GUEST POST Lib Dems must be "Tough on billionaires, tough on the causes of billionaires"Anselm Anon says Liberal Democrats should be concerned about concentrations of economic power as well as about concentrations of political power. It is axiomatic for liberals that power ought to be dispersed and accountable. The Liberal Democrats tends to be fairly good at articulating this when it comes to political structures - supporting an elected House of Lords, empowering local government, opposing mayors and PCCs who have "dubious democratic mandates and little scrutiny". In contrast, the party's approach to concentrated and unaccountable power that derives from wealth, as distinct from politics, is much more patchy. Ed Davey should be credited ... (more) |
Sign language was used in a Leicester Cathedral wedding in 1576Leicester Cathedral held a service on Sunday to commemorate the 450th anniversary of a wedding there in which sign language was employed. A document found in the Leicestershire Record Office shows that the language was used in a marriage ceremony at St Martin's Church - now Leicester Cathedral - on 6 February 1576. The BBC News report helpfully transcribes part of it: Thomas Tillsye and Ursula Russel were marryed: and because the sayde Thomas was and is naturally deafe and also dumbe, so that the order of the forme of marriage used usually amongst others which can heare and speake ... (more) |
Parliament is falling down. Liberals should seize the moment.Last week, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board published its costed proposals for saving the Palace of Westminster. The options have been narrowed to two: a full decant costing up to £15.6 billion over 20 to 25 years, or a semi-decant that could take 60 years and cost approaching £40 billion. A £3 billion first phase of works would begin this year. The debate that follows will focus, as it always does, on where to put MPs while the building is fixed. Richmond House? The QEII Conference Centre? How big should the temporary chamber be? But there is a more ... (more) |
Westminster Hall debate on Russian influence on British politicsEmbed from Getty ImagesOn Monday there was a Westminster Hall debate on Russian influence on UK politics and democracy, occasioned by a public petition that gained the required 100,000 signatures. Allowing such petitions to trigger debates seems a worthwhile experiment, though the one demanding that MPs who change parties should be forced to resign and fight a by-election seems to me misconceived. Don't party whips have enough power as it is? But it's worth reading the transcript of the debate on Russian interference. Several Liberal Democrats MPs took part - here's Cameron Thomas: The breadth and depth of Russian influence ... (more) |
UPDATED: Daisy Cooper announces new economic policy - Get Britain growing againIn a major speech in the City of London this morning, Daisy Cooper has announced Liberal Democrat plans to break up the Treasury and move it to Birmingham. A new Department for Growth would include the Department of Business and Trade's responsibilities and would have a mandate to boost long term sustainable growth. It would be a single point of contact for business and investment. A smaller department for public expenditure would control departmental spending Stronger economic growth would be recognised as the only sustainable solution to the country's problems. This would come alongside a better relationship with Europe. This ... (more) |
The Zombies: Care of Cell 44It took 40 years for the Zombies' Odessey and Oracle to be recognised as one of the great albums of the Sixties, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that its opening track wasn't a hit as single. But Care of Cell 44 sounds like 1967 sunshine in a bottle now: Mellotron, harmonies and a great bass part. (more) |
Have the wheels come off Reform's DOGE experiment?Reform's success in last year's local council elections was very much built around their claims that huge amounts of public money is being wasted in the public sector and that their special unit, modelled on Elon Musk's DOGE shitshow in the United States, would sort it all out. The reality though is that all the promised savings have failed to materialise, while the expected freezing of council tax has proved to be just a pipe dream. The Independent reports that Reform-led Worcestershire County Council will issue the biggest council tax rise in England this April after the government gave it ... (more) |
Finding the last traces of England's lost riverWhen I blogged about the Hulmes Ferry a couple of years ago, I discovered that the Manchester Ship Canal is a canalisation of the lower reaches of the River Irwell. This video sets out to find what remains of those lower reaches between Salford and the Mersey at Eastham. (more) |
Tributes paid to Jim Wallace in the Holyrood chamberThe funeral of Jim Wallace- Baron Wallace of Tankerness - took place earlier today at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. Eulogies were given by Liam McArthur and Alasdair Carmichael. Last week MSPs from all parties paid their tributes to him as a motion of condolence was moved at Holyrood. The presiding officer, Alison Johnstone, said: This is my 27th year in the Scottish Parliament, and I know that, without Jim Wallace, Parliament would be a different place - a lesser one. Jim lived our parliamentary values of wisdom, integrity, justice and compassion, which were constantly demonstrated through his incredible career. His ... (more) |
Llama drama! "Hero" rescue llamas who narrowly escaped death stop offender fleeing from police in DerbyshireDerbyshire Times wins our Headline of the Day Award by a distance with its tale of crime-fighting llamas. The judges have asked me to point out that my photograph shows alpacas, who would probably have pointed the offender on his way after asking him to admire their hairdos. (more) |