Lib Dems for GrowthLast year, I wrote about the lack of a Lib Dem vision for economic growth here. Since then, we have started to sketch out some ideas. Last month, in a speech encouragingly entitled "Get Britain Growing Again" Daisy Cooper, our Treasury Spokesperson, announced a new policy to establish a Department for Growth that would seek to de-fang the "anti-growth" Treasury. While this headline (and a move to Birmingham) got most of the attention, Daisy also clearly stated that "Getting Britain Growing Again must be any government's number one goal". I agree with this and, in my earlier article, I rather ... (more) |
We need to crack down on crimes related to public officeThe latest edition of my email newsletter about work in Parliament, A Lord's Eye View, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Yesterday we were debating (again!) the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Lords, and so I had the chance to propose an amendment to help tackle the recent wave of political scandals. A dedicated police team to tackle crime in Parliament and Whitehall Here is the amendment I proposed: [IMG: 409FA ... (more) |
The train at platform 1 is....On Sunday there was a model railway exhibition in Birtley Community Centre. As someone who had a trainset as a child, this was an event not to be missed. I filmed a video of my visit to the exhibition and will post it when I find time to edit it. I did discover a constituent who recognised me and who has a great passion for model railways!Alas, I got rid of my model railway decades ago.& (more) |
2 meetings with Plant Up SunnisideI have had 2 meetings this week with Plant Up Sunniside, the voluntary group that maintains the flowerbeds and planters on Sunniside Front Street. On Monday, it was a site visit with officers from the council to look at possible planting on the grassed area. I had initially suggested we explore having the site recognised as a village green. At the site visit on Monday I suggested an (more) |
Get Gateshead GoingGateshead Lib Dem manifesto will be launched shortly. Called "Get Gateshead Going", a mini version of it has been produced and delivery of it in our held and target wards has begun. 50,000 copies have been produced. That's quite a bit of shoe leather that will need to be worn out delivering them!Over the past few years, our manifesto was called "Six to Fix". The new manifesto is the product (more) |
The hidden epidemic among our young men that nobody is talking aboutYoung men in this country are in crisis. An increasing number are disengaged from work, education and society. An increasing number are being radicalised into the far right through social media. And an increasing number are being signed off on mental health grounds. There are many factors behind these trends. But there is one that is barely discussed in mainstream politics, one that connects all three. It is a drug. It is not illegal to possess. It can cost as little as £3.50 per week, often purchased through apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram, and posted through Royal Mail. It ... (more) |
The failure of Donald TrumpDespite the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei and his wife, together with killing or wounding several senior members of the Iranian government on February 28th, Trump's war of choice against Iran appears to be facing significant problems. Firstly, the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not dissolved into chaos. They have moved quickly to install Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Hosseini, as the new Supreme Leader. Mojtaba Kahmenei is said to be very close the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and especially its paramilitary wing, the Basij. These are the two institutions that have been ... (more) |
Reform in chaos over Iran warMaybe it was because Trump refused to meet him when he flew to Mar-a-Lago recently, or perhaps it was just that he doesnt really know what he's talking about, but Nigel Farage has performed a massive u-turn over the UK's involvement in the US President's war on Iran. The Mirror reports that Farage has shifted his stance on the Iran war as fears mount over the hit to energy bills: The Reform UK leader initially hit out at the Government for failing to join the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes. But today, he performed a screeching U-turn, telling journalists: "Let's ... (more) |
Seeing purpleI snapped this lovely crocus bed when I was in Whickham recently, delivering Focus newsletters. Well done everyone involved with planting and maintaining the bed. It looks amazing. Indeed, it looks so good that I want to copy it and set up a bed on the grassed area on Sunniside Front Street. I've had talks about this with Planting Up Sunniside and council officers. Last night I attended the (more) |
Well done Tanfield RailwayThere are many heritage railways in the UK. On my doorstep we have Tanfield Railway and I'm delighted to report that they have won a major heritage railway award. Tanfield Railway was named 'Railway of the Year' at the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards, held in Llandudno on March 7.As a local historian I am delighted with the success of Tanfield Railway. I visit Tanfield (more) |