adult ratings for smoking in filmsAt last years party conference I attended the politics and prohibition fringe meeting. I touched on this in a blogpost after I returned from conference. One of the issues debated at the fringe was the issue of classifying films with an adult (18) rating if it contains smoking. Liverpool City Council consulted on this policy before rejecting the proposal last year. I thought, and hoped, that this would be the end of the story. Unfortunately it is not. Freedom 2 choose have stated that a Manchester Councillor wants Manchester cinemas to put an '18' rating on any movie where a ... (more) |
What voters think of Nick Clegg - an updateThis week's Times-Populus poll of Labour - Conservative marginal seats tells us a bit more about voters' views of the three main party leaders, including Nick Clegg. Nick is perceived as the most authentic of the party leaders. Asked whether each leader "generally says what he really thinks, not just what spin doctors tell him to say", they gave Nick a spread of plus 25 per cent. For David Cameron the figure was plus 18 per cent. Both opposition party leaders were well ahead of Gordon Brown (plus 6 per cent). The Populus result ties in with previous polls that ... (more) |
David Laws on faith schools and the Liberal DemocratsAs the issue of faith schools has often been debated on this site, and it's been back in the news with the question of sex and relationship education, we've asked David Laws to explain the party's approach to these issues: The recent Government climbdown over sex and relationship education in state funded faith schools has prompted further debate amongst liberals about what role, if any, faith schools should have in English education. Some liberals argue that in a free society faith groups should be free to deliver a faith education, and that parents should be free to send their children ... (more) |
Welsh speakers should have the right to be tried before bilingual juriesThe BBC report that the UK government has decided against selecting bilingual juries in certain cases on the basis it would outweigh the principle of random selection. The decision follows a consultation looking at, for example, trials where large amounts of evidence are in Welsh. It has been met with dismay by politicians who believed it could play a part in an increase in bilingualism in Wales. Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Heritage Minister said: "This a clear set-back for the promotion of the Welsh language as one of the official languages of Wales. People should have the right ... (more) |
Chorlton Community Forum - 11th MarchPut your question to local service providers? Continuing the commitment to consult with residents about local services, a forum event has been organised for Chorlton. The evening will allow you the opportunity to gather information from various services, including: Greater Manchester Police; and some Council services. This will be followed, at 7.30pm, with a panel made up from the service providers, where you can ask questions. The event will take place on Thursday, 11th March, 6.30 - 9pm at St Johns Parish Centre, Edge Lane. Refreshments will be available on the evening. For more information contact Katrina Keane, your Ward ... (more) |
Follow The Iron Road to AirdrieI've had a hectic start to the week, somewhat more so that the usual week, but Monday marked a new stage for Bathgate. It was the laying of the first stretch of new track to link up Bathgate with Airdrie and to create another through route from Edinburgh to Glasgow. The platforms along the route are developing nicely. The new one at Bathgate will make my journey to the station change as the direct line down Mid Street will be more direct than my current journey down Hopetoun Street and St. David's Street. The BBC article mentions most of the ... (more) |
Urgent support required for emergency anthrax-contaminated heroin motionEwan Hoyle has asked me to urgently cross-post this from his blog. He needs 10 Lib Dem voting reps to support the motion by NOON TODAY! Please help him if you can. I have already pledged my support as a voting rep. I have a very short amount of time to gather 10 supporting reps for this anthrax-contaminated heroin motion for conference:Once you have read it, approve of its content and wish to support it as an elected rep, please call me on 07817536149 to give me your backing. It needs to happen before noon I'm afraid. :(The last minute ... (more) |
Brown Bottles It. Again.In the latest in a series of Labour own goals, Brown's announcement this morning that the Budget will be in two weeks, meaning an almost certain May 6 election, is yet another missed opportunity. The polls have been narrowing. Labour have had almost wall to wall coverage. Economic figures have been revised in their favour. The ... (more) |
Barack Obama's email list: not so big after all[IMG: A Barack Obama email. Photo credit: DavidErickson on Flickr] The 2010 general election campaign is already, in one respect, much like the previous two: it has plenty of pundits wondering if it will be the first internet general election. The reality is rather more subtle than the question implies. If you look at internal organisation and communications, the internet has long since become crucial to parties. Even back in 2001 turning off the internet would have caused campaigns to stagger near collapse. At the local level, the often unsung tool of email has also been putting in years of ... (more) |
Urgent support required for emergency anthrax-contaminated heroin motionI have a very short amount of time to gather 10 supporting reps for this anthrax-contaminated heroin motion for conference: Once you have read it, approve of its content and wish to support it as an elected rep, please call me on 07817536149 to give me your backing. It needs to happen before noon I'm afraid. :( The last minute nature of this is not my fault. Conference notes with concern: i) That at least 26 injecting heroin users have contracted anthrax infections from contaminated heroin in the UK since December last year, with 11 of these infections proving fatal. ... (more) |