tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.comments2023-06-26T15:29:14.498+01:00Liberator’s blogGareth Eppshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198368251505541728noreply@blogger.comBlogger289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-35783612376289341042017-11-22T17:20:23.735+00:002017-11-22T17:20:23.735+00:00Very interesting, but very sparse. This blog is no...Very interesting, but very sparse. This blog is not a substitute for the Liberator facebook group, which should be kept as an moderated open forum. Ben Jephcotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00299098896490891529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-73835949835714634882017-09-14T09:41:26.546+01:002017-09-14T09:41:26.546+01:00My sole purpose in joining the Lib Dems after the ...My sole purpose in joining the Lib Dems after the referendum was because they are supposed to be the most anti-Brexit party. If they are not going to robustly oppose Brexit then they are completely useless to the 16 million-and-growing Remainers. Their wishy-washy Brexit policy was the reason most Remainers voted Labour in the General Election. #StopBrexitFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15693173726891731541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-77701124876645899802017-09-13T19:04:59.539+01:002017-09-13T19:04:59.539+01:00Bloody angry! Stuff the leadership!Bloody angry! Stuff the leadership!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04265238446653219844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-86536683757020604332017-09-13T08:16:48.228+01:002017-09-13T08:16:48.228+01:00In my day special conferences made a profit! Indee...In my day special conferences made a profit! Indeed, more than once when the Party was having yet another financial crisis it was not uncommon to hear someone say 'let''s have a special conference!'.Born Optimisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10819799229330579639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-65044191301881192772017-09-12T23:03:21.328+01:002017-09-12T23:03:21.328+01:00And when I said that Lib Dem membership influence...And when I said that Lib Dem membership influence on policy making was largely illusory I was insulted in fairly crude terms.<br /><br />Of course if you still have the details of the special conference request it can just be submitted after all. It would be possible to just tack the "special conference" on to the end of the normal one (I think - deadlines may not now allow that though)Hywelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094171587140185827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-15164760099086192012017-09-12T21:48:57.274+01:002017-09-12T21:48:57.274+01:00As one of the co-organisers of the special confere...As one of the co-organisers of the special conference request I can confirm this story. We were asked if we'd drop the special conference to save the party money and allow the motion to be amended in exchange for getting it on the conference floor through a suspension of standing orders. Obviously FCC can't deliver the vote, but we thought the pledge of the chair of FCC to support the suspension, and the rest of FCC to remain neutral would be good enough.<br /><br />So in good faith, we agreed.<br /><br />And now it seems that despite holding our end of the bargain up, FCC is walking back its.<br /><br />To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.sarahlizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937273309731692814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-56694255781665174962017-07-03T11:43:05.902+01:002017-07-03T11:43:05.902+01:00I think that actually what paddy has written has a...I think that actually what paddy has written has a lot to commend it. Writing as an ordinary party member I am constantly told how democratic the party is and how much input I have in reality, no one cares whether I want Trident replaced or not, as I am not a conference rep. No one care is I support the benefit cap or the bedroom tax, in fact no one is even going to ask. My PCC is appointed by the centre, the party leader I voted for resigns after a delegation of Lords visit him and everyone pretends nothing has happened. As for the idea that you have to be a long-term member to have an input, we have so few long- term members to make that idiotic. As a party we ought to reach out, put some policies there and see if people agree. Could we have polled the membership and public about whether to support bombing in Syria or a second referendum on the EU ? Quite frankly, people don't want that answer they might get. We have no working process within the party for determining anything. What we have is people going round in endless spirals of pointlessness. <br />Will the 'lack of a leadership' contest resolve anything ? No. Will a new leader take the party in a new direction or will everybody continue with doing what they want when they want how they want ? There is no coherence on anything from Brexit to tuition fees and it not surprising it doesn't inspire the public.Caracatushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12957534953982574801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-88741429000674258222016-11-01T10:58:59.644+00:002016-11-01T10:58:59.644+00:00and the poll out today has the Lib Dems on 8% - th...and the poll out today has the Lib Dems on 8% - the people not advocating co-operation with greens and Labour should take on board that the combined UKIP/Tory vote is 55% while not all of ukip voters will switch to the conservatives, it is a mountain to climb. I don't think anyone will forgive Clegg, and as he keeps popping up, they can't be allowed to forget him either. Perhaps being the most disastrous party leader ever is just not enough for him, and he also aspires to be the most disastrous ex leader too.Caracatushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12957534953982574801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-39669214847536375702016-06-19T19:35:22.328+01:002016-06-19T19:35:22.328+01:00The continuation of this post - next - expands a l...The continuation of this post - next - expands a little on the debate we as a country need to have after the referendum. It starts thus - <br />What more can be done to improve the EU after the referendum? This is the key debate that we should be having that we are not having. That remainers should be having with antis even now - we can disagree, they can vehemently oppose and want out of the EU but we can still find out what they don't like and try to change some of those things (any that are actually real and factual) for the better. This is the debate that Stronger IN and David Cameron have failed to have.Kiron Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02483780931989805429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-79880647149953296972016-05-23T16:28:08.351+01:002016-05-23T16:28:08.351+01:00Mick,
It was only when zipping didn't apply t...Mick, <br />It was only when zipping didn't apply that Saj Karim could win the second seat in the NW region, to be factually accurate.<br /><br />There are a number of problems with zipping, not least the gender-binary nature of the proposals; but the motion as proposed relegates other under-represented groups to second class status. The proposers have a lot of thinking to do.Gareth Eppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18198368251505541728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-88419677522841012302016-05-23T16:09:18.867+01:002016-05-23T16:09:18.867+01:00Zipping was the single most effective way the Lib ...Zipping was the single most effective way the Lib Dems ever used to ensure gender balance. It did also get one ethnic minority MEP elected as well, but only because we won 2 seats in the NW region.In 2019 the best we can hope for probably is one MEP in regions, so I support zipping but would seek to ensure that 'other' recognised minorities get some representation at the top of the list. I hope the proposers will think how to do this before the English Council meeting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-11288986150701506192016-04-18T19:45:09.390+01:002016-04-18T19:45:09.390+01:00There's a Liberal Democrats for Basic Income g...There's a Liberal Democrats for Basic Income group hoping to try and get the issue debated in September, one way or another. The Facebook page for it is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/394529334044540/Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17482365633543675966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-34171975802776734952016-02-15T23:17:09.882+00:002016-02-15T23:17:09.882+00:00Owning 10 acres of grass and hosting our tenant wh...Owning 10 acres of grass and hosting our tenant who is in the middle of lambing his tiny flock, I am of course interested in Landlord tenant law (not that I understand much about it.)However having worked as both a farmer and an ecologist I do understand the vital importance of managing land in as small a packet as possible. There are about 2000 species (when micro fauna and flora are included) on every acre of Agricultural land in the UK. This diversity depends on the existence of a great diversity of micro-habitats within farmland that might look uniform to you and I. Anything that makes habitat more uniform, therefore, puts the survival of some species at risk. We need farmland to be managed efficiently because we need the food, but wildlife does not understand human economics, so we must compromise. Huge areas of land run by economically efficient agribusiness, that make themselves look green by ticking lots of boxes, do not support wildlife as well as smaller farms or tenanted land where each unit has a different style of management and therefore supports different species. The managers of smaller units can more easily respond to local market demands by exploiting local habitats in a way that benefits both the species that live in them, and their human customers. And don't forget that it is the micro fauna and flora (including bacteria and viruses) that are the most important actors in the natural nutrient cycles, and carbon capture, on which we increasingly depend. The Scottish Landlord and Tenant system has evolved over a long period for particular reasons. In some places it definitely needs modernising, in others it works fairly well. We should think very carefully about what we want from it, and how that is to be achieved. We neither want huge agribusinesses or hundreds of inefficient tenants, but we do want individual farms, or tenanted estates that work efficiently to provide benefits for all. I do not know whether Hume was right to depart from Liberal policy or not, but our survival depends on getting agriculture and ecology right, and too rigid adherence to historic policies may be damaging. The climate is changing, and flexibility is needed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15108248313443633135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-21201656883279409712016-02-12T14:45:38.654+00:002016-02-12T14:45:38.654+00:00But we are a unionist party? What would you prefer...But we are a unionist party? What would you prefer the message to be? A volte face on being part of the Better Together campaign? That makes us look even more duplicitous. <br /><br />We're in favour a federal UK, not breaking it up...Matthew Sumptionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17502222179846789627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-78113280389565600582015-12-03T13:18:38.895+00:002015-12-03T13:18:38.895+00:00I personally take a view that international law an...I personally take a view that international law and the UN need to be treated seriously. This is the key shift between the debate about Chemical weapons where I campaigned to use the UN rather than resort immediately to bombing and the idea that the UK should join up with the USA, France and Russia (and other countries) in using lethal force against Daesh - in response to a UN resolution.John Hemminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16563623241172913378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-37370855210161315612015-12-02T17:51:17.240+00:002015-12-02T17:51:17.240+00:00Gareth, I can't disagree with a word. I am wa...Gareth, I can't disagree with a word. I am waiting to see if even one Lib Dem MP l vote against this lunacy.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03281231409865527752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-23806642236265258432015-12-02T14:38:02.042+00:002015-12-02T14:38:02.042+00:00I think people will certainly start asking why the...I think people will certainly start asking why they bother helping out a bunch of MPs who pay no heed to the interests and concerns of the membership of the party they claim to represent. Actually, I'm sure they think they are acting in the wider interests of their constituents, but it is pointless to pretend this is, in some ways, as bad as the tutition fees debacle and, indeed, in some ways even worse...Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089679573384155226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-37005435145339799862015-08-21T18:29:26.535+01:002015-08-21T18:29:26.535+01:00Erm, I hope I can be considered a surprise, even i...Erm, I hope I can be considered a surprise, even if only a little one. On the lst I think it's a strong one, and great for the gender, BAME, and G of LGBT presence.<br /><br />I'm new to all of this, and busy learning as I go, but if any of your readers want to find out more about me then just head over to my website (http://mark-platt-lr7y.squarespace.com/) or email me at mark4gla2016@gmail.com.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-21144688344936126502015-08-17T19:12:05.460+01:002015-08-17T19:12:05.460+01:00Erm, I would like to think that I'm a little o...Erm, I would like to think that I'm a little of a surprise Mr Epps. ;-)<br /><br />That said, I think it is great that we have a good gender balance, and a good BAME presence... we also have a small LGBT presence which is also good.<br /><br />So now we're into the actual campaign, and (small plug) if people want to know why I'm standing they can contact me at mark4gla2016@gmail.com or at @mark4gla2016.<br /><br />Mark PlattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-36316654295128517302015-08-14T17:13:28.015+01:002015-08-14T17:13:28.015+01:00No candidates were reinstated on appeal against th...No candidates were reinstated on appeal against the shortlist - 16 were shortlisted in the first place by the Shortlisting Committee. <br /><br />(I am RO, Mayoral & List Selections)Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14726791152439067293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-89230773589502169312014-10-10T09:30:56.436+01:002014-10-10T09:30:56.436+01:00How many of the earlier items were essential? Well...How many of the earlier items were essential? Well, about the only other item was the Gurling Review. I'll leave you to be the judge.<br /><br />There are problems with the way the FE operates. As a member of it, I know that as well as anybody. The list of requirements Mark attached to his OMOV amendment is just the start. Even to get something as simple as a Communications plan for each decision can be a challenge. It needs to be less secretive and more engaging.<br /><br />Having said that, remember that the incentive scheme for membership that is putting money back into the pockets of local parties came from an FE discussion. This current FE has made some sensible decisions, not least on saving Spring Conference. And, while there were flaws in the constitutional amendments, the principle of OMOV has been accepted and that's somethingI'm very pleased about. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13400588534561290859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-79992890548867384042014-07-28T19:31:31.702+01:002014-07-28T19:31:31.702+01:00Britannica Bold never did fit well with Arial in m...Britannica Bold never did fit well with Arial in my opinion. But I do like Familiar Pro with Arial.Alan Winterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734703534118413975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-18128872288070026222014-07-23T15:28:20.653+01:002014-07-23T15:28:20.653+01:00Can I be the first to say that I hate the new font...Can I be the first to say that I hate the new font?<br />Thanks.<br />[George]<br />PS<br />What is the new font - I haven't seen it yet!<br />I hope its a public domain font which works instantly on all phones and browsers on Windows, Macs, Linuxes, Android etcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-81915511766550040822014-06-18T14:31:51.466+01:002014-06-18T14:31:51.466+01:00thank you for taking the trouble to write this now...thank you for taking the trouble to write this now. I hope he will know what it says, and that we thank him, love him, and will do our best to carry on the escence of what he is. Carrying on laughing will be harder, but we will, as I am sure he would want us to.<br />God bless him, his family and those close to him. xSuzanne Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150207879839421119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277746591174465580.post-19692286414868982502014-04-21T21:15:49.771+01:002014-04-21T21:15:49.771+01:00Dear Suzanne, I know you've worked with enviro...Dear Suzanne, I know you've worked with environmental and social organisations across Europe so your insight of how things really work in that sector is appreciated. I have experience of EU direct paid or seconded staff in poor countries on very generous salaries, so thought these rates were evidence that private sector and charity consultants were getting the same treatment. I see it is more complex than that.Kiron Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00638942393034873428noreply@blogger.com