Lib Dems aren’t modifying Tory policy. They are allowing it.
As the European elephant in the cabinet room finally rears and strains the Clegg-Cameron bonds, many Liberal Democrats are once again questioning why they are in government at all. And the response is the same as ever: “We had to go into coalition” they are told “because if we didn’t, the Tories would get to [...]
Privatisation and the SNP
While Alex Salmond received a hero’s welcome at the SNP conference in Inverness last weekend, controversy has been brewing back in Edinburgh. On Thursday, the City of Edinburgh Council – led by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats and SNP – will be taking the first of a series of votes on whether council services [...]
Solidarity demo for imprisoned activist Edd Bauer
Edd Bauer, the 22 year old who is being held indefinately before trial for the ‘crime’ of hanging a banner off a bridge at the Liberal Democrat conference, will have his second bail hearing on Monday. Edd, who is Vice President Education at the Birmingham University Guild of Students was denied bail and sent to [...]
On the North Sea oil spill
So, it turns out that the Shell oil leak is anything but contained. After three days of telling no one that there was a leak in the North Sea, Shell finally fessed up. Eventually, they admitted it was the biggest in more than a decade, but claimed to have it under control. Now, it appears [...]
Save Our Services: East Edinburgh Edition
Sometimes, something happens that restores your faith in activism, and humanity in general. This week, I had one of those moments at a public meeting for Save Our Services East Edinburgh. I’ve been to a lot of meetings since the Coalition government came to power, and not all of them have been terribly interesting or [...]
SOAS arrests: Where are the Lib Dems on protest rights?
“I was personally punched and thrown down the stairs by officers.” Meet Alex. He’s a postgrad student at UCL. On Monday he joined a peaceful demonstration at SOAS against Higher Education Minister David Willetts. This is how the police responded. There were accounts of officers and security guards forcing protesters onto the ground and repeatedly [...]
Lib Dems Scots conference – retreating to the hills?
Is treasa tuath na tighearna: “The People are mightier than a lord”. This famous slogan of the 1880s Highland Land League is where, I think, you have to begin if you want to understand the grip of the Liberal Party, and so the Lib Dems, over the Highlands of Scotland. This movement was, some would [...]
Green Conference: Lawson’s biggest fears – Labour losing, Labour winning…
Monday at conference has focussed more on vision than on policy. First up was a panel with Compass head Neal Lawson and senior Lib Dem dissident Richard Grayson (former head of policy, former speech writer to Charles Kennedy). Neal Lawson was, as ever, excellent, provocative, moving, charismatic – a genuine leader in Britain’s progressive movement. [...]
Dick of the year: everyone who voted Lib Dem
This is a nomination for Dick of the year from Kevin Smith The 23% that voted Liberal Democrat at the General Election. You should have seen the writing on the wall. At local level, it is clear that Lib Dems have always said anything to win votes whether or not they could deliver. In fact, [...]
Dick of the year: Nick Clegg
This is a nomination for the Bright Green #dick2010 award from Derek Wall The financial crisis buried free market economics but now, paradoxically, we have a government dedicated to marketising everything. The gains of the 1945 Labour government, ironically shaped by liberals like Keynes and Beveridge, from comprehensive education to the NHS are all under [...]
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