Reform's plans to tax the childlessReform's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, Matt Goodwin, has come up with a remarkable (and remarkably bad) policy to tax people if they have no children. So how could this work in practice?Would this be an income tax or some kind of poll tax?Perhaps it could be something like the BBC license fee?Who in a household would pay it?Would this tax apply to people who are infertile due to (more) |
What is the point of LibDem Conference?On Tuesday, a somewhat cryptic message went up on Lib Dem social media promising a "big announcement" at 09:00. Naturally, expectations were raised. When a Party primes its members and supporters like that, you assume something substantial is coming — a major defection, implementation of a flagship policy passed by Conference, or a decisive shift in direction. Instead, what we got was... rebranding the Treasury as the "Department of Growth." A dull, inoffensive, and uninspiring ghost of New Labour if ever I saw one. We're told its functions will be reorganised and the whole department relocated to Birmingham. For a ... (more) |
Now Leicestershire Reform wants to get rid of its Private PikeEmbed from Getty ImagesWhen Reform UK formed a minority administration at Leicestershire County Council last May, 22-year-old Joseph Baum was made deputy leader and the cabinet member for adult social care. He had lost both roles by August. Now comes news that Reform's council leader, Dan Harrison - who has to play Captain Mainwaring to Boam's Private Pike - wants him out of the party altogether and has written to Richard Tice to that effect. BBC News reports: In a letter seen by the BBC, Dan Harrison criticised his former deputy council leader Joseph Boam over a social media post ... (more) |
It's all about the catsNation Cymru reports that a charity has urged Senedd members not to let Wales fall behind other nations, calling on them to put cats front and centre. The website says that with one in four Welsh households (24%) owning a cat, Cats Protection is using its Cat Manifesto Wales to call on MSs to make cats a priority during policy-making: The charity also highlights areas where Wales falls behind the rest of the UK. This includes cat breeding and the regulation of animal welfare establishments which are already licensed in Scotland; compulsory microchipping which is required by law in England ... (more) |
Another Labour meltdownI'm not used to Tuesday elections but we've had a number of them in recent weeks. Anyway, there was a by-election in Wales yesterday, for Fishguard North East in Pembrokeshire. A high turnout of 49% (higher than many Parliamentary contests) delivered the ward to Plaid Cymru with 34%. Second were the Lib Dems on 18% and Reform were 3rd on 13%. None of these parties stood when the seat was last (more) |
Labour's candidate in my ward announcedAll 66 seats on Gateshead Council are up for election in May local elections, in place of the usual elections by thirds. Each of the 22 wards will therefore elect three councillors. The political parties will have to find three times the usual number of candidates. Even in normal years when only one councillor per ward is elected, finding 22 candidates can be something of a challenge. So (more) |
Sunderland and Durham Reform Councillors quitSunderland's newest Councillor has today quit the Reform Party. Ian McKinley was only elected in November in a byelection that saw Labour lose Hetton to Reform. Cllr McKinley's time as a Reform Councillor was rather short. It seems he had differences with the various Reform branch chairmen. The resignation from Reform and his self-identification as an Independent means Reform no longer have any (more) |
GUEST POST Lib Dems must be "Tough on billionaires, tough on the causes of billionaires"Anselm Anon says Liberal Democrats should be concerned about concentrations of economic power as well as about concentrations of political power. It is axiomatic for liberals that power ought to be dispersed and accountable. The Liberal Democrats tends to be fairly good at articulating this when it comes to political structures - supporting an elected House of Lords, empowering local government, opposing mayors and PCCs who have "dubious democratic mandates and little scrutiny". In contrast, the party's approach to concentrated and unaccountable power that derives from wealth, as distinct from politics, is much more patchy. Ed Davey should be credited ... (more) |
Sign language was used in a Leicester Cathedral wedding in 1576Leicester Cathedral held a service on Sunday to commemorate the 450th anniversary of a wedding there in which sign language was employed. A document found in the Leicestershire Record Office shows that the language was used in a marriage ceremony at St Martin's Church - now Leicester Cathedral - on 6 February 1576. The BBC News report helpfully transcribes part of it: Thomas Tillsye and Ursula Russel were marryed: and because the sayde Thomas was and is naturally deafe and also dumbe, so that the order of the forme of marriage used usually amongst others which can heare and speake ... (more) |
Parliament is falling down. Liberals should seize the moment.Last week, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board published its costed proposals for saving the Palace of Westminster. The options have been narrowed to two: a full decant costing up to £15.6 billion over 20 to 25 years, or a semi-decant that could take 60 years and cost approaching £40 billion. A £3 billion first phase of works would begin this year. The debate that follows will focus, as it always does, on where to put MPs while the building is fixed. Richmond House? The QEII Conference Centre? How big should the temporary chamber be? But there is a more ... (more) |