Lib Dems win this week's local council by-electionJust the one principal authority council by-election this week and it brought a comprehensive Liberal Democrat win: Penn Hill (Bournemouth, Christchurch, & Poole) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 43.6% (+0.9) [IMG: 🌳] CON: 26.1% (+1.0) [IMG: ➡] RFM: 17.8% (New) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 4.6% (-6.7) [IMG: ◼] RES: 3.6% (New) [IMG: 🌍] GRN: 2.2% (-6.5) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 1.9% (New) [IMG: 🙋] Ind: 0.2% (New)No PE (-12.2) as previous.Liberal Democrat HOLD.Changes w/ 2023. — Election Maps UK (@electionmaps.uk) 2026-11-06T12:48:07.774Z Many congratulations to new councillor Amanda Jellicoe and the team. The result was rather different from what the Conservatives had ... (more) |
Just growth by lowering deadweight losses through taxLike other "advanced economies", we suffer "deadweight loss" from dysfunctional taxes. Why, when we could get up to 30% more economic growth from tax revenue by taxing wealth extractors, such as landowners, rather than wealth creators: workers and entrepreneurs? Deadweight Burden is real and now under review by the Labour Government—a potential game changer for sustainable growth. HM Treasury's Marginal Cost of Public Funds (MCPF) officially acknowledges that 30p in every pound allocated to government capital projects is "lost" through tax inefficiencies. Just 15 years ago, I was told Treasury estimated 20%. No wonder it's under review. Treasury does not ... (more) |
GUEST POST Rediscovering "proper Grimond Liberalism"Paul Hindley from The Grimond Society on the ideas of the Liberal Party leader Jo Grimond and its ambition to put cooperatives and mutuals back at the heart of Liberal Democrat politics. One of the more eye-catching policies to come out of this year's Liberal Democrat autumn federal conference in Brighton concerned addressing the apparent malpractice of the water companies. Following a passionate debate, conference-goers overwhelmingly backed a policy motion entitled Restoring our waters: Britain's water company crisis. It commits the party to converting failing privatised water companies (such as Thames Water) into mutually owned companies, where water customers own ... (more) |
Mixed messages on smart glassesThe Guardian reports that the government is considering placing restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns the technology is being used to surreptitiously film women. The paper says that the safeguarding minister, Satvir Kaur, hinted at a ban on selling the technology "to certain users" in the House of Commons: Kaur said: "The benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they can cause. The government is already looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and restricting the sale to certain users." The minister said people who used smart glasses for filming already risked breaking the ... (more) |
James Earl Ray fled to London after he shot Martin Luther KingSunday Express, 9 June 1968 Somehow I had managed to live until yesterday without learning that James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King in 1968, fled to London after his crime and was arrested there by the Metropolitan Police. Thanks to Rob Tyers for enlightening me in the middle of a thread on pubs called The Green Man. There's a comprehensive Wikipedia article on the assassination, and BBC News has published one about Ray's journey to London. the people he met and the crimes he committed before his arrest. You should read those for the full story, ... (more) |
Sheila Hancock and Stratford Johns in the original London production of AnnieHere's The Stage reviewing the first London production of the musical Annie in 1978: It says a good deal for the skill of Stratford Johns and Sheila Hancock that they manage to hold their own against the juvenile competition, but both give first-rate, amusing performances as Warbucks and Miss Hannigan, Stratford Johns surprising us with a melodious singing voice.Sheila Hancock and Stratford Johns? Now that's what I call casting. You can see Sheila Hancock in the video above and hear Stratford Johns, who shaved his head for the part, in the one below. Johns voice shouldn't have been such a ... (more) |
Paul Spackman to deliver talk on Lloyd George and Europe in Llanystumdwy - He'll also be speaking at our Weekend too!At 7:30pm on Thursday 19 November, Lloyd George's biographer, Paul Spackman, will be delivering a talk on Lloyd George and Europe at the Village Hall in Llanystumdwy. The talk is being hosted by Cyfeillion Amgueddfa Lloyd George/Friends of The Lloyd George Museum. Entry is £5 or free for Friends of the Museum. Lloyd George Society Weekend On another note, Paul will be speaking at the Lloyd George Society Weekend (February 27-28). His talk then will be on Lloyd George as a Welsh Radical and we're really looking forward to hosting him. The venue for that will be the Lake Country ... (more) |
Council by-election results scorecard 2026-2027Here's the tally of seats changing hands in principal authority council by-elections held between the May 2026 and the May 2027 local elections: Con Lab Lib Dem Green Reform SNP Plaid Ind/ Other Net Con [18] +2 (+2/0) +1 (+3/-2) -1 (+3/-4) -6 (+3/-9) -1 (0/-1) – +3 (+4/-1) -2 Lab -2 (0/-2) [15] -1 (0/-1) -1 (+3/-4) 0 (+9/-9) +1 (+1/0) -1 (0/-1) 0 (+1/-1) -4 Lib Dem -1 (+2/-3) +1 (+1/0) [20] +1 (+1/0) +2 (+2/-1) -1 (0/-1) – +3 (+3/0) +4 Grn +1 (+4/-3) +1 (+4/-3) -1 (0/-1) [7] – +1 (+1/0) – – +2 Ref +6 ... (more) |
Local democracy should not be an excuse to stop building homesBritain needs more homes. But why should building them require a choice between local democracy and individual freedom? Bolton offers a revealing example. From 31 October, new national rules in England require planning officers to decide certain applications, including qualifying schemes of up to nine homes on small sites. Larger or more contentious proposals can still go before elected councillors, subject to the rules. Bolton's council rejected the constitutional changes in October and has scheduled another vote for 10 November. It warns that, until the matter is resolved, it cannot lawfully determine planning applications. That is a remarkable result: a ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1602"His administration has been openly attempting to fund its allies in Europe. According to the Guardian, the State Department has allocated $15m (£11.2m) to three conservative groups in the UK. These grants form part of a 'slush fund' to boost likeminded organisations across Europe, with up to $3m (£2.2m) reportedly available to those focused on 'developing civilizational bonds' and 'defending rule of law'."Max Colbert and Sam Bright on the millions of dollars pouring into our democracy from Trump's America. David Henig argues that Brexit psychologically damaged a political generation - except one: "Andy Burnham was not an MP during the ... (more) |