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”

Fairer Votes, Labour, Northern Ireland life1 Comment

Labour Yes to Fairer Votes campaign takes off

December 8, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Today sees the launch of Labour Yes! – the Labour Party’s Yes to Fairer Votes Campaign, together with a well branded website in line with the main Yes! campaign website. One of the things that caught my eye was Get involved The Labour Yes Campaign is looking for volunteers to be Labour Yes Champions in every constituency in the UK. If you are interested in becoming the Champion for your area please email volunteer@labouryes.org.uk The Campaign will be organising campaign activity alongside regular Labour campaigning sessions. If you would like to talk to us about bringing Labour Yes volunteers to … Continue reading Labour Yes to Fairer Votes campaign takes off

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Education, politics, UUPLeave a comment

Finanance – the new word on education

December 8, 2010December 10, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Okay, normally you would not expect to find a miss-spelt word on Gyronny Herald, but today you do. That word is

Finanance

The quotation comes from the headline on one page of the Ulster Unionist website, as shown below…

Continue reading “Finanance – the new word on education”

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!”

Blogging, Fairer Votes, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, UUPLeave a comment

posted elsewhere: it’s off to conference again with us.

December 4, 2010December 15, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Today is Ulster Unionist Party conference – so Stephen Glenn, Regional Organiser for Yes to Fairer Votes and Michael Carchrie Campbell, one of the Volunteer Coordinators are heading up the team to go and canvas UUP opinion. Ulster Unionists believe in Standing up for Northern Ireland securing devolved government for this part of the United Kingdom – and that devolution will secure Northern Ireland’s place within a modern United Kingdom. Yes to Fairer Votes campaigners believe in a modern United Kingdom securing a modern working Parliamentary democracy where elections are fought and won fairly. There should be common ground between … Continue reading posted elsewhere: it’s off to conference again with us.

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Drugs, Education, Health, Justice, Law, Northern Ireland life, Police, politicsLeave a comment

prohibition is hurting the world – let’s bring some radical thinking to bear

December 4, 2010December 4, 2010 Michael McFarland Campbell

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this. Albert Einstein (on US Prohibition) Prohibition in the US Prohibition has been tried before, and for many reasons it was judged not to have worked. A resolution calling for an amendment to accomplish nationwide [in the US] Prohibition was introduced in Congress and passed by both houses in December 1917. By January 16, 1919, the Amendment had been ratified … Continue reading prohibition is hurting the world – let’s bring some radical thinking to bear

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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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Belfast, Blogging, Health, HIV, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, SDLP, Volunteering3 Comments

ending the stigma: guts needed to tackle it head on

December 1, 2010December 29, 2011 Michael McFarland Campbell

cross-posted from positive hivblogger World AIDS Day 2010 It’s World AIDS Day 2010 today, another year has gone past, those of us living with HIV are still here – and still the stigma is being broken by some of us that are courageous enough to tell our friends, our family, and other people that we are here, living with HIV. “Coming Out” That’s right – telling others. So, today, I’m ‘coming out’ publicly on this blog as to I am. Complete with photo. Unsurprisingly given my job and other interests, I was at a political conference a few weeks ago. … Continue reading ending the stigma: guts needed to tackle it head on

Gyronny Herald

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Category: politics

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

Motions inextricably linked

The 27 betrayed their Party – Shame on them!

Labour Yes to Fairer Votes campaign takes off

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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.

posted elsewhere: it’s off to conference again with us.

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prohibition is hurting the world – let’s bring some radical thinking to bear

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What have you done for World AIDS Day?

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ending the stigma: guts needed to tackle it head on

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Motions inextricably linked

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Finanance

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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.