For disabled people, a simple game of football comes with a terrifying price tag: their benefitsDisabled people are encouraged to exercise to protect their health and independence. Yet many fear that participating in sport could jeopardise the financial support they rely on. This is the Activity Trap, and it must end. For most people, playing football is an opportunity to exercise, enjoy themselves and connect with others. For some disabled people, however, stepping onto a football pitch comes with a frightening question: could this game cost me my benefits? Health professionals, ministers and sporting bodies regularly promote physical activity for its benefits to physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. Adapted football and other inclusive ... (more) |
The Budget: another damp squib.I have long believed that the annual Budget is over-hyped on the UK. Up to the middle of the last century some MPs would wear top hats and morning suites in the House of Commons of Budget Day in order to "recognise" its importance. Today we are bombarded for weeks before it with speculation on what might be in it, then for a couple of days the media concentrate on how various sections of the population are affected. After that, save for some monumental bloomers (Liz Truss) or foolish errors ( the Starmer government's decision to increase the tax on ... (more) |
Caroline Voaden "shocked and bloody angry" at Nigel FarageNigel Farage claimed he didn't show up to the Budget because he's afraid of another altercation with Lib Dem MPs. I was there at the incident he's referring to. He grabbed my colleague and tried to move her out of the way, trying to barge past to be front of the procession to the King's speech. [image or embed] — Alex Brewer MP 🔶 (@alexkbrewer.bsky.social) 29 October 2026 at 15:52And who that colleague? It was Caroline Voaden: Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, said in a social media post directed at the Reform UK leader that she was "still waiting ... (more) |
Budget verdict: A missed opportunity to tackle intergenerational unfairness and give working people a tax breakkFor the vast majority of people across the United Kingdom, this year's Budget may as well not have happened. After working through the Chancellor's announcements and examining the practical impact on household finances, it is striking how little has changed for ordinary working people. For many families, the only noticeable measures are a £100 payment for households in Council Tax bands A to D and the abolition of gas standing charges. Neither measure addresses the deeper challenges facing normal people. The £100 payment is welcome as far as it goes, but it barely touches the sides of the ongoing cost-of-living ... (more) |
Polls Apart: The dehumanisation of PalestiniansI wrote this as Israel went to the polls. It could be weeks before any result because Israeli elections are extremely complicated and depend on coalitions. The one certainty is that little will change for the Palestinians. No candidates are interested in Palestinian self-determination, and all support the illegal settlements. The West Bank was locked down to ensure free movement and security for Israelis to vote. That prevents the Palestinians from moving from their Israeli designated areas for school, work, medical aid, anything. Israel locks the West Bank down for various reasons at will. The West Bank including East Jerusalem ... (more) |
Christina Coleman joins Lib Dem from the Green Party[IMG: Christina Coleman] Christina Coleman Following the news earlier this week from West Berkshire of a councillor joining the Liberal Democrats, now there is also news of Christina Coleman in Sussex doing the same thing. Here is the local press release: Cllr Christina Coleman has announced that she is leaving the Green Party and will join the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Coleman, a county and district councillor and former parliamentary candidate, said the decision follows concerns about the party's direction under Zack Polanski's leadership and the recent conference motion on Zionism. While stressing her continued commitment to environmental protection, nature recovery, ... (more) |
Beavers chew down sign warning walkers about beavers in PolandEuro Weekly News wins our Headline of the Day Award. A beaver writes exclusively for Liberal England: I says to Reg, I says: "You know what that sign means? No more Kendal Mint Cake, that's what it means." So Reg says "Then it's got to go." And you know Reg: he gnawed right through the post" (more) |
How reliable is public consultation in the age of AI?Testing out policy changes with stakeholders and the public is always a challenge. It can be time-consuming and expensive, not only does it have to be done, but if councils and national governments want to avoid legal challenges, then it is compulsory. In many ways the dawn of an online society has made this process much easier, though there is the unresolved issue of the technically-challenged and those who do not have access to computers to contend with, something that nobody appears to have got to grips with yet. However, just how reliable is this sort of consultation? The Mirror ... (more) |
On romanticising nationalised railways...I am currently reading Ghost stations: essays and branchlines by Patrick McLoughlin. I am enjoying the book and why would I not? I am most interested in ghosts, stations, ghost stations, essays and branchlines. The author has an engaging tone and interesting back story with the author being an Oxford academic but having his roots in post-industrial Belgium. Even though not yet halfway through, I would not hesitate to recommend it. Yet early on I started bristling at a point that I find typical of this genre of book, literary non-fiction about place and landscape. That is a tendency to ... (more) |
Ed Davey on the Budget: British people need real change and fastYou can watch Ed Davey's response to the Budget statement here. The full text is below. He wants to see more radical action to encourage growth and the most important thing is try to repair the damage brought about by Brexit. His main message is that we need some jam today and can't wait another 5-10 years for it. Here is his response in full: It is always a pleasure to follow the Chair of the Treasury Committee, the hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Dame Meg Hillier). I am glad she committed to looking at the devil in ... (more) |