The Independent View: Are mutuals the answer to the water crisis?As public outrage at water companies disregard for the law, abuse of our money, neglect of our water systems, pollution of our waterways, continues to mount it is an extraordinary act of arrogance to see the water companies increase rewards for CEOs and Finance Directors rising to £25M this year (Guardian 2026). Whilst the government has fallen into the trap of believing the problem of water pollution is complex, and the fault of regulation, the People's Commission on the Water Sector undertook a truly independent review and found that the cause was commodification of water and the lack of national ... (more) |
Two more wards become Reform vs Lib Dem in council by-electionsFive principal authority council by-elections this week, and all five with Lib Dem candidates – which is particularly impressive as there was only one Liberal Democrat standing in these wards the last time the five were up. Well done to everyone involved in continuing the spread of the party to more contests. To the results and let's start with two Reform gains from the Conservatives, but note that in both cases the Lib Dems came from nowhere to second place – showing once again how many places are becoming a new two party set-up, but with the two parties being ... (more) |
Churchill and Lloyd George: Rivals for Greatness - new podcast seriesProfessor Richard Toye, author of the classic Churchill and Lloyd George: Rivals for Greatness, and author and historian Dr Warren Dockter, have announced a major new series of their podcast Churchill The Finest Half Hour concentrating on the relationship between two of Britain's greatest wartime prime ministers, David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. They start by exploring how two men from very different backgrounds crossed swords and then joined forces on the great issues of the day, from the Boer War to Free Trade and Home Rule for Ireland, all while seeking the great offices of state for each believed ... (more) |
William Wallace writes: We should talk more about LiberalismWe're Liberals and we're democrats. So we should be talking much more about Liberal and democratic values, in public: that's what makes us distinctive, what drives us into politics - and what attracts new people to the party. When I first joined the party, everyone from Jo Grimond down talked about redefining liberalism and its implications for our society, our economy and our foreign policy. Now we are too shy about reaching beyond daily press releases and restating the principles on which our politics are based. Others are not so shy. I've read defences of neo-liberalism in the Times and ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1558"Someone who attended a private school in London or the South East is 24 times more likely to become a permanent secretary than someone educated at a state school in the North. For a seat in the House of Lords, the gap is 23-fold. That is not class inequality plus regional inequality. It is what happens when they multiply."Nick Harrison asks if No 10 North will change who runs Britain. Janice Mak says American schools are increasingly questioning whether every student needs a laptop: "This distinction between passive consumption and purposeful use is increasingly shaping school policy. Updated policies also ... (more) |
A murder mystery set in Parliament, written by a pioneering MPThe latest edition of the email newsletter for my podcast, Political Fictions, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Welcome to the latest email for our podcast, Political Fictions: political drama on screen and on the page. Please do spread the word about the podcast to your friends, colleagues and even dastardly rivals who you want to distract from doing something else. Now, on to the proper business of this email. The Division Bell Mystery ... (more) |
Climate change ushers in record-breaking JulyThe Guardian reports on the assertion by the Met Office that July 2026 was the driest month in southern England since records began nearly 200 years ago. The paper adds that England and Wales also provisionally recorded their driest July since records began in 1836, with Wales having its joint warmest July on record for mean temperature, while England recorded its second warmest July: The Met Office said the "remarkable conditions" this year came amid a summer marked by multiple heat records. The heatwaves have been made more intense and more likely by the fossil fuel-driven climate crisis. The heatwave ... (more) |
Council by-election results scorecard 2026-2027Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2026 and the May 2027 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [9] +1 (+1/0) +1 (+3/-2) -2 (0/-2) -4 (+3/-7) -1 (0/-1) – +2 (+3/-1) -3 Lab -1 (0/-1) [8] – -1 (+2/-3) -3 (+2/-5) – – 0 (+1/-1) -5 Lib Dem -1 (+2/-3) – [15] +1 (+1/0) – -1 (0/-1) – +1 (+1/0) 0 Grn +2 (+2/0) +1 (+3/-2) -1 (0/-1) [6] – – – – +2 Ref +4 (+7/-3) +3 (+5/-2) – – [6] ... (more) |
The future of war has arrived: It's the NavyThe character of warfare is undergoing a profound transformation. While the fundamental nature of war – competition, coercion and violence remains unchanged, the methods by which states pursue strategic advantage have evolved dramatically. Conventional military forces remain essential, but the decisive battles of the twenty-first century are increasingly fought beyond traditional frontlines. The new centre of gravity lies in the resilience of a nation's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). Energy grids, telecommunications networks, transport systems, financial institutions, water supplies and digital connectivity have become both strategic assets and prime targets. The future of conflict is increasingly focused on disrupting, degrading and ... (more) |
"Making Liverpool a global force," Liverpool Lib Dem proposals for regenerating our economyThe Liverpool Liberal Democrats have officially launched "Liverpool First: Global Ambitions for a Global City", a new policy paper setting out the party's plan to back the city's businesses, restore Liverpool's global standing and make it one of the most dynamic city economies in the world. You can look at the paper in detail by using this link, https://hlnks.co/edca8af3. Members of the Liberal Democrat team would be pleased to come and discuss what this would mean to your Business Association or your business. On Monday and Tuesday Liverpool Liberal Democrats published their economic development strategy for our city at two ... (more) |