James Hawes talks about his book The Shortest History of IrelandOn Monday I went to the launch of James Hawes's new book The Shortest History of Ireland. I'm very glad I did, because Hawes gave a lecture on Irish history that taught me an enormous amount. So I'm happy to recommend his book even before I've read it. You can hear much of what he said in an interview he gave to Oliver Callan on RTE Radio 1. It really is worth a listen Early on he reveals that at one time the BBC was keen to adapt his novel Speak for England. It's a great shame for Hawes that ... (more) |
The Lib Dems must challenge the economic system - but with the plans to matcThe Lib Dems recently announced plans for a Department for Growth. I can agree with splitting the Treasury into finance and "strategic economy" departments. But the messaging doesn't suggest that our party is that keen on challenging (or being seen to challenge) the economic status quo: an economic system which is not working for too many people nor the environment. Challenging the economic system does NOT mean de-growth. It does mean challenging and moving away from GDP and growth - regardless of what, where, and for who - being the ultimate aims. "Growth agnostic" is the technical term. But more ... (more) |
Caroline Pidgeon Tackling road safety by helping vulnerable road usersJust one per cent of traffic, but twenty-one per cent of fatalities. A shocking statement. This is the reality of motorcycling on our roads. This underpins the danger of being a motorcyclist on Britain's roads. It is a disparity that shows no sign of diminishing nor, unfortunately, being addressed by government. The Government's recent Road Safety Strategy is broadly welcome. While one of the measures in the Road Safety Strategy will help motorcyclist safety, namely increased funding for combatting the scourge of potholes on Britain's roads, there is little else that is new or transformative for motorcyclists, one of the ... (more) |
Still hooked on X: why won't the government even look at Bluesky?The 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: With Elon Musk's X and Grok continuing to be in the news for all the wrong reasons, I've tried again asking the government if it will look at starting to use Bluesky. Government refuses to consider Bluesky as alternative to X I've covered previously the government's strange insistence on, almost addiction to, continuing ... (more) |
Hina Bokhari writes... After years of delay, the Government's Islamophobia definition still misses the markIt's finally here. After years of campaigning by Muslim organisations and communities, against the backdrop of record levels of hate crime, the government has finally chosen the holiest time of Ramadan to publish its definition of what it calls "anti-Muslim hostility". And what do we have to show for all that waiting? A watered-down version of a definition we already had. The 2018 All-Party Parliamentary Group definition of Islamophobia was endorsed by more than 800 community organisations, over 100 academics, and every major political party except the then-governing Conservatives. It was the result of genuine consultation and rooted in the ... (more) |
New team at the Campaign for Gender BalanceThe Campaign for Gender Balance is there to help women develop and stand for public office. They support women through selection processes, provide mentoring, run brilliant training like the Future Women MPs weekends. I have been on the receiving end of their support and they are brilliant. Their chair and vice chairs are appointed by the Federal Board at the beginning of each three year cycle. Yesterday, they announced that Cllr Julia Cambridge would continue as Chair, joined by Cllr Donna Harris and Cllr Alice Bridges-Westcott as the two Vice Chairs. Here's the Instagram announcement from Lib Dem Women, the ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1487"On this occasion Starmer has taken both the correct and popular position and stuck to it despite relentless attacks from the right. The result is that it is now his opponents, rather than him, who is having to embark on a humiliating U-turn."Adam Bienkov argues that the government should learn from Farage and Badenoch's reversal on Iran. The Lancet dissects Robert F. Kennedy Jr's year of failure. Michael Webb and Rebecca Flook say the choices universities and colleges make about AI are political: "The systems now being woven into education are shaped by a remarkably small group of people. Not ... (more) |
Michael Nyman: Drowning by Numbers (Finale)Michael Nyman's music makes me happy. Certainly, the only word for this performance by the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and friends is "joyous". (more) |
Weekend action daysGateshead Liberal Democrats had two action days over the weekend - in neighbouring wards of Low Fell and Chowdene. About 15 members turned up each day to help deliver the latest Focus newsletter. I'm pleased to report that 90% of both wards were delivered. (more) |
Lawyers call for rethink on plans to cut jury trialsThe Guardian reports that plans to curtail the number of jury trials in England and Wales have been described as "unpopular, untested and poorly evidenced" by thousands of lawyers who have written to the prime minister. The paper says that the letter to Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, from 3,200 lawyers, including 300 senior barristers, comes as his government faces the prospect of one of its most serious backbench revolts since coming to power: Efforts by David Lammy, the justice secretary, to change the mind of one of the leading Labour figures opposed to the plans, the ... (more) |