Category: politics

Lib Dems, Tuition Fees9 Comments

Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

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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Enniskillen, Fairer Votes, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, Sinn FéinLeave a comment

Court may not have ordered a re-run…

Michael McFarland Campbell

…but local campaigners are doing just that this Saturday The result in the General Election in Fermanagh & South Tyrone (FST) could hardly have been closer. Both Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Féin) and Rodney Connor (Independent) got 45.5% of the vote back in May. With 4 votes between them the result was taken to a costly electoral court. Would a vote using the Alternative Vote (AV) have made the result any clearer? Would it have made a difference? Stephen Glenn, Northern Ireland Organiser, and the Yes to  Fairer Votes team will be running a re-run* of the FST parliamentary election by … Continue reading Court may not have ordered a re-run…

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Health, HIV, Northern Ireland, politics, SDLP, Social DevelopmentLeave a comment

Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings

Michael McFarland Campbell

Wearing one of my many hats, I am a Trustee of Belfast’s local HIV charity, The HIV Support Centre. The Harrington Review into Work Capability Assessments that was published yesterday must be taken note of by Northern Ireland’s own Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA. Below is the text of a post on The HIV Support Centre’s website. Continue reading “Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings”

Belfast, news, Northern Ireland, SDLPLeave a comment

the big society needs to start at a local level

Michael McFarland Campbell

There is much talk about fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, one of the ways that many people try to provide some heat for their homes is by using a free-standing heater. It may be a gas, an electric, or even an electrically powered oil heater.   Whichever it is, it is vital that anyone using these heaters uses them sensibly and responsibly. Earlier this week, a 24-year-old woman and her eight-week-old baby were treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at a house in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast. From BBC news I fully agree with the SDLP’s Conall … Continue reading the big society needs to start at a local level

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Lib Dems, Northern Ireland, politicsLeave a comment

NI LibDems – AGM change of date

Michael McFarland Campbell

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats due to be held tomorrow evening has been postponed to 8 December 2010. The time and venue will remain the same but on the new date. All members that have email contacts registered with the Party will have received notice by email. We are endeavouring to contact others by telephone. Continue reading NI LibDems – AGM change of date

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Conservatives, Daily Mail, Fairer Votes, Labour, Lib Dems, Media, news, NewspapersLeave a comment

Daily Mail appears to tell lies…

Michael McFarland Campbell

It is rare of me to be reading the Daily Mail’s website, but the headline about the Tories putting up a candidate in the Oldham East & Saddleworth election following the ruling of the Election Court with regard to Phil Woolas. The Daily Mail seems to think that it was a ‘by-election’ that was tainted. Let’s hope that those responsible for writing headlines could actually attempt to be accurate. After all, we wouldn’t want anyone accused of telling lies now. And as for the content of the story. Well it is hardly surprising that all the parties appear to be … Continue reading Daily Mail appears to tell lies…

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Belfast, Blogging, Fairer Votes, news, Northern Ireland, SDLPLeave a comment

lots of positivity at SDLP conference – Stephen Glenn

Michael McFarland Campbell

I am just back home from the SDLP conference at the Ramada near Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast today, with NI Campaign Manager Stephen Glenn. It was great to meet up with and receive positive comments and support from many SDLP elected representatives including: Margaret Ritchie MP Mark Durkan MP Alasdair McDonnell MP Dolores Kelly MLA Conall McDevitt MLA Patsy McGlone MLA Declan O’Loan MLA Cllr Niall Kelly, Belfast City Council… Read the rest on Fairer Votes Belfast Continue reading lots of positivity at SDLP conference – Stephen Glenn

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Lib DemsLeave a comment

4740 days or rather 12 years, 11 months, 23 days later

Michael McFarland Campbell

Well it’s taken a bit of time. But some of our proposals have finally come through… The Liberal Democrats, for their part, have even more radical proposals. They want to reduce the number of MPs by a third, getting rid of 200 constituencies and enlarging the remainder. Paddy Ashdown’s party also proposes tougher rules for MPs’ conduct, behaviour and outside sources of income, The Lib Dems also want to establish a fixed parliamentary term of four years, doing away with the government of the day’s ability to call an election at a time of its own choosing. from the BBC … Continue reading 4740 days or rather 12 years, 11 months, 23 days later

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TUVLeave a comment

TUV CSI response brings out phrases they did not expect

Michael McFarland Campbell

Have a look at the version of the Traditional Unionist Voice response to the draft Programme on Cohesion, Strategy and Integration below and see what phrases you can find in this. Some that have already been suggested include: Orange objects parades TUV parades within strongly sexual Unionist culture Ireland Irish people links genuinely Please find more, and add them to the comments. Maybe there will be a prize for the one judged the best by our friend in Livingston. Continue reading TUV CSI response brings out phrases they did not expect

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