30 March 2026 - today's press releasesTeacher numbers in STEM subjects fall by 900 606 fewer modern language teachers than when SNP came to power Greens scrapping road projects will kill Highland communities Greene: Calamity Kemi should apologise for cheerleading Iran War which is sending prices soaring If you've been to A&E, you shouldn't trust Swinney Teacher numbers in STEM subjects fall by 900 Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has accused the SNP of "playing fast and loose" with Scotland's economic future, as new figures revealed there are 900 fewer teachers in STEM subjects than when the SNP first came to power New ... (more) |
Minsters Rail campaigns to reopen the line from York to BeverleyA story in York's daily paper The Press covers Minsters Rail, a group campaigning to reopen the railway line between the city and Beverley: The group's primary aim is to see the rail route between restored as a modern heavy rail line, providing a fast, resilient alternative to the "congested A1079" and the existing rail corridor along the Humber. Reinstatement of the railway route would provide an alternative means of transport for residents of York Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and Market Weighton, the campaign added. They argue the route would reduce car dependency, cut emissions, support new development and dramatically improve ... (more) |
We'll be backGateshead Lib Dems meet for a monthly social gathering at the Tynesider on Gateshead High Street. The last gathering was on Thursday last week. We are however returning tomorrow. We will be launching the Gateshead Lib Dem manifesto "Get Gateshead Going". There is a 6pm kick off. I will be there with cameras! (more) |
Vote Labour - get ReformThere have been grumblings of discontent within Labour's ranks in Gateshead about our recent leaflet which included a page about the Lib Dems being the main challengers to Reform in the borough. The Labour vote, reflecting what has happened across the country, is collapsing. Labour, in by-elections and polls, are lucky to hold on to half their vote share.Anyway, above is another graphic to (more) |
GUEST POST Lord Summerisle obviously took the Liberal whipSummerisle Young Liberals, 1973 Anselm Anon and Wighard of Canterbury find that The Wicker Man is steeped in the debates of 1970s Liberalism. A great deal has been written about The Wicker Man (1973). Often heralded as Britain's greatest horror film, its shocking climax has obscured other salient features - most notably, the political alignment of Lord Summerisle (portrayed by Christopher Lee) and the impact of that on the socioeconomic construction of the island. For those unfamiliar with the setting, Summerisle lies off the west coast of Scotland - in the 'Celtic Fringe' that constituted the post-war Liberal electoral bastions. ... (more) |
News from the first tier of local governmentAs some of our readers will know, I'm a Parish councillor in deepest Mid Suffolk, chairing my council as I have for most of the past eight years. Creeting St Peter is a "micro council", as defined by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), with a precept of just over £6,000 a year, and a professional staff of approximately 0.05 full-time equivalent. We don't do "big stuff", like providing services, but what we do is represent our residents and lobby principal authorities on their behalf. I like to think that we're quite good at it, in our own modest ... (more) |
Report of the Gaza TribunalPublished on 16th March 2026, the Gaza Tribunal Report follows a two-day tribunal held in Westminster in September 2025 at which evidence was taken from 91 witnesses. The Tribunal Members who wrote the report were Jeremy Corbyn, the Independent MP and well-known critic of Israel, as well as Dr Shahd Hammouri, a Palestinian/Jordanian Lecturer in International Law from the University of Kent and Professor Neve Gordon, an Israeli who is Professor of International Law at Queen Mary University of London. The inquiry was launched in response to what organisers described as a lack of political or legal response to Israel's ... (more) |
George Orwell remembered by his family and friends in 1965No recording of George Orwell's voice has survived, but in this extract from a 1965 BBC programme you can hear his wife Sonia, sister Avril Dunn and friends Malcolm Muggeridge and Cyril Connolly talking about him. I review Rob Colls'George Orwell: Life and Legacy in the current issue of Liberator. (more) |
Let's get Welsh Lib Dems elected!On Thursday, 7 May, Wales will go to the polls to vote for a new government under a new closed-list voting system. Every seat is up for grabs, and the Liberal Democrats will be contesting all of them. In my local area, Swansea and Gower, Councillor Sam Bennett will be advancing the Liberal Democrat cause, hoping to provide a measured, liberal voice in the Senedd. His dedication to fighting for Swansea and Gower communities, social justice and equality is a testament to his politics and to the liberal flame that continues to burn in Wales. I'll be joining his campaign ... (more) |
Our Vision - the Liberal Democrat European GroupAs we navigate the current political landscape of 2026, our party needs to develop a clear-eyed, long-term vision for rebuilding our relationship with our European neighbours. At the heart of this mission is the Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG). We are a dedicated associated organisation of local activists, policy-makers, and internationalists working to ensure that the UK's European future is not just a distant dream, but becomes once again a practical reality. LDEG sees its role as a bridge between our party and other organizations in the UK and across the continent, particularly through our work with the party's Federal ... (more) |