shortly after. How to take part: Post your questions on Facebook: Here, Twitter: Here or email: Here - online.hat.libdems.org.uk.spam.com (this is spam bot hidden email address, replace .hat. ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:50:26 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Tom Strathclyde - so much for democracy then...]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/VrQv/~3/l9zSCwzqJ34/tom-strathclyde-so-much-for-democracy.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It is rumoured that, in the event of a Conservative victory at the General Election, Lord Strathclyde, Leader of the Conservatives in the Lords, has let slip that there will be one hundred new Conservative Peers nominated so as to ensure a working majority over the other two political groupings. Whilst I'm not the least bit surprised by this cynical approach, it does have some pretty serious implications. Ironically, the past thirteen years have seen the House of Lords pass from having an overwhelming Conservative majority to being effectively hung, with the removal of all but ninety-two hereditaries, and the ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Twilight Saga: Eclipse: official trailer released]]></title>
   <link>http://carons-musings.blogspot.com/2010/03/twilight-saga-eclipse-official-trailer.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[A couple of months ago I wrote about how Anna and I were getting seriously engrossed in the Twilight books. I was determined that we wouldn't watch any of the films until we'd read the books. Helpfully, our local supermarket had the first movie on sale for pennies so we enjoyed watching that one rainy Saturday afternoon. The second, New Moon, which came out last November, was a bit more of a challenge. By the time we were ready to see it, it was only showing in 3 places within driving distance of here, Stirling, Dundee and Paisley. So, one ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[What happens if you fail to include an imprint in an online advert?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-happens-if-you-fail-to-include-an-imprint-in-an-online-advert-18247.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[One for the techno-legal-political geeks amongst us (hello? anyone still there...?). Last year when writing about the issues with online imprint rules in the UK I made reference to Florida where: the Florida Election Commission has banned the use of Google Ads because they necessarily do not include the Florida equivalent of an election imprint - as there isn't enough room. That ruling is being contested, and may yet trigger a change in the law but it shows the risk of doing nothing and hoping all will come out okay. The ruling was indeed contested and it was decided that ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:20:09 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The week so far]]></title>
   <link>http://ericavebury.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-so-far.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Monday we had a meeting with Dr Sam Paul, a long time advocate for the rights of religious minorities and Dalits, who is Secretary of the All India Chrisrian Council. The AICC has provided assistance to the victims of communal violence in Orissa, , and cooperates with other groups working for peace and against impunity. Tuesday, spoke at a tea organised by the All-Party Group on Kashmir. We were all agreed that the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan was to be welcomed, and that the people of Kashmir should be fully consulted before any agreement is reached on ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Let's Talk About Sex Benny*]]></title>
   <link>http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2010/03/lets-talk-about-sex-benny.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I have to praise Cardinal Christoph Sch&ouml;nborn. Whether he actually meant that there is a link between priestly celibacy and child sex abuse scandal that's inflicting the Vatican, or merely that the link needs to be examined, he has reopened the debate The Archbishop of Vienna, who is a prot&eacute;g&eacute; of Pope Benedict XVI and seen as a potential future candidate for the Papacy is hardly opening a can of worms. Although his hastily released clarification may well be a sign that the church is not prepared to publicly face that discussion. His original article in his archdiocese's magazine called ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:42:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[A by-election fundraiser with a difference]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/VrQv/~3/mbvcSqo5nvs/by-election-fundraiser-with-difference.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Now there are those of you who might wonder what sort of organisation would hold a fundraiser for by-elections in the run-up to a General Election. The answer is the Orpington Circle of the National Liberal Club, and I had the great pleasure to attend this year's fundraising dinner in the Lloyd George Room of the Club last night. Naturally, the Club was able to attract an all star cast, with Ros introducing the main speaker, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Lord Avebury giving the toast to our candidates past and present, and Lord Steel of Aikwood taking care of the ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Opinion: The BBC - Snog, Marry or Avoid?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-the-bbc-snog-marry-or-avoid-18291.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It has been open season on the BBC of late. We all have our reasons for criticism: the incompetent decision to close 6 Music, the failure to manage budgets, the excessive salaries of performers and especially of senior managers create a climate of anger which serves only to underline the perhaps more important failures to deliver quality public service broadcasting. I have long been a critic of the 'Today' programme, which is overlong, too pleased with itself and too inclined to slide into its comfort zone of two party politics. Andrew Neil's political vehicle 'This Week', a weekly genuflection before ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:20:06 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Southport and West Lancs Health Services]]></title>
   <link>http://birkdalefocus.blogspot.com/2010/03/south-and-west-lancs-health-services.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Beware the spin which is no doubt meant to divert the eyes and confuse but two recent documents from NHS Sefton issued today are very significant. Both can be accessed from our Website in the download sectionComments will follow.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:16:56 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA['adjective' Britain]]></title>
   <link>http://declineofthelogos.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/britain/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[It's clear that the coming election will be fought over adjectives. Specifically, the adjectives one likes to place in front of 'Britain'. Anyone with even a cursory interest in politics can't help but notice the proliferation of phrases like 'Blackout Britain', 'Breakdown Britain' and other pejorative epithets riding on the back of Cameron's 'Broken Britain' ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Lib Dem love-in IS on its way]]></title>
   <link>http://www.liberal-vision.org/2010/03/11/lib-dem-love-in-is-on-its-way/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Well, Well.. No sooner is my ink dry stating that a Cameron Mockumentary is on its way, I am told that we are to get a Cleggfest too, courtesy of good old ITV. Having deployed Piers Morgan and Sir Trevor to cover the other party leaders, we must surely expect an interrogator of the fairer sex to cover Nick Clegg's softer side (might as well tick gender balance while you are at it ITV). So will it be the uber sexy Katie Derham or Mary Nightingale perhaps? No tx date yet but watch this space....]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:44:53 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Harriet falls victim to the jargon police]]></title>
   <link>http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2010/03/harriet-falls-victim-of-jargon-police.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Today's Daily Telegraph reports that Harriet Harman's buzzword to describe "a new cohort of well, active, healthy older people" has made the list of 250 words used by central government, councils and quangos that baffle people. They say that along with 'wellderly', other banned words include 'webinar', or an online seminar, 'goldfish bowl facilitated conversation', or having a conversation round a circular meeting table; and 'low hanging fruit', or going for an easy win: The equality minister and deputy Labour leader said earlier this year: "The change in the number of well older people demands a change in public policy. ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Colin Ross chosen to stand as next Liberal Democrat MP for Wolverhampton North East]]></title>
   <link>http://www.colin-ross.org.uk/news/002632/colin_ross_chosen_to_stand_as_next_liberal_democrat_mp_for_wolverhampton_north_east.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Wolverhampton North East Liberal Democrats have selected Colin Ross as their candidate at the General Election.]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Why Vote? Book review]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/why-vote-book-review-18253.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Why Vote? by Jo Phillips and David Seymour is one in a series just published by biteback. Whilst the others promote voting for a particular party, such as the Liberal Democrat title reviwed here, this book is simply about encouraging people to take part in elections. It takes a rather curious approach because, as the book itself explains: [This book] wants to persuade you to vote but gives dozens of very good reasons why you shouldn't. On the positive side, it should give you a few laughs and provide enough trivial information to amaze your friends ... What we hope ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:20:48 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Hardcore porn director stands as Lib Dem PPC]]></title>
   <link>http://www.liberal-vision.org/2010/03/11/hardcore-porn-director-stand-as-lib-dem-ppc/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[[IMG: anna] I couldn't see this story elsewhere on LD blogs*, so thought it was worth a posting. Reports local meeeja Kent Online: "Britain's first female director of hardcore porn films is aiming to become Gravesham's MP. Anna Arrowsmith, 38, has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate ... at the looming general election." Quoted by The Sun, Anna says: "In this day and age people who live in a democratic society should be able to choose what they want to watch." "Personally the reason I have gone into politics is I was rather disgusted at the expense issues. "I ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:05:19 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[SCANDAL OF &pound;1.3m ID CARD MARKETING CAMPAIGN]]></title>
   <link>http://vicdalbert.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/03/11/scandal-of-13m-id-card-marketing-campaign/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I received a nice letter from HM Government/Identity &amp; passport agency yesterday. The letter and accompanying leaflet was extolling the virtues of the Governments Identity card scheme which is currently being piloted in Manchester and London. Of course they do make it clear its voluntary and they do eventually mention that they would like you to part with &pound;30 for the privilege. Of course they don't mention the fact that the marketing campaign across Manchester and London is estimated at costing &pound;1.3 million of taxpayers money. Money that could pay for 50 more Police officers (on basic starter pay) at ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:50:55 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[What should you be doing at 8pm on Friday evening?]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/markpack2/~3/R2ZKfrLCpe4/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Why, talking politics of course: Make authoritarian MPs pay at the ballot box 8pm, Hall 8b, Birmingham ICC (Lib Dem spring conference) Many MPs have a record of repeatedly voting for authoritarian measures in Parliament. But will they suffer for that at the ballot box? Come and hear how we can make authoritarian votes in Parliament a vote loser for MPs on general election day - and see the new Liberal Democrat Voice website which will help do just that. Speakers: Paul Burstow MP (Chief Whip) Bridget Fox (PPC Islington South and Finsbury) Mark Pack (Co-editor, Lib Dem Voice) Alex ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:50:07 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Pornography and violence: what does the evidence show?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/pornography-and-violence-what-does-the-evidence-show-18262.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Is there a link between the availability of pornography in a society and sex crimes like rape? And does watching more pornography lead men to see women as mere sex-objects? It's a debate that's bounced back and forth for decades. Both sides have plausible explanations as to how their claims can be true. Perhaps, after watching pornography, men are more likely to feel agressive and commit sex crimes. If the increased availability of pornography over the last thirty years has led to more rapes and sexual assaults, surely there's a good case for our society being more censorious. Or maybe ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Second view: blaming the surplus nations too much?]]></title>
   <link>http://freethinkingeconomist.com/2010/03/11/second-view-blaming-the-surplus-nations-too-much/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[I have on this blog drawn (favourable) attention to Martin Wolf's long-held view that not everyone can be Germany. In his latest: But Germany can be Germany - an economy with fiscal discipline, feeble domestic demand and a huge export surplus - only because others are not. To my initial surprise, I have read some kickback against ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[What IS on at conference at party Website?]]></title>
   <link>http://politsmk.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-on-at-conference-at-party.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Just been looking at the party website, acting as an interested visitor would. In particular the pages on the spring conference. Lots of easily available information about conference in geneal but where are the easy clicks to find the Spring agenda, the reports and the speeches that may be made? Yes I do know where to link to the reports (and by the way at the time of writing the clearprint version of the agenda is in fact the plain text file repeated) but the only click-on link at present says 'training programme now available' or words to that efefct. ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Facebook vs Daily Mail: In the online age, is rewriting a story sufficient?]]></title>
   <link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/markpack2/~3/pvTdR0G5KZE/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[At one level the legal threats by Facebook against the Daily Mail are fairly straight forward: newspaper runs horror story about a firm, firm says story is all wrong and threatens to sue for libel. At another level though this story highlights how much difference there is about correcting a story in the online sphere. The Daily Mail has changed the text of its story but as The Guardian reports, that's not enough for Facebook who complained that a story supposedly about it was in fact about a different social network: The giant social networking site, which has 23 million ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Traffic, Tesco and Parking]]></title>
   <link>http://fortunegreenspotlight.blogspot.com/2010/03/traffic-tesco-and-parking.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Last night there was a meeting in the Fortune Green Play Centre (sorry about the little chairs!!) for residents to talk to Camden officers about the problems in Fortune Green Road attended by your 3 ward Councillors, Flick, Nancy and Russell. One proposal put forward was welcomed as a first step which is to create a "loading/unloading bay" out of the very wide pavement by the new shops - don't forget there are 3 other shop units still to be taken up and they will all need some unloading facilities. In the longer term, Camden have agreed they will looks ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[The Monster Moves]]></title>
   <link>http://futilitymonster.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/the-monster-moves/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Let me cut to chase. Here is the latest Monster's Poll calculation. CONSERVATIVES: 38% LABOUR: 25% LIB DEMS: 22% No changes from last time because of one simple reason: methodological change. But why so abrupt? Well, to get your attention, and then let you scurry off now without having to bother about explanations. Go on, on your bike! Still here? You ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:49:19 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Fire at Tabernacle Street, EC2]]></title>
   <link>http://bridgetfox.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/fire-at-tabernacle-street-ec2/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Reports of this major fire down in Bunhill on the City fringe have been coming through all morning. Richard was diverted on his way to work, texting me to report "Luckily was walking in as City Road closed but still had to double back and divert to get past. They have blocked off a huge area". A ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA["Innocence is a vague term" say Greater Manchester Police]]></title>
   <link>http://richardbaum.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/03/11/innocence-is-a-vague-term-say-greater-manchester-police/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[My campaign for a fairer system on Criminal Records Bureau checks and Police DNA retention continues. Frequent readers will remember that I have been highlighting for a while now the injustices in the current CRB system, where rumours, hearsay and spent convictions are revealed on many people's disclosures. The campaign for reform continues, and I have heard from dozens of people unfairly penalised by the current unfair laws. A related topic is DNA retention by the Police. At present, despite the European Courts ruling the practive illegal, the government still allows the Police in this country to keep DNA records ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:25:10 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Fortune Green Play Centre Proposals]]></title>
   <link>http://fortunegreenspotlight.blogspot.com/2010/03/fortune-green-play-centre-proposals.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Council has revealed plans for combining the Sington Nursery with the Play Centre in a new purpose built centre. It will also involve moving the Sports Pitch / Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) nearer to the front of the site to make it more accessible for local young people. So far we are in a "pre-planning application" consultation (running until March 24), and Camden would welcome your views. There will also be a later opportunity to comment when the planning application goes in. It all sounds very exciting but no doubt there will some issues arising. One which has ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Launch of policy paper for young people]]></title>
   <link>http://richardbaum.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/03/11/launch-of-policy-paper-for-young-people/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[One of the interesting things about the Bury North general election campaign is that two of the three major-party candidates are under 30 - the Labour Party candidate and me. This election is the first time people born post-Thatcher will be voting, and represents an election where new media, the internet and single-issue causes that are important to young people will have influence like never before. Liberal Democrat Spokeswoman for Youth and Equality, Lynne Featherstone today launched our party's 'Free to be Young' policy paper, which we hope will be of interest to everyone, but in particular to the young ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:17:51 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[St Helier Hospital gets Planning Approval]]></title>
   <link>http://jaynemccoysblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/st-helier-hospital-gets-planning-approval/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[The Development Control Committee last night gave outline planning approval for the refurbishment of St Helier Hospital. The Epsom &amp; St Helier NHS Trust had submitted an application for a new, larger building replacing the existing Ferguson House, and a multi-storey car park to make up for the loss of surface car parking space. The new building ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:08:15 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Caravan dumped, then burnt out]]></title>
   <link>http://www.keighleylibdems.org.uk/blogs/jb.php?m=2010-03#2010-03-11.2</link>
   <description><![CDATA[On 5th February I was contacted by a man who lives in my ward to ask for help with getting a dumped caravan shifted. It was near a first school and next to a playground. He had contacted the police who told him to contact Bradford Council; they told him to contact the police. You know the kind of thing. So he was a bit stuck as to what to do and phoned me. When I contacted Bradford's Cleansing Department I spoke to a very helpful official who said they had indeed logged the request and had been in touch ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:59:41 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Guest post from Hugh O'Donnell MSP on the Venezuelan motion in Holyrood]]></title>
   <link>http://andrewrunning.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-post-from-hugh-odonnell-msp-on.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Hugh O'Donnell MSP writes for my little blog in response to my earlier posting about the 4 SNP MSPs and the Labour MSP who have tabled a motion praising President Chavez, Hugh has also tabled an opposing motion; "The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Ch&aacute;vez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief. While praising the 'achievement of the socialist regime, signatories conveniently ignore the increasingly dictatorial style of the President of Bolivarian Republic of ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Opinion: Poverty, equality and solutions]]></title>
   <link>http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-poverty-equality-and-solutions-18205.html</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Politicians talk constantly about "lifting people out of poverty", mending our "broken society", giving people "equality of opportunity" and, more rarely "creating a more equal society". What none of them seem to be prepared to face is the fact that people are poor principally because they have less money than others; and that when poverty goes along with a feeling that it is not going to be possible, whatever one does, to get out of poverty, it does not matter what "opportunities" are provided - poor people will see through the pretence that the opportunities apply to them and will ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:50:27 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[David Cameron... "much more conservative" than the image he projects]]></title>
   <link>http://www.keighleylibdems.org.uk/blogs/nf.php?m=2010-03#2010-03-11.1</link>
   <description><![CDATA[Great story in today's Independent confirming what many of us have said for a long time, namely that David "Tony Blair lite" Cameron is much more conservative by nature than he acts, or than he is forced to be by political expediency. The man will say and do anything to get into power, and once in the mask will slip and it'll be back to the horribly divided, damaged, and destructive Britain of the 1980s. The ghost of Thatcher lives on... Oh hold on, she's not yet dead... sorry!]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:37:01 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Quotas versus meritocracy: what is the cost of equality?]]></title>
   <link>http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/03/11/quotas-versus-meritocracy-what-is-the-cost-of-equality/</link>
   <description><![CDATA[By now you will have seen that India's parliament approved a bill on Tuesday 9th of March to reserve a third of all state legislature and parliamentary seats for women. You would think from reading the UK press that this is an exceptional move but actually around 40 nations have some form of quota system in place for increasing the percentage of female MP's. The UK as a whole does not advocate the use of quotas, although the Labour Party has used this fairly unpopular device for a number of years, which resulted in the UK briefly rising the global ...]]></description>
   <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
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