In which Jeremy Thorpe, John Pardoe and Paul Tyler tour selected resorts of Cornwall and Devon by HovercraftThe summer of 1974 was enlivened by Jeremy Thorpe and other Liberal MPs touring the beaarty ches of Britain by hovercraft, in anticipation of a general election in the autumn. Harold Wilson duly called one for October. Whether people enjoying a seaside holiday would be in the mood to meet politicians is a point you hope the party considered first. Anyway, here is a report from the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser (15 August 1974) looking forward to such a tour by Thorpe, John Pardoe and Paul Tyler. There's a mention too for Edward Sara, the Liberal candidate for Falmouth ... (more) |
20 November 2024 - today's press releasesDentists left in the dark as government fails to assess impact of NICs hikes Thames Water: we need to see an outright ban on exec bonuses whilst sewage scandal drags on Cole-Hamilton attacks national insurance impact on GPs and care providers Dentists left in the dark as government fails to assess impact of NICs hikes The Liberal Democrats have revealed that the government made no assessment of its recent tax hike on NHS dentists. Responding to a parliamentary question from the Liberal Democrats, Labour government minister Stephen Kinnock responded that "no assessments have been made yet on the potential impact ... (more) |
Santa's new sleigh delayed by snow and won't feature in tonight's Shrewsbury Christmas lights switch-onEmbed from Getty ImagesSad news from Shrewsbury, but at least the Shropshire Star wins our Headline of the Day Award. (more) |
Lib Dems mark Transgender Day of RemembranceThe Liberal Democrats have marked Transgender Day of Remembrance, saying on social media: Today on Trans Day of Remembrance we remember those who have lost their lives to transphobic violence, and reflect on how we as a society can end this loss of life. Liberal Democrats will always stand up for the rights of everyone in the LGBT+ community. Sadly, there has been another rise in the number of trans people who have been killed because of who they are. We're getting on for 1 person a day – 350, mostly trans women of colour. From Pink News: The number ... (more) |
Daisy Cooper challenges Labour on National Insurance rise at PMQs"OBR figures suggest that the increase in NICs will cost more to social care providers than the money that the government has announced for that sector in the budget."@libdemdaisy has implored the government to protect health and care providers from the NIC hike. pic.twitter.com/ywt7qWuZK1 — Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) November 20, 2024 Last week I was contacted by a constituent whose husband has stage 4 bowel cancer. He had a routine scan in June but did not receive the results until early November, and unfortunately during that period he received unsuitable chemotherapy and his cancer has progressed. Given that Shropshire has ... (more) |
Mark Pack's November 2024 report: A guaranteed way to lose votesThe importance of next May A blessing and a curse of a democracy is that elections keep on coming around. So while this year has been an exhausting one of election campaigns already, we also need to be turning our eyes to the local elections coming up in May. Most of the seats up in May were last contested when the Conservatives were still on an electoral high back in 2021. Therefore they provide us with an important opportunity to follow up on our major gains from the Conservatives at both local and Westminster level since 2021. They also provide ... (more) |
A guaranteed way to lose votes (LDN #190)Liberal Democrat Newswire #190 came out a few days ago and you can now read it in full below. But if you'd like the convenience of getting it direct by email in future just sign up now: Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #190, and as it's nearly the season of gift giving a reminder that you can get the full paid-for version of my weekly polling newsletter, The Week in Polls, free for 60 days with this special offer for LDN readers: Get 60 days free for The Week in Polls There has been a big migration of Liberal Democrats ... (more) |
Lib Dem MPs are wrong to campaign against farming inheritance tax changesWith the 'Tractor Tax' protests filling the news for several days, yesterday delivered an email from Lib Dem HQ informing me that our MPs are demanding that the tax be axed. I was both surprised and disappointed to see our MPs siding with some very wealthy vested interests on this issue. It is clear that investment in farmland is being used by some as a deliberate ploy to dodge inheritance tax, and beyond romanticising the "family farm" and way of life, I've yet to hear a convincing moral or economic argument as to why farmers uniquely deserve a better deal ... (more) |
ConsequencesGrappling with farmers over inheritance tax is one thing, but the real downside of Labour's budget is its impact on pensioners and parents. The latter because of the failure to abolish the two-child benefit cap, the former because of the abolition of the winter fuel paymemnt as a universal benefit. The Guardian reports on analysis which shows that 50,000 more people will be in relative fuel poverty next year - and another 50,000 by 2030 as a result of this cut. The paper says that the government's own analysis has found that cuts to the winter fuel allowance could force ... (more) |
New ideas at Scottish ConferenceScottish Conference took place in Perth on Saturday. The 300 year old Salutation Inn near the river has been putting up weary travellers for over 300 years and has been holding Lib Dem events for just about as long. I don't think the decor has changed in all the time I've been going there since we moved back to Scotland in 2000 so it's a wee bit dated but it serves decent pub food and the staff can't do enough to help you. And the big win for me is that they make the toast for you at breakfast. You ... (more) |