The Joy of Six 1464"Events are moving so quickly that it's worth stopping to assess where we are. The U.S. government is currently building massive detention facilities, already detaining tens of thousands of people there and elsewhere, with incompetent and deeply racist secret police sweeping undocumented all kinds of people - immigrants, those with their paperwork in order, and US citizens alike - off the street."Andrea Pitzer says the correct response to Dachau was not better training for the guards. Tanya Park argues that banning social media for children misses the point: "If we're serious about protecting children online, we need to regulate the ... (more) |
What's eating Lib Dem MPs?You may or may not have seen it, but The Guardian sneaked out a story at the weekend about the Lib Dems that suggested the parliamentary party is unhappy with the leader. I guess having 72 MPs means we're in uncharted territory and if you have a big parliamentary body it's harder to hold it together and get universal agreement on everything. Lib Dem MPs have a right to feel underwhelmed with their lot, we really hoped that after getting the most MPs ever that would be a spring board to a lot more mainstream media coverage, more members and ... (more) |
Trans healthcare needs a Jenkinsite overhaulTrans healthcare should not be a cultural battlefield; it should be a public service. The job of the NHS is to treat patients with competence, dignity, and in a reasonable timeframe. On that test, the current system is failing too many trans people. Across the UK, long waits have become normalised. In some areas, patients face years of delay before even a first appointment. That is not "care"; it is rationing by backlog, and backlog becomes harm. It pushes people into distress, erodes trust in clinicians, and leaves families trying to navigate a maze of uncertainty with no map and ... (more) |
Ed Davey: Donald Trump is behaving like an international gangster and Starmer's Mr Nice Guy diplomacy has failedIt's easy for politicians in opposition to talk tough, but Mark Carney and Emmanuel Macron have proved that you can do it while leading a government too. Part of a prime minister's job is speaking to the nation and speaking for the nation, and I fear that, at this time of crisis, Britain is stuck with a PM who is unwilling or unable to do either. And his whole government is wearing Starmer's lack of personality like a shroud. Anyway, Ed Davey spoke about Donald Trump in the Commons yesterday and has an article in today's Guardian: Donald Trump is ... (more) |
Party legend Vera Head dies at 97The sad news that party legend Vera Head had died came via Candy Piercy on Facebook: Sad news. The redoubtable Vera Head died last week at the age of 97 after a long illness. Long time campaigners and members of Lib Dem Women will remember her dedication to Women's Rights and to getting women elected. Vera taught me so much as an agent. And I still quote her in training sessions today. When I was a Campaigns Officer in 1992 I asked Vera to agent Liz Lynne in Rochdale. I could not think of anyone else who would stand up ... (more) |
Paul Simon: The Obvious ChildThis is from Rhythm of the Saints, Paul Simon's 1990 follow up to Graceland. Just as the earlier album had drawn on South African music, so this one was inspired by South America. It's less well remembered today, but still full of good things. (more) |
The Resurrection of The WestThe speech of the Canadian Prime Minister in Davos yesterday was electrifying. Instead of trying to ignore the disaster of the Trump Presidency, He confronted it head on. The truth is that there really is no going back, even though we would wish that the United States would maintain its commitment to freedom and justice, Trump is proof positive that this will not happen, and that therefore the rest of the world will need to adjust and rebuild mechanisms that, where necessary, will exclude America. The call to action that Mr. Carney sets out is one that all those committed ... (more) |
Ed Davey: Trump is acting like an international gangsterEd Davey had a right go at Donald Trump's latest antics in the House of Commons this week. In an email to party members and supporters, he said that Keir Starmer must do more to stand up to Trump's antics: President Trump's threat to impose tariffs on the UK for supporting the territorial integrity of an ally is a grave threat to our economy, our livelihoods, and our national security. By demanding control of Greenland and threatening economic warfare on allies who support its sovereignty, Trump risks ending NATO which has kept us safe for 75 years. Vladimir Putin and ... (more) |
Why banning social media for children misses the pointThe Government is considering following Australia's lead with a blanket ban on social media for under-16s. It's a move that will appeal to anxious parents and play well in focus groups. It also represents a fundamental misunderstanding of both the problem and the solution. This isn't to dismiss legitimate concerns about children's online experiences. The evidence on mental health impacts is real and concerning, particularly for young people already vulnerable. Algorithmic amplification of harmful content, cyberbullying, and the manipulation of attention through addictive design features cause genuine harm. Parents are right to worry. But a ban throws the baby out ... (more) |
Will Labour backtrack on leasehold reform?The Guardian reports that the former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner has urged Keir Starmer to stick to his campaign pledge to cap ground rents for leaseholders in England and Wales, as cabinet divisions over the government's plans to rip up the leasehold system come to a head. The paper says that Rayner has intervened in a tense standoff between Steve Reed, the housing secretary, and Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, over whether to stand by Labour's promise to limit annual charges for existing leaseholders: The measure was part of a draft leasehold bill due to be published last year, which ... (more) |