A conspiracy theory from Neal Lawson: Keir Starmer was never meant to be prime ministerEmbed from Getty ImagesThere influence on the far right means I don't enjoy conspiracy theories as much as I used to, but let's give a hearing to Neal Lawson in the Guardian: Wes Streeting was always meant to be their Labour prime minister. The plan, hatched by a tiny clique of rightwing faction fighters, was this: find a candidate on whom they could fake a continuation Corbynism project to win the leadership. Then kick the ladder away from the people who backed them and the promises they made. At the next general election, given the scale of the Tory majority ... (more) |
A refusal to mourn the demise of police and crime commissionersHome secretary Shabana Mahmood announced today that police and crime commissioners will be abolished in 2028 when their current terms expire. A home office press release says: Since 2012, PCCs have been elected to hold forces to account, but turnout at the polls and public knowledge of who their local PCC is has been incredibly low. Public understanding of, and engagement with, PCCs remains low despite efforts to raise their profile. Two in five people are unaware PCCs even exist. Their roles will be absorbed by regional mayors wherever possible, meaning measures to cut crime will be considered as part ... (more) |
Axing the Police and Crime Commissioners - 6 years lateSix years ago I was the Lib Dem candidate in the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner by-election. I campaigned simply to have the PCCs abolished. Our regional newspaper, The Journal, put my call on the front page! All the other candidates campaigned to keep the PCCs in place. Today I'm pleased to see that the government are planning to scrap the role. Not before time! PCCs were an (more) |
Strength in solidarity: masculinity and the fight for trans rightsMy journey in powerlifting spans over a decade, a journey that has not only shaped my physical strength but also my outlook on masculinity. For those unfamiliar, powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three movements: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Each competition allows competitors to attempt each lift three times, with the heaviest successful attempt from each forming a competitor's overall total. Powerlifting, for me, has transcended the mere act of lifting. It has sparked profound introspection about the essence of strength. The finest lifters are not defined by their volume or aggression; they are ... (more) |
Some thoughts on the current trans quota chaosA recently published analysis on "lawfare", where changes in organizational policy are attempted through legal action, has looked at cases related to the Equality Act since 2018. The key finding is that there has been a concerted attempt to sue trans-inclusive organisations into a position where they become trans exclusive - a pattern not seen in any other equalities strand, and one which indicates a substantially well-funded and organized campaign. So organisations like the Girl Guides, the Quakers and, yes, the Liberal Democrats are threatened with court action or, in some cases, taken to court to be walloped over the ... (more) |
The way we talk about and portray children in care really mattersPhoto by Phil Hearing on Unsplash In the report of his inquiry into the death of Dennis O'Neill in 1945, Sir Walter Monckton wrote: It is first necessary to explain the basis of the policy of committing children to a local authority which may board them out. The "fit person," local authority or individual, must care for the children as his own: the relation is a personal one. The duty must neither be evaded nor scamped. That does not appear to be the view taken by the Reform UK member of Cambridgeshire County Council Andy Osborn. He told a meeting ... (more) |
A short-sighted attack on pension saving — and why Young Liberals should careIn the flurry of briefings ahead of the Chancellor's autumn Budget, one rumoured measure risks doing more long-term damage than most people realise: a cap or cut to the salary-sacrifice pension scheme. For those not steeped in the jargon, this is the mechanism that allows workers and employers to make pension contributions free of National Insurance. It's one of the few genuinely effective incentives for people to save for retirement — particularly for those who don't yet earn enough to make personal tax relief a meaningful motivator. Yet according to multiple reports, the Treasury is considering capping the amount that ... (more) |
Paul Hodgkinson reselected by Lib Dems for North CotswoldsCongratulations Paul Hodgkinson: Delighted to have been selected as Parliamentary Candidate for the North Cotswolds for the next General Election. One of the top target seats for the @libdems.org.uk in the country. Get in touch if you want to join my team! — Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (@paulcotswolds.bsky.social) 2025-11-13T07:46:18.452Z (more) |
Our West End street surgery tonight #dundeewestendWe are holding a Thursday street surgery tonight to speak with residents on any local issues or concerns they may have. Should you have an issue you wish to discuss with us, e-mail us at westend@dundeelibdems.org.uk or call Dundee 459378 and we will be pleased to meet you - many thanks. (more) |
Labour pile one crisis onto anotherWhy has the recent speculation about the future of Keir Starmer suddenly surfaced now? After all his position has been tenuous for some time. Could it be that his closest advisors leapt without looking in the hope of heading off a challenge and undermining potential rivals? If that is the case, it appears that they have badly misjudged, and in doing so have undermined the prime minister's position even more. The Guardian reports that there is growing pressure over the future of Morgan McSweeney after the prime minister's chief of staff was blamed for No 10's pushback against a possible ... (more) |