Welcome to my day: 19 October 2026 - so much for that rebellion...There will doubtless be those who are disappointed that the rebellion against Ed Davey's leadership turned out to be big on pitchforks and flaming torches but not so hot on turnout. A couple of seemingly uncoordinated resignations, talk of a "spicy" Parliamentary Party meeting but, at the end of it all, we are where we were in terms of the Leader. Whether that means that there will be some changes in approach in response to criticism is yet to be seen, but it is clear that whilst there might be unhappiness in some quarters, the mood favours evolution rather than ... (more) |
Green leader doubles down on Zionism is racism policyThe Guardian reports that Zack Polanski has said Zionism in its current form is racist, that no country has a right to exist, and that the Green party motion on the issue was not controversial. They add that Polanski did not attend the vote, prompting accusations of a lack of leadership, but he made clear he agreed with the broad thrust of it even if he felt it was unhelpful to have what he called a "debate about semantics": Asked by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg whether he thought Zionism was racist, Polanski said: "I don't think this is actually controversial. ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1593"Reform's problems today, reflected in its diminished polling, stem in large part from the difficulties and limits of professionalisation. The attempt to derive discipline from insurgency has exposed, rather than resolved, the tensions at the heart of the Reform project. And the fallout risks turning latent vulnerabilities into permanent liabilities for the party's brand."Josh Self asks if the Reform project is unravelling. "Just as David Tennant's character bemoans the lack of training or education for young men in custody, so do prison staff across the country. They know what is blindingly obvious: angry people don't come out of prison less ... (more) |
Rodney Berman and Joe Carter selected for Cardiff Westminster seatsThe Welsh Liberal Democrats have selected former Cardiff Council leader Cllr Rodney Berman (left) for the Westminster seat of Cardiff East, and Cllr Joe Carter (right) has been selected for Cardiff North. Cardiff as a key battleground in the Lib Dem fightback in Wales and selecting these big hitters is a signal that we offer voters a real alternative to Labour in the capital. Rodney led Cardiff Council between 2004 and 2012 and has a long record of standing up for the city. He said: I'm proud to be standing again for the people of Cardiff East. Labour keeps telling ... (more) |
Do shouty politicians gain long term votes?Earlier this week an event occurred within the Liberal Democrats that most people might have missed altogether. Two relatively inexperienced Lib Dem MPs, one of who was Chalie Maynard, who I must confess I had never heard of, tried to create a revolt within the parliamentary party which would have led to the replacement of Ed Davey as Leader. The attempt was unsuccessful with the parliamentary party having the usual Lib Dem courteous disagreements in some cases what's Ed came through wholly unscathed. Ed, of course is the most successful Liberal Democrat leader for more than 100 years leading us ... (more) |
The defence of International Law in an age of impunityIn October 2026, the United States imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the latest escalation in its campaign to undermine and "dismantle" the Court. The US objects to the ICC investigating or prosecuting American nationals and has also opposed its investigation into senior Israeli officials over war crimes in Gaza. The sanctions are troubling not only because they threaten the Court's ability to operate independently, but because they expose a deeper question: does international law apply to everyone, or only to those without power? International law has never been free from hypocrisy. Great powers have often defended ... (more) |
Social care and the triple lockI have read the various posts about Andy Burnham's proposals for social care and the proposed implication for the pensions triple-lock. After some decades of involvement on both issues, I thought my perspective and experience might have some relevance. I was closely involved in the review of pensions including the Turner Review of 2006 and the resultant settlement, leading on to the triple lock in the coalition Government. I was also much engaged in the debate about social care from the campaign which led to the Sutherland Commission, then working with proponents of both majority and minority views on the ... (more) |
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band: Autumn's ChildIssued in 1967, Safe as Milk was Captain Beefheart's first album. It features a 20-year-old Ry Cooder on guitar - he also wrote some of the arrangements - and this seasonal track closes the album. An anonymous contributor writes on Reddit:Probably my favourite from Safe as Milk. Very normal for a Beefheart song but weird in its own way. Evokes strong feelings of nostalgia. Theramin is used fantastically, vocals are amazing.And Hit the North says:Even the closing track Autumn's Child seemed unpredictable - it appeared to sputter to a halt, petering out like an exhausted toddler who's cried their last ... (more) |
Alex Cole-Hamilton's speech to Scottish ConferenceAlex Cole-Hamilton made his keynote speech to Scottish Conference last weekend. It was a very people centred, practical speech which centred Lib Dems connecting people. Worth mentioning is that he was very positive about immigration: So let me tell you what I mean when I talk about liberty, equality and community. Because as liberals we believe in a Scotland that is open, tolerant and internationalist of outlook. We believe immigration makes this country stronger. Because in Scotland more people die each year than are born. Every person who comes here to nurse, to farm, to teach, to build, is helping ... (more) |
Tom Arms' World ReviewUS Midterm elections Since 2002 the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been observing elections in the U.S. On each occasion—including the hotly debated 2020 presidential elections—it has stamped the votes as "free and fair." The organisation's elections observers, however, will be conspicuous by their absence, from the mid-term elections in a few weeks' time. For the first time the Trump Administration has refused to invite them. The State Department's official reason for the lack of an invitation is that the OSCE "should focus its limited resources on elections where it can have the greatest impact." The ... (more) |