Thoughts from the train: would you recognise that hung parliament if you saw it again, madam?I see that young Mr Clegg is getting plenty of coverage in the press this week, perhaps in anticipation of our Spring Conference this weekend in Birmingham. Will the Liberal Democrats or won't they (form a coalition, that is)? What I find so intriguing is that the press are so desperate to get the story that they are reduced to making one up. Doorstepping Liberal Democrat MPs in the hope that one of them will get the line wrong, parsing every comment made by Nick, or Vince, or Shirley, or... you get my drift... for something that might indicate that ... (more) |
A hung Parliament and the value of the £. Discuss.In response to emails asking to see the Newsnight piece (3rd March 2010) about the relationship between media headlines on the growing (?) possibility of a hung parliament and the value of the £ and specifically that reference to the Liberal Democrats being unable to enter "formal" coalition without the support of 75% of MPs and "top party brass". Here it is..... (more) |
Did someone make this National Nick week?This morning, up with the larks, LDV covered Nick Clegg's feature interview in The Independent. But we've been hard-pressed to keep up with the Lib Dem leader's media appearances: Nick is also in this week's Spectator, as well as The Economist. That, plus a forthcoming one-hour ITV special and the leaders' debates: truly, the media are spoiling us with this surfeit of Cleggyness. The Spectator interview has stirred up Sunder Katawala at the left-leaning Liberal Conspiracy, who speculates that Nick's comments will "be a major talking point at the LibDem spring conference in Birmingham this weekend, where it may not ... (more) |
Lib Dems set for major breakthrough - The IndependantToday's lead story in the Independant said the following: "Mr Clegg has a tantalising opportunity to spearhead a breakthrough for his party. This could be an election that changes Britain, unequivocally, into a three-party political system. The political fates are smiling on Mr Clegg." I have to agree! The polls in Luton South are showing just that - just behind Labour with the Tories way out in third. A real opportunity for the Liberal Democrats as if you take Luton itself the Tories have no Councillors at all in the south of the town. The message is clear - if ... (more) |
What's the Liberal Democrat position on homeopathy?As the issue has been debated several times recently on this site, here's the latest statement of the party's position: A recent report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee examined the provision of homeopathy through the NHS and called for funding by the NHS to be stopped. The Committee did recognise that many users derive benefit from its use and did not argue that such treatments should be banned. The Liberal Democrats believe that, as a basic principle, individuals should have maximum freedom about how they choose to get treated, so long as the therapy is safe. ... (more) |
Regenerating an estate full of decent peopleLiving with a small minority and in a relatively inhumane cityscape. That's the meeting i've been at tonight with all partners round the table. It's taken me 2 years (and £10,000) to get here but we'll soon have an action plan including funding sources. Woo hoo (more) |
Thursday news ...* This afternoon, after a useful meeting about improving liaison between the numerous West End community groups, I attended the latest meeting of the Best Value Review group on Child Protection Services in Dundee. * This evening, after a busy surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended the March meeting of the Community Spirit group which does great work for the people in the Cleghorn, Ancrum, Pentland and surrounding areas. There was an interesting update from Liz and Kay from Dundee WestFest, as well as a good discussion on various local issues. (more) |
Christopher Gill to fight Ludlow for UKIPFrom the Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser comes the news that Christopher Gill, who was Conservative MP for Ludlow between 1987 and 2001, is to fight the seat for UKIP at the general election. Given how much I love the Shropshire hills, it is tempting to say that this will help the Liberal Democrats regain the seat. It's just that Gill's unpopularity with the voters was one of the reasons for Matthew Green's victory in 2001. Anyway, it's an excuse for another photo of Bishop's Castle. (more) |
For the love of chocolate, if you're going to take an action photo read thisNow, don't get me wrong. I like photos of potholes. Or even empty pavements. I like photos of candidates. I like photos of candidates and potholes. Looking glum or not. But so often the 'action' photo of the local campaigning 'team' shows one static solitary person doing nothing much other than looking lonely and static. The solution? Read this excellent set of advice on how to take better photographs – no fancy camera required. It's only missing one piece of advice, namely my Rule Of The Left (And Right) Nostril which, unaccountably, hasn't yet made it big in the US. ... (more) |
It Is the Spirit of Iron not the Lady's Leanings that ImpressIt must be Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, Nick Clegg has been talking about Thatcher. Last year ahead of Harrogate he said: "When the right won out, the reality was brutal. I remember very distinctly this sense that we were being told we should all place money above morality; put profit ahead of people; that we shouldn't worry about selling out. Because, at the end of the day, there was no such thing as society. But I looked around me and thought: no, there has to be more to life than this. There is more to us than this. Justice, fairness, ... (more) |