Media spin, 1966 vintageA trivial historic footnote for your delectation. During the 1966 general election campaign, Prime Minister Harold Wilson, one of Labour's most successful leaders, visited the Birmingham Rag Market for a public meeting. The location had been the scene of a famous* public meeting in the 1964 campaign when the then Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home got shouted down. Compare and contrast the media coverage of the time about how this meeting went. Exhibit A: a Labour supporting paper WILSON GETS THE BETTER OF TORY HECKLERS (The Worker) Exhibit B: a Conservative supporting paper HECKLERS GET THE BETTER OF WILSON (Daily Sketch) ... (more) |
It's boom time for bar charts and MRPs (LDN#206)Liberal Democrat Newswire #206 came out last week and you can now 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: Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #206 and a big thank you to everyone who has already responded to my annual appeal to help cover the costs of producing this newsletter and related activities. This year I've gone for something a little different, and instead encourage you to take out a subscription to the paid-for edition of my weekly newsletter about opinion ... (more) |
Lib Dems to lead debate on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Opposition DayIt's a Liberal Democrat Opposition Day in Parliament today and we have chosen to devote half of it to asking for an investigation on how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was ever appointed a Trade Envoy and for the Government to publish all the papers relating to his appointment at the time. The motion says: That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to the creation of the role of Special Representative for Trade and Investment and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment to ... (more) |
Ed Davey flattens Nigel Farage on human rightsOn 29 October last year, Nigel Farage put forward his European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal) Bill. You can read his speech in Hansard. This, in full, was Ed Davey's reply: The speech we just heard totally misrepresents the European convention, and the failure of the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) to mention the huge benefits and rights that the European convention has brought to millions of British people says it all. Let me give those attracted by the argument we have just heard one strong reason to think again. Russia under Vladimir Putin is the only country to ... (more) |
Scottish Lib Dems support gaming industryThe gaming industry contributes £188.4 million annually to Scotland's economy and provides 2181 full time jobs but it's been facing some challenges in recent years, not least from funding streams drying up thanks to Brexit. A motion introduced by our candidate and, we hope, future MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Neil Alexander. Neil knows what he is talking about as he worked in the industry for 8 years. By the way, Neil's social media output is the best in the business. Follow him on Instagram here. The motion calls for: Establish regional "hubs" across all areas of Scotland for both ... (more) |
Four years of war has forged Ukraine into a lynchpin for European securitymy Today marks the fourth anniversary of the second phase of Russia's war on Ukraine. Phase one started in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas – Putin's response to ordinary Ukrainians' refusal to disavow their European future. Now is a good time to remember why we are supporting Ukraine; not just because it is right but because we must if the liberal order and the rule of law on which it is based is to survive. It is also time to recognise Ukraine as central for Europe's security and prosperity in an increasingly unstable world. ... (more) |
Reform seeking to copy Trump's victimisation and persecution agendaThe Guardian reports that Reform UK's plan to create an ICE-style deportation agency has been condemned as "sadistic", after the party's home affairs spokesperson vowed to face down "progressive outrage". The paper says that Zia Yusuf, introduced as "the shadow home secretary" at a press conference in Dover, said mass deportations carried out by a planned UK Deportation Command would not trigger the same kind of violent showdowns seen in the US because "policing is done by consent" in the UK. He also described the number of migrants arriving in the country as an "invasion". His remarks came as Reform ... (more) |
Lobley Hill and Bensham action dayWe had a good turnout on Saturday for our Lobley Hill and Bensham action day. 15 members turned out to help deliver the latest Focus. I was given 2 patches to do in Lobley Hill. I was raised there so for me it was a journey through my memories of the area. (more) |
Barlow and Watt investigate Jack the RipperLast night I watched the film Murder by Decree on Talking Pictures TV. I've watched it several times because the cast and premise (Sherlock Holmes tracking down Jack the Ripper) are so appealing, and because I always forget how disappointing it is. But Holmes was the not first fictional detective to investigate the Ripper murders. In 1973 the BBC screened a series in which the nation's most celebrated television detectives Charlie Barlow and John Watt, played by Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor. It was this series that introduced the public to the theory that the Ripper had been the eldest ... (more) |
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May?Here is a list of the councillors which Reform has shed from the May 2025 local elections and from those elections in by-elections since. The latest update is the departure of Chris Large who, only a few weeks ago, was due to become a Reform council leader but is now an independent. Donna Edmunds (Shropshire, suspended by Reform UK and then quit the party) Luke Shingler (Warwickshire, now an independent) Desmond Clarke (Nottinghamshire, resigned as councillor) Andrew Kilburn (Durham, resigned as a councillor) Wayne Titley (Staffordshire, resigned as a councillor) Mark Broadhurst (Doncaster, expelled by Reform) Adam Smith (West Northamptonshire, ... (more) |