The silent scandal of ME...and in praise of Tessa MuntI wrote on the subject of ME back in February 2025. Sadly no progress seems to have been made, questions to the government receive "dead bat" pro-forma answers and still the silent scandal of 1.35 million people in the UK suffering from ME/CFS (or Long Covid with ME-like symptoms) continues. That's about 2,000 on average per UK parliamentary constituency. Some figures: The average lifetime costs per patient with ME are £4.7 million on average. There are £20 billion per year costs to the economy due to ME - and this is rising. (This includes loss of productivity and the fact ... (more) |
The Lib Dems should be bolder. Here's how....It is no secret that the party is narrowly focused on retaining the 72 seats we won at the last general election and expanding further into triple digits. Local election results in those constituencies are a sign that it seems to be working. Recently, the Guardian published a sensible editorial pointing out that it is imperative for the Lib Dems to achieve this goal to keep an unholy Tory-Reform alliance at bay in the next general election. Furthermore, it will maximise our influence over a Labour minority in a potential hung parliament. So yes, in our FPTP system, and facing ... (more) |
Before we talk about coalition, we must ask: What are the Liberal Democrats for?Today, a Liberal Democrat friend suggested that perhaps the best way forward for our party would be to enter into a coalition with Labour. It was an interesting proposition. Could the two parties work together? What might they achieve? What compromises would be necessary? And what would happen to our political identity? But as I explored these possibilities, I realised that a much more fundamental question had emerged. Before we decide whom we might govern with, shouldn't we first be absolutely clear about what we want to govern for? This is not an argument against coalition government. It is an ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1594"Trump's early business ventures reveal ties to individuals with connections to Soviet intelligence. In 1976, Soviet immigrants Tamir Sapir and Sam Kislin sold televisions on credit for Trump's Commodore Hotel. Tamir Sapir had previously studied at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the USSR, while Kislin's electronics business served as a cover for KGB operations, according to former KGB spy Yuri Shvets." Zarina Zabrisky reveals the long history of Donald Trump's connections to Moscow's intelligence operations. Leilani Farha argues that the housing crisis shows democracies have ceded too much power to the financial sector. Restraint can leave mental health patients ... (more) |
A U-turn too farNation Cymru reports that transport campaigners have criticised Welsh Labour's renewed support for an M4 relief road, warning that the financial and environmental concerns behind its cancellation have not gone away. The news site adds that Transport Action Network (TAN) Cymru said public transport improvements should take priority in tackling congestion around Newport, ahead of a Senedd debate tomorrow. Labour's motion calls on the Welsh Government to begin work on a new relief road and rule out closing junctions 25, 26 and 27. Given their record on this issue it feels like opportunism on their part: Welsh Labour leader Ken ... (more) |
Ed Davey on working with Greens after Zionism conference motionEd Davey posted earlier today: I am ruling out our party entering into a national partnership with any party that is committed to a dangerous and antisemitic policy like the Green Party's. Here is my letter to the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Here is the letter: [IMG: Ed Davey letter re Greens page 1] [IMG: Ed Davey letter re Greens page 2] Sign up to get the latest news and analysis (more) |
Oh! What a Lovely War: An interview with Murray MelvinBack to Stratford East. Murray Melvin, who died in 2023, shares his memories of the original Theatre Workshop production of Oh! What a Lovely War and describes Joan Littlewood's working methods. (more) |
The Mere puts the mere in EllesmereThe Mere at Ellesmere is the largest of nine glacial lakes in the north of Shropshire. Follow the canal south from the town and you will come across some of the smaller ones. When you find The Mere on the edge of town, it is set in a park complete with a cafe and ice cream kiosk. The walk round the whole lake is a little over two miles. Me? I just had a cup of tea. (more) |
Support to enable Disabled People to live IndependentlyI welcome Gordon Lishman's article on Social Care and the Triple Lock. One of the issues though that many people overlook when it comes to Social Care is how to help those disabled people who are fit and healthy and need Personal Care as a wider package of support to enable them to lead an independent life. These are disabled people who need Personal Care as a means to an end but need so much more besides. Being taken to work, for example, and the administrative support at work in order to succeed. Support as a Council or Parliamentary Candidate ... (more) |
You don't need to be a hero to fight fascismThe normalisation of fascism is becoming a common occurrence. In Britain alone, from cowards wearing balaclavas protesting in Dover to Reform UK's Suella Braverman referring to the actions of anti-immigrant agitators in Gosport as "people power", we are seeing this all too often in our electoral politics and on our streets. It is not going unchallenged, however, with anti-fascist protests taking place across the country in places like Bristol and London, with fascists like "Young Bob" being cuffed and led away by police for aggressive behaviour towards an abuse survivor. Meanwhile, ITV is exposing just how deep the rot has ... (more) |