David Goodhart, arithmetic and our Quotation of the DayEmbed from Getty ImagesI missed seeing the Old Etonian David Goodhart as one of the leading Trots on campus at York by a couple of years, but time moves on. Having spent the Blair years in very Blairite jobs, he is now an increasingly right-wing social and political commentator. He took part in the latest edition of BBC Radio 4's Free Thinking last week, and his award-winning effort came in a contribution bemoaning the number of social science and humanities academics that begins at 21:36: "What is 40 percent of 250,000? It's more than 100,000."Goodhart also appeared convinced that Jean ... (more) |
Tom Arms' World ReviewCanada and Europe Liberal Democrats around the world cheered when Mark Carney and Ursula Von der Leyen announced that Canada would become an associate member of the European Union. It was the first substantive circle in Carney's Venn Diagram diplomacy. And it made sense. Canada is a liberal democracy governed by the rule of law, international norms and respect for human rights and individual liberties. The EU is the same. The problem is that Europe is in danger of changing dramatically. The populist right is on the rise across Europe and it is especially dangerous on Europe's two key states—nuclear ... (more) |
Christine Jardine will not fight Edinburgh West for the Lib Dems at the next electionEmbed from Getty ImagesYesterday evening Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, published a statement saying she would not be the party's candidate in the seat next time. Liberal Democrat Voice published the full text: I have written to my local party to let them know I shall not be standing as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh West at the next election, following the recent decision by some of the local party. I have informed them that although I am able to request a ballot of the membership, it is with a heavy heart I have ... (more) |
Olivia Rodrigo: BrutalAs Lord Bonkers mentioned, or tried to mention, this track in his foreword to the latest Liberator Songbook, I thought I would investigate a little. Olivia Rodrigo turns out to have followed the well-worn path from Disney child star to adult performer. Fairly or not, that always raises questions about whether the artist has that intangible quality, "authenticity". Even Steve Marriott worried that his evenings on stage as the Dodger in Oliver! somehow counted against him as an adult. But Rodrigo co-wrote Brutal when she was 17 and is has said she is more interested in being a songwriter than ... (more) |
Lib Dem Women: Amplifying women's voices at Conference[IMG: Donna Harris speaking at Autumn Conference 2026] I've just about emerged from the mayhem of Brighton — and I'm most definitely ready for a break! But now I've had a chance to catch my breath, it has really struck me just how much Lib Dem Women, the official organisation representing women in the Lib Dems, achieved over the course of conference. From motions and amendments to our childcare campaign, new bursaries, fringes, campaigning and celebrating the achievements of women in our party, the voice and representation of women was truly amplified throughout conference. And I'm incredibly proud of what ... (more) |
How Home Secretaries change immigration rules without telling ParliamentThe latest edition of my email newsletter about work in Parliament, A Lord's Eye View, 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: No records, no notice: the Home Office's hidden way of changing immigration rules [IMG: The Home Office in Westminster] The Home Office in Westminster. This Marsham Street photograph is by Steve Cadman and used under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license. The Home Secretary has the power to alter rules over who is allowed ... (more) |
The wrong bridge - lost Reform UK in blunderNation Cymru reports that Reform UK's Newport and Islwyn branch has been mocked for using an AI-generated "slop" advert featuring an English transporter bridge to urge locals to stand as candidates in the upcoming council elections. The website says that the AI image shared on Facebook called for "passionate and committed" Reform UK supporters in Newport to "step forward" and become a candidate at the 2027 council elections. However, instead of using an image of Newport's iconic Transporter Bridge, the advertisement featured Middlesborough's famous Tees Transporter Bridge which connects the industrial town on the south bank of the River Tees ... (more) |
Christine Jardine "will not be Lib Dem candidate" at next electionChristine Jardine MP (Photo: The Scotsman) Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West has confirmed she will not stand as a Liberal Democrat at the next General Election. This is what Christine has shared on her social media channels: Note that she says "I'm said I won't be there". The decision is clearly not one she wanted to make. In a fuller statement, she says: "I have written to my local party to let them know I shall not be standing as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh West at the next election, following the recent decision ... (more) |
Rick Wakeman performs piano concert to 150 rescued moon bears in VietnamI told the judges they needed a holiday and much good it did. So, through gritted teeth... Congratulations to the Guardian for winning our Headline of the Day Award. (more) |
Christine Jardine will not be re-standing for ParliamentThe Edinburgh Reporter reports that Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine is not going to be standing at the next Westminster general election: Ms Jardine, who won the seat back from the SNP in 2017 and has a majority of 16,470, said that it had been a challenging few weeks and a difficult decision, but that she felt it was the best thing to do for the party. She said to The Edinburgh Reporter: "I've got my staff to think about. I think it's important that they know what I'm thinking and what the future potentially holds. What I would have ... (more) |