<< May 2009 UK combat operations end in Iraq Thursday, April 30th, 2009 - 3:05 am
After six years of an illegal, immoral, and unnecessary war, UK combat operations in Iraq ended in Basra.
This is not the time and place to go further into the whys and wherefores. Our thoughts turn to the nearly 200 service personnel who lost their lives in Iraq and of course their friends and family.
I am sure that there is a sense of relief for many that their final tour of Iraq is ending, and I look forward to welcoming them home.
However, we should not forget the toll on Iraq itself, with at least 100,000, and up to 1 million violent deaths as a result of the conflict.
The country is in a much worse condition than six years ago, its population depleted and demoralised, its infrastructure devastated. Icelandic general election Sunday, April 26th, 2009 - 2:51 am
It seems that voters in Iceland have backed the left-wing coalition and strongly reject Independent party that oversaw economic collapse.
The coalition is led by interim prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. She became her country's first woman PM on 1 February this year; she also became the world's first openly gay head of government.
The conservative Independence party had held a parliamentary majority for some 70 years. However, many blamed it for the country's economic troubles.
The win allows the government to push through a pro-EU agenda, and the majority of the coalition want Iceland to apply for EU membership, which would eventually allow the country to adopt the euro.
Good luck Iceland! Meeting with Town Councillor Sunday, April 26th, 2009 - 1:08 pm
Today, I had a long and fruitful meeting with my colleague and fellow Lib Dem Cllr Judith Brooksbank, about the direction and substance of our Parliamentary Campaign. Mexico declares a state of emergency to combat swine flu Saturday, April 25th, 2009 - 2:45 am
The situation in Mexico is getting a bit worrying.
We're especially concerned about our friends Harry and Abel who work for the British Council in Mexico City.
Hope they're all right. Darling's Budget of "patchwork repairs" not enough, Britain needs to do things "fundamentally differently". Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 - 1:52 am
The Chancellor unveiled what will probably be his last budget before the next General Election. And what a half-hearted attempt at plugging the leaking holes of the ship of state.
It is clear that Labour is out of ideas and out of steam. They have condemned us to years of unemployment and decades of debt. The people of Britain deserve something different.
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, but what is proposed is a drop in the ocean.
Keeping the winter fuel payment for pensioners is good, but not doing more to tackle fuel poverty will leave many old folk out in the cold.
The money for children struggling most is less each week than the cost of a pint of milk. It is disgraceful to give such a meagre amount.
As Nick Clegg said, "Taxes are still too heavy on those who can least afford it and too easy to avoid for those who know how". Inflation measure turns negative Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 - 1:36 am
Stunning news that the UK annual inflation measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) went negative in March for the first time since 1960, to -0.4%.
On the face of it, the cost of living fell in March compared with last year, but that does not give a complete picture.
Older people have just had a 5% rise in their basic state pension, so if prices rise by less than 5%, in theory they will be better off.
However, many pensioners rely on the interest on savings to top-up their pensions and these returns have dropped sharply.
Hard-working families could also suffer. If employers take RPI into account when deciding on any pay agreements, then a pay freeze is the likely result.
The government's handling of the current economic crisis has been less than sure-footed.
Bring on Vince Cable. Fianna Fàil joins ELDR Friday, April 17th, 2009 - 1:06 am
After fruitful negotiations the European Liberal and Democrat party welcomed Fianna Fàil as a new ELDR member party.
The Irish newcomer will see the ELDR party establish itself as a key player for the forthcoming European elections. For ELDR, Fianna Fàil's membership will bring to the liberal family a new and interesting perspective from a strong party currently in government.
The number of parties belonging to the European liberal family has risen to 58 with the inclusion of two new observer members, the Spanish Centro Democratico Liberal (CDL) and the Slovakian Slobodné fórum (Free Forum). Happy New Year to all our Bangla Friends Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 - 1:19 am
Today is the first day of Baishakh 1416, so happy new year to all our Bangla/Bengali friends.
I know that Naba Barsha is supposed to usher a new beginning, an anticipation filled with delight, happiness, and wealth, which I share with the Bengali community here in Keighley. Fire in Polish hostel kills many Monday, April 13th, 2009 - 12:46 am
Sad to read of the tragic fire that destroyed a homeless hostel and killed two-dozen people in Kamien Pomorski in Poland.
I taught I Warsaw in the early-1990s, and got to know Poland pretty well.
Tonight, I had the great honour of being selected by members of the Keighley constituency to contest the next general election as their Parliamentary Candidate.
After a ten-minute speech, the members grilled me extensively for nigh on 40 minutes about plans and priorities for the forthcoming campaign. I think I gave a good account of myself and was thrilled when the “gathered throng” voted for me unanimously.
In 2005, we did very well, increasing our vote, increasing our share of the vote, and beating the national leader of the neo-Nazi BNP into fourth place.
This time round the battle is going to be even tougher.
Labour’s Anne Cryer is standing down, and the party’s in meltdown nationally.
The Tories are desperate to win, Keighley is 92nd on their target list, and they MUST win the seat if they hope to form the next government.
Our job is to stop them.
Funnily enough, it was an event on this day in 1976 that inspired me to finally join the Liberal Party having been a schoolboy supporter for a couple of years. Peter Hain who was then the leader of the Young Liberals was cleared of an obvious “fit-up” charge of robbing a branch of Barclays Bank. Peter’s family had left South Africa ten years previously because of their opposition to apartheid, and it was more than likely that South African agents may have used a “double” to frame him.
Anyway, back to tonight, in this blog, I want to keep you up to date on the campaign in Keighley and give you a chance to get to know me and what I stand for a little bit better.
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