Category: London

England, LondonLeave a comment

Parliament Recalled: will Emergency Regulations have been made by Thursday? #londonriots

Michael McFarland Campbell

We’ve all watched the horrendous images from across our country’s capital, London, and from other cities in England. The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. David Cameron MP has declared that he has spoken to the Speaker of the House of Commons so that the House is recalled on Thursday so that he can make a statement. What will this statement be? I suspect that I was not the only person re-reading the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c.36). The Act states that 27. (1) Where emergency regulations are made– (a)  a senior Minister of the Crown shall as soon as is … Continue reading Parliament Recalled: will Emergency Regulations have been made by Thursday? #londonriots

Rate this:

DELGA, England, LGBT, LGBT History Month, Lib Dems, London, news, Northern Ireland, politics, Scotland, Wales2 Comments

Reforming the marriage law – why not on a UK basis? – Scotland and NI lag behind

Michael McFarland Campbell

Today in LGBT History Month, we have another good news story resulting from the Liberal Democrats forming the coalition government with the Tories in Westminster. Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities, Lynne Featherstone MP has launched consultation on reforming the marriage and civil partnership laws in the United Kingdom sorry England & Wales in line with the Liberal Democrats Equal Marriage Policy voted on at Party Conference in September. Unfortunately, this will not be done across the UK as a whole which will mean that whilst Lynne is Minister for Equalities she will be putting out consultation on something that will … Continue reading Reforming the marriage law – why not on a UK basis? – Scotland and NI lag behind

Rate this:

Conservatives, England, Law, LGBT, LGBT History Month, London, news, politics, United Kingdom, WalesLeave a comment

did Sir Humphrey give the advice on Chapter 3 of Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill?

Michael McFarland Campbell

For many gay men in the United Kingdom, there was light at the end of a tunnel in the Government’s Protection of Freedoms Bill.

The Rt Hon David Cameron, wrote in an exclusive for Pink News:

We will change the law so that any past convictions for consensual homosexual sexual activities, which have since become lawful, will be treated as spent, and will not be disclosed on a criminal record check when applying for a job. This is a question of justice – and it’s right that we should change the law and wipe the slate clean.

Unfortunately, it seems that once again HMG is being economical with the truth. Continue reading “did Sir Humphrey give the advice on Chapter 3 of Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill?”

Belfast, Fairer Votes, London, news, Northern Ireland, scam3 Comments

DOH2AV – twitter and website fail

Michael McFarland Campbell

A quick lesson to those in the NO2AV DOH2AV campaign HQ.

Not all your followers on twitter actually support you.

The NO2AV DOH2AV Advocates page had until very recently, some twitter avatars of people that they are portraying as supporters of theirs. Sadly, this included many people who are part of the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign.

NO2AV Fail
NO2AV make clumsy error over who supports them.

Now, anyone who goes to check on this site now, will find that the twitter avatar strip has been removed. Continue reading “DOH2AV – twitter and website fail”

London, news, Royal Family, Uncategorized1 Comment

Vivat Regina, Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

Michael McFarland Campbell

  Today is the fifty-ninth anniversary of the Accession of Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II. Today it was that the sad news was published everywhere that   THE KING IS DEAD In the words of Pathé And so it was that on the sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two that Our late Most Gracious Sovereign King George the Sixth died and our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second was proclaimed Queen. Upon the intimation that our late Most Gracious Sovereign King George the Sixth had died in his sleep … Continue reading Vivat Regina, Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

Rate this:

Benedict XVI, catholic, England, John Henry Newman, London, news, Ordinariate (Anglican), Ordination, Our Lady, Personal Ordinariate, SacramentsLeave a comment

best wishes to Fathers Burnham, Newton, & Broadhurst

hibernocatholic1
John Henry Newman
Blessed John Henry Newman. Pray for us. Image via Wikipedia

As the first personal ordinariate is erected and Father Andrew Burnham and Father John Broadhurst take up membership with Father Keith Newton as the Ordinary, I wish them and all who will come into communion with the See of Peter in this way all the very best. Fathers Burnham and Broadhurst I have met and I know that they will continue to work for the Cure of Souls, Continue reading “best wishes to Fathers Burnham, Newton, & Broadhurst”

charitable, Conservatives, Lib Dems, London, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics1 Comment

the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

Michael McFarland Campbell

The latest news from the Coalition Government in Westminster is a scheme whereby customers using bank cards could give money to charity. As a trustee of The HIV Support Centre, a local charity, this sounds like it could be a source of welcome money. But I have quite a number of questions. How would such money be distributed? How would the charity/charities be chosen? Is this to eliminate charity boxes in corner shops/bars etc.? I cannot see how this could be done in a fair way to help those charities that are reasonably small – yet are vital to local … Continue reading the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

Rate this:

Belfast, Blogging, Lib Dems, London, news, politics, Tuition Fees7 Comments

The 27 betrayed their Party – Shame on them!

Michael McFarland Campbell
The Palace of Westminster at night as seen fro...
The Palace of Westminster wherein the 27 Rebel MPs betrayed their Party, led by Rebel Leader Nick Clegg MP Image via Wikipedia

On another Lib Dem blog we read that

Today’s tuition fee vote is a milestone for the Liberal Democrat party. It is the first time the party has had to seriously consider the wisdom of a policy designed for permanent opposition from the perspective of government. Continue reading “The 27 betrayed their Party – Shame on them!”

APNI, Belfast, Conservatives, DUP, Labour, Lib Dems, London, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Police, politics, PSNI, SDLP1 Comment

violence in Belfast as the vote loomed – reaction

Michael McFarland Campbell
Protestors and police clash as Translink Metro is broad to standstill during Protest on Tuition Fees. Pic © 2010 Michael Carchrie Campbell
Protestors and police clash as Translink Metro is brought to standstill during the protest on Tuition Fees in Donegall Square, Belfast on December 9th, 2010. Pic: © 2010 Michael Carchrie Campbell

This afternoon, I happened to be in Belfast City Centre as the protest on tution fees was taking place at the gates of Belfast City Hall.

Earlier this evening as Northern Ireland Liberal Democrat Chair I issued a press release. I said: Continue reading “violence in Belfast as the vote loomed – reaction”