"Fight for the soul of our country": Josh Barbarinde profiled in the New StatesmanDuring his successful campaign for the Liberal Democrat presidency, Josh Barbarinde's supporters emphasised his unparalleled ability to gain media coverage. They always sounded a little optimistic in a world where not even the party leader gets as much attention as he deserves, but Josh is indeed the subject of a substantial article by Rachel Cunliffe on the New Statesman website. Much of the piece is about Josh personally, but then his compelling backstory is part of what attracts the media. And it does eventually get on to Lib Dem strategy:As the Lib Dems gear up for 2026, this is how ... (more) |
We must support the people of Iran as they stand against their mad MullahsTomorrow some young people will die in Iran. Many have already died in what has largely, on their side, been peaceful and joyous demonstrations against the totalitarian theocratic regime which ahs ruled that benighted country since the downfall of the Shah. However, what was peaceful and joyous on their side has been met with thuggery, bullets, and bullying by the regime now fearful for its survival. These young people are not looking for anything special. Just to live their lives as young people in most Westerns, and for that matter Eastern Countries live. They want to dress as they want ... (more) |
Bravery in the openThe plates of British politics are drifting like never before, populism on the right and the left creating a chasm at the heart of the centre ground; now is the time to sprint towards it, claim it, and take the once in a generation opportunity to become the radical centre. Being noticed doesn't need to be the next stunt, great ideas will suffice. In an era defined by uncertainty, Liberal Democrats face a defining challenge: whether to speak plainly and bravely about the issues that most shape people's lives and suggest radical reforms, even when those issues are complex, controversial, ... (more) |
Another one jumps to the new Tory PartyOne has to wonder why Reform are so scathing about the Tory party as they are rapidly recuiting as many Tories as they can. It is getting to the point where Reform and the Tory Party of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are becoming indistinguishable. The Independent reports that the latest defector has been less than discreet in the past as to what he thinks of Nigel Farage and Reform. Everybody is entitled to change their mind, of course. The paper says that former Tory Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, previously said he would be "frightened" to live in a country run ... (more) |
Scottish Liberal Democrats set out stall ahead of BudgetSpeaking ahead of the Scottish Budget, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy and finance spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said: The Scottish Liberal Democrats get stuff done, so we will always act responsibly and pragmatically in a parliament of minorities. We have been absolutely clear with the SNP about what we want to see in this year's budget if they're after cross-party support for it. We've highlighted in our discussions with ministers the perilous state of Scotland's colleges, councils being forced to cut services that people rely on, the barriers facing people with ADHD and autism, the cost of childcare preventing mums and ... (more) |
Powell and Pressburger's most bizarre momentsThe British Film Institute's blurb on YouTube says: In this video essay director Will Webb highlights scenes from Powell and Pressburger films - including The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death, I Know Where I'm Going and Black Narcissus - that tilt us off-balance, shaking what we thought we knew about the world's that one of cinema's greatest filmmaking partnerships created. Don't worry. It also includes something from A Canterbury Tale - the first shot of the glue man here is really a boy, to make him look further away on the studio set. We also see Jennifer ... (more) |
Mathew on Monday: why X must be held to account over GrokI was on GB News early this morning, setting out why I agree with Ed Davey that X should be suspended, pending an investigation into Grok. Some readers may not relish the idea of me appearing on GB News. It is a channel many liberals feel uncomfortable with, and not without reason, but liberal voices simply cannot afford to be absent from platforms we find awkward, or from debates where the loudest contributions too often go unchallenged. If we genuinely believe in open argument, democratic accountability, and the contest of ideas, which I hope we do, then we have to ... (more) |
The Uprating Asymmetry: a case for consistent protectionLast week, I opined in these pages that intergenerational fairness should be a liberal priority. A commenter rightly challenged my suggestion that pensions be linked to CPI: poverty is measured relative to median earnings, not inflation. CPI-linking would let pensioners fall below the poverty line even as their purchasing power held steady — precisely what happened after 1980. The correction clarified my thinking. If relative poverty matters — and it does — then benefits should track earnings, not just prices. The triple lock gets this right for pensioners. We should extend the same logic to everyone else. * * * ... (more) |
Urgent provision of UK housing is now requiredWe will be fighting for the young people of our country if we demand that the government declare this year a national emergency to provide thousands of new houses, especially affordable homes, before the next General Election. The house price-to-earnings ratio shows that in 2024-25 a home cost roughly 8 to 9 times the average individual wage to buy, compared to about 5 to 6 times twenty years ago. With private rents additionally being so high now, it is small wonder that, even if they are working full-time, many young people in Britain are these days remaining in their parental ... (more) |
In praise of destabilising tyrannyAs we speak, for the 15th consecutive day, Iranians are protesting the Islamic Republic and its tyrannical leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran was once a society that embraced egalitarianism, was open to working with the West, and boasted natural resources that made countries like Japan reliant on partnerships to secure national energy security. The Pahlavi dynasty, albeit an absolute monarchy, oversaw this modernisation against a backdrop of press repression and the use of secret police to suppress opposition against its rule. While some claimed victory over the Monarchy following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the reality of what this theocratic regime has ... (more) |