A bit of fun for the week-endDouglas Carswell, the Tory MP for Harwich, has claimed that the Conservatives are the party of the Levellers! The Levellers (not the band) were an important faction before and during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century. I studied them, and others, in my degree, and going back over my notes I can't see anything that links them with the tiniest thread within modern Tory political philosophy. Their manifesto, the "Agreement of the People" was inherently republican and democratic. Just the sort of thing to be supported by the present Tory front-bench! (more) |
Friday 12 March: Dampness and defectionsthe big event of the day was certainly the announcement that Edward McMillan-Scott was joining the Liberal Democrats. It was quite a surprise to me - and a pleasant one. EMS has a very good reputation. He is certainly someone taken seriously by anyone who has worked with him. His dispeasure at the Cameron policy of pandering to extermists (as he puts it) is well-known). But it seemed likely that the PPE group would prove an acceptable home for him in the European Parliament. His decision to join the Liberal Democrats seems to be in large part inspired by his ... (more) |
"We've lost the capacity for indignation"20 years after attending my first political conference, I find myself sitting in the audience for the launch rally at the Lib Dems spring conference. After being welcomed by a plethora of prospective parliamentary candidates, a quarter of whom I gladly noted were women, the big guns of party come out to inspire us, to rouse us for the remaining short time before the election. Paddy Ashdown came on first and appealed directly to our heads. The country faces four great threats, he says and goes on to tell us why the Lib Dems are the party to address them. ... (more) |
Thursday 11 March: Prittlewell and BlenheimLovely morning with a fairsized team covering a wide expanse of Prittlewell Ward. A particularly warm response as Mike Grimwade and myself had our papers in the (redently delivered) Yellow Advertiser saving the Post Office. and some very interesting conversations all morning. In the afternoon, we were out again. First we looked at one of the local issues affecting people in a group of wards. Then we returned to talking to residents, but in Blenheim Ward this time. Again we covered a good area. (more) |
Six of the Best 20Liberal Democrat Voice is very proud of its new How Authoritarian is your MP? website. With all due respect to Nick Clegg (may he live for ever) and Edward McMillan-Scott, the Lib Dem of the day is Anna Arrowsmith. Heresy Corner will tell you all about her. Liberal Burblings has the video of David Cameron's bad hair day. Don't bother asking Diamond Geezer, the sea-green incorruptible of London blogging, to promote your product. The strange case of Steven Purcell is explained by J. Arthur MacNumpty. Mike McSharry suggests that you visit the Harborough Museum on Saturday 20 March. Sensible man. ... (more) |
EXCLUSIVE George Lyon MEP - Principled McMillan-Scott Exposes CameronThe following is an exclusive guest post from Scotland's Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon about what his new colleague Edward McMillan-Scott's joining of the Lib Dems earlier today means for the Conservative Party. If ever you needed proof that David Cameron is not fit to lead Britain, then today we got it in the principled defection of former Tory MEP Edward McMillan Scott to the Liberal Democrats. My new colleague was damning in his assessment of Cameron's Conservatives saying that their European Parliament group - the European Conservative and Reformists - contained "MEPs who have extremist pasts". He also said ... (more) |
Now four more SNP MSPs pay tribute to Hugo ChavezWhen I did the original blog post earlier this week, SNP and Labour MSPs pay tribute to Hugo Chavez!, I really did not think that even more MSPs would have signed the Motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by SNP MSP, Jamie Hepburn. As Lib Dem Hugh O'Donnell MSP said on my blog in a guest post; "The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Chávez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief."Well, sadly four more ... (more) |
Charity of the DayThe winner today comes from Sri Lanka. Well done to the Millennium Elephant Foundation. Who knew that out favourite fluffy blogger was such a philanthropist. Make that philelephantopist. (more) |
The Blood is the Life: Bumper Conference Avoidance Issue.Woe! Everyone is at #ldconf listening to barnstorming speeches by Paddy and Tim Farron, and I'm stuck at home with dicky innards, and nothing but a Spotify premium account to cheer me up with endless Dragonforce. Still, might as well make myself useful and catch up on some of the stuff that's been piling up for me to do on the computer, starting with some...Fresh Squeezings From the Veins of the InternetHow Liberal or Authoritarian is your MP? Mine gets 45/100 (15 of which are votes she was absent for, which I feel is a little unfair), which isn't bad ... (more) |
IoD Scotland & ACCA Scotland Westminster Hustings meetingThis morning, I attended the Westminster Husting meeting at City Quay, organised by the Institute of Directors - Scotland and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Scotland, and hosted by Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce. John Barnett, Liberal Democrat candidate for Dundee West, spoke and answered questions, along with Dundee candidates from the other three main parties. It was a good opportunity for candidates to discuss issues with the Dundee business community. John is pictured (above) after the hustings meeting. (more) |