Michael explains that he will turn his attention to the illiberal security measures for LibDem Federal Conference when he has finished his first TMA for his Open University Course. Sometimes, even fighting illiberalism has to wait! Continue reading illiberal conference security – watch this space…
C. G. P. Grey has produced an enjoyable video about the problems of First Past the Post (FPTP) voting systems. With the referendum on the voting system in the United Kingdom coming up on 5th May, it would be useful if people watched this to see why our current voting system is so bad. If like me you think that it is time for a fairer voting system, then join me in saying Yes to Fairer Votes on 5th May. Show your support for the Yes campaign here. Continue reading the problems with FPTP – animal kingdom style
Following Royal Assent to the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Act earlier today, we now have the referendum to make the change to a fairer voting system set for May 5th. The Yes campaign needs as much help as possible to ensure that the real messages are put out to all of us in the communities of the UK. To help us all in our local groups do this, the campaign centrally needs major financial assistance. We’re not backed by the rich bankers or the trade unions. We’re a campaign of the people. That’s why I’m asking you to join … Continue reading join me in making our MPs work harder
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
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?”
Given the announcement last week of my engagement to Andrew, and that our civil partnership and covenant of commitment will be over the weekend Fri 6 to Sunday 8 May, 2010, posting will be lighter than it has been in recent months. We have a lot to organise. And yet not as much as you would think. But, it is going to take some coordination to bring it all together. Some posting will continue. I will be back. Related Articles Coalition ministers consider gay marriage plans (telegraph.co.uk) Will you “civil partnership” me? (Ooops–is that “heterophobic”?) [Andrew Woolley (Family law)] (ecademy.com) Continue reading posting may be light – 15 weeks
A programme for the reform of the whole system is what is wanted. State built and State equipped school buildings in every district; management by a State department of Education… When a thorough system of secular education is advocated it is by many thought that religion is thereby endangered. This is not so. Religious instruction in schools is apt to be a mere routine which does not touch the finer feelings. Religious instruction in the schools has done much to destroy religious teaching in the home. The indifferent parent has satisfied his conscience by delegating some of his most important duties to the schoolmaster. In a country which has no State Church there is no State religion to be taught in the State Schools and it is the duty of the various religious denominations to see that their children get proper religious instruction without unnecessarily sacrificing their secular education and thereby providing third-rate education and routine religious instruction… Continue reading “We’re in a time warp: 1910, 2010, 2110?”
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
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…
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
Gyronny Herald 