An interesting article from the Washington Post that outlines the demographic and political shifts that appear to tilt the US electoral college in the Democrats favour...
"Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that he sometimes has to eat them." Adlai Stevenson
14 February 2014
13 February 2014
Danny Alexander's currency union u-turn
Lib Dem Voice (among others) reports Danny Alexander has ruled out a post Scottish independence currency union in the strongest possible terms. He states: "a currency union would create unacceptable risks both for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom."
This surely can't be the same Danny Alexander as press spokesman for the pro european currency union campaign Britain in Europe who told the Guardian in 2002, "When the euro fell below dollar parity, anti-Europeans were rubbing their hands with glee. There's egg on faces now,"
Now I don't know whether Danny actually now believes currency unions 'create unacceptable risks' or has simply gone native and is just parroting the Osborne Treasury line. But what I do know is that it is stupid politics both for the 'No' campaign and the Lib Dems.
It's stupid for the No campaign as there is nothing more certain to get the opposite reaction in Scotland than for Westminster politicians to tell the Scots what they can do. And it is stupid for the Lib Dems as they have denied themselves the opportunity to point this out.
This surely can't be the same Danny Alexander as press spokesman for the pro european currency union campaign Britain in Europe who told the Guardian in 2002, "When the euro fell below dollar parity, anti-Europeans were rubbing their hands with glee. There's egg on faces now,"
Now I don't know whether Danny actually now believes currency unions 'create unacceptable risks' or has simply gone native and is just parroting the Osborne Treasury line. But what I do know is that it is stupid politics both for the 'No' campaign and the Lib Dems.
It's stupid for the No campaign as there is nothing more certain to get the opposite reaction in Scotland than for Westminster politicians to tell the Scots what they can do. And it is stupid for the Lib Dems as they have denied themselves the opportunity to point this out.
31 January 2014
Friday favourite 136
I stumbled across this the other day. It shouldn't be funny but somehow it is...
30 January 2014
London waterways sound map
Thanks to Laura Willoughby for introducing me to the London Sound Survey and their Harry Beck inspired map of London's waterways.
27 January 2014
Robin Meltzer meets New Malden's North Koreans
There are approximately 400 North Koreans living in and around New Malden and I was delighted to be able to meet some of them on Saturday night with Robin Meltzer - the Lib Dems excellent candidate in Richmond Park constituency.
And if anyone doubts the need for the UK's borders to remain open to refugees and those fleeing persecution then a few minutes in their company should disabuse them of the idea.
And if anyone doubts the need for the UK's borders to remain open to refugees and those fleeing persecution then a few minutes in their company should disabuse them of the idea.
17 January 2014
Friday favourite 135
This is for Tim Snowball, the Liberal Democrats' Director of Political Operations:
6 January 2014
Former Liberal MP appears on Antiques Roadshow
Former Richmond Park MP, Jenny Tonge, appeared with a couple of antique Spanish chairs on yesterday's edition.
You can catch the exchange on BBC iplayer here at 41 mins.
You can catch the exchange on BBC iplayer here at 41 mins.
4 January 2014
Friday favourite 134
The beeb have run a series of documentaries about ABBA over the festive season. And it reminded me of just how complex their songs are. And it is also an opportunity to feature this 1984 Blancmange cover of 'The day before you came'.
31 December 2013
Review of the year 2013
It's the last day of the year, so it's time to look back on the events
that have caught the attention of this blog over the past 12 months. So here's the Living on Words third annual review:
In January Michael Gove visited a local Girls' Schools and talked about boys toilets
In February, this blog spent some time reporting on the presidential elections in Kenya, but also managed to highlight a great footballing coincidence.
March saw the 50th anniversary of the Beeching Report as well as the introduction of secret courts - in the face of a campaign by Lib Dem activists.
In April Margaret Thatcher died and Tom Lehrer didn't.
May saw another local election disaster for the Lib Dems, but also a major split in the ranks of Brighton Greens.
In June I criticised the campaign being run by the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.
July saw the death of one of Britain's finest footballers - Lawrie Reilly.
In August some interesting European stats appeared to show a connection between unemployment rates and pay rises - with the UK trading off lower unemployment for lower pay.
In September Labour peer George Foulkes wanted a public subsidy for bankrupt Hearts FC.
October saw the death of Lou Reed and the castration of a dog by Zac Goldsmith's mum.
The tendency of Liberal Democrats to reach for nanny was once again revealed in November.
And finally in December the 'most middle class petition ever' was submitted to the Kingston Guardian on the subject of Christmas trees in Surbiton.
Happy new year!
In January Michael Gove visited a local Girls' Schools and talked about boys toilets
In February, this blog spent some time reporting on the presidential elections in Kenya, but also managed to highlight a great footballing coincidence.
March saw the 50th anniversary of the Beeching Report as well as the introduction of secret courts - in the face of a campaign by Lib Dem activists.
In April Margaret Thatcher died and Tom Lehrer didn't.
May saw another local election disaster for the Lib Dems, but also a major split in the ranks of Brighton Greens.
In June I criticised the campaign being run by the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.
July saw the death of one of Britain's finest footballers - Lawrie Reilly.
In August some interesting European stats appeared to show a connection between unemployment rates and pay rises - with the UK trading off lower unemployment for lower pay.
In September Labour peer George Foulkes wanted a public subsidy for bankrupt Hearts FC.
October saw the death of Lou Reed and the castration of a dog by Zac Goldsmith's mum.
The tendency of Liberal Democrats to reach for nanny was once again revealed in November.
And finally in December the 'most middle class petition ever' was submitted to the Kingston Guardian on the subject of Christmas trees in Surbiton.
Happy new year!
Has Zac Goldsmith left the Conservatives?
If so it might explain his open letter that he kindly dropped through my door yesterday that calls on the Lib Dems to stop a third runway at Heathrow.
In it Goldsmith calls on the Lib Dems to 'apply maximum pressure on your own local MPs and Ministers to kill of the threat of Heathrow expansion..."
Now given the Conservatives have more than five times the number of MPs of the Lib Dems, have the majority of Cabinet Ministers, including the Chancellor, Transport Secretary, Local Government and Planning Minister, as well as the Mayor of London and are responsible for the Heathrow review it seems a bizarre (if not desperate) call.
He clearly now has so little influence in Conservative party that he is forced to seek allies elsewhere. But if so what is the point in him carrying on as their standard bearer?
In it Goldsmith calls on the Lib Dems to 'apply maximum pressure on your own local MPs and Ministers to kill of the threat of Heathrow expansion..."
He clearly now has so little influence in Conservative party that he is forced to seek allies elsewhere. But if so what is the point in him carrying on as their standard bearer?
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