Belfast, Conservatives, DUP, Education, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, politics, Scotland, Sinn Féin, United Kingdom, Wales1 Comment

freedom, fairness, and responsibility: but not to NI!

January 14, 2011 Michael McFarland Campbell

freedom, fairness and responsibility The three words that we are told by the Liberal Democrat Federal Party website sum up the Coalition Government’s Programme. However, I don’t see how it is promoting any of those when you consider what has just happened to the devolved countries’ finances. HM Treasury changed the rules Formerly, departments were allowed to carry over money from one year to another. In this way, Northern Ireland’s Department for Education had built up a reserve of £87m (2008 figures). Usually, making savings, is considered a good financial practice: building up reserves in case of need in the … Continue reading freedom, fairness, and responsibility: but not to NI!

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

the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

December 29, 2010December 29, 2010 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?

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APNI, Belfast, Blogging, Enniskillen, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, SDLP, UUP8 Comments

Anna Lo: an update… a rather liberal take on what I was saying

December 12, 2010December 12, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Icon for use on Template:Politics of Northern ... — Image via Wikipedia

A Pint of Unionist Lite has commented about a post of mine* about the reaction of Anna Lo MLA to the story from Fermanagh about Social Democratic and Labour Party Councillor John O’Kane’s comments on creating a centre ground grouping, I would like to confirm that I made my statements full in the knowledge that some could try to twist my words into saying what they do not.

This can happen to anyone who makes any public comment on any issue.

But, to go back to the original issue that I had then – and still do have – with what Ms Lo was saying, let me be clear about my thoughts on this important issue. Continue reading “Anna Lo: an update… a rather liberal take on what I was saying”

Cornwall, Cymru, England, Lib Dems, Northern Ireland, politics, Scotland, Tuition Fees, United Kingdom, Wales1 Comment

Amongst the shouting – there were good things in that vote too

December 10, 2010December 10, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Motions inextricably linked

The debate on this motion in the House of Commons yesterday:

That the draft Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 29 November, be approved.

was inextricably linked to that on

That, for the purpose of section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004, the higher amount should be increased to £9,000, and to £4,500 in the cases described in regulation 5 of the draft regulations in Command Paper Cm 7986, and that the increase should take effect from 1 September 2012.

However, whilst I do not agree with the trebling of fees for full-time undergraduates, as has been made clear in recent posts. As one who has been a part-time undergraduate the provisions on the inclusion of part-time students within the student loan system for the first time is one part of the Bill with which I can agree. Continue reading “Amongst the shouting – there were good things in that vote too”

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

The 27 betrayed their Party – Shame on them!

December 10, 2010December 10, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

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

December 9, 2010December 10, 2010 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”

Lib Dems, Tuition FeesLeave a comment

Watch yourself Nick Clegg: the 104/103 haven’t done it – but I will!

December 7, 2010December 10, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Nick Clegg's pledge on Tuition Fees - Void if elected — The Rt Hon. Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, lies to the Electorate.

With the vote in the House of Commons on Tuition Fees approaching later this week, it is clear that most of the Liberal Democrats MPs are not going to stick to the pledges that they made

TO VOTE AGAINST
ANY INCREASE IN FEES
in the next parliament
and to pressure the
government to introduce
A FAIRER ALTERNATIVE.

As Gareth Epps said on Sunday,

I have heard rumours of at least one resignation from the Government, and think it in the interests of the Party and of higher education as a whole if this happens. Continue reading “Watch yourself Nick Clegg: the 104/103 haven’t done it – but I will!”

DELGA, Health, HIV, LGBT, Lib DemsLeave a comment

What have you done for World AIDS Day?

December 1, 2010December 29, 2011 hivblogger

Well done to Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert! He has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which calls on the Government to ‘introduce an evidence based approach to allow as many people as possible, regardless of their sexuality, to safely donate blood’. Openly gay himself, Stephen Gilbert has done something on World AIDS Day to call on Her Majesty’s Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men, and their partners, being blood donors. Stephen said: As an openly gay Member of Parliament, I am a passionate believer that we must end this ridiculous and … Continue reading What have you done for World AIDS Day?

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APNI, Conservatives, DUP, Fairer Votes, Labour, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, SDLP, Sinn Féin, TUV, UUPLeave a comment

It’s a small change – but it will make a big difference

November 30, 2010December 4, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

The most ambitious voter contact programme in British political history will be getting off the ground this weekend. The first wave of a total of 50 phonebanks will be open in cities across the United Kingdom. The cause ? The campaign for Yes to Fairer Votes for the Referendum on May 5th on the voting system used for Westminster elections. 140,000 already signed up Saturday 4th December will go down in history as the day it started. Already 140,000 people have signed up to help the campaign. I am proud to be one of them. This campaign truly is one from … Continue reading It’s a small change – but it will make a big difference

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Lib Dems, Tuition Fees9 Comments

Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

November 29, 2010December 9, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice Candidates’ Petition to MPs On another blog I have highlighted the petition on tuition fees sent to the 57 Lib Dem MPs on tuition fees. In writing it, it struck me that we are getting to the stage that the public is ending up with no confidence in the party as a whole. Are we all as members losing confidence in the leadership of Nick Clegg? Nick Clegg made a pledge The photograph pictured here is just a simple reminder that Nick Clegg signed the pledge TO VOTE AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN FEES in the … Continue reading Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

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Life in Belfast, Dublin, Gibraltar & elsewhere

Category: Lib Dems

freedom, fairness, and responsibility: but not to NI!

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the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

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Amongst the shouting – there were good things in that vote too

Motions inextricably linked

The 27 betrayed their Party – Shame on them!

Watch yourself Nick Clegg: the 104/103 haven’t done it – but I will!

TO VOTE AGAINST
ANY INCREASE IN FEES
in the next parliament
and to pressure the
government to introduce
A FAIRER ALTERNATIVE.

What have you done for World AIDS Day?

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It’s a small change – but it will make a big difference

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Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

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Motions inextricably linked

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TO VOTE AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN FEES in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce A FAIRER ALTERNATIVE.

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TO VOTE AGAINST
ANY INCREASE IN FEES
in the next parliament
and to pressure the
government to introduce
A FAIRER ALTERNATIVE.