Thoughts on The Age of Stupid

Having presided over the showing of The Age of Stupid and ensuing discussion at The Thunderbolt pub yesterday evening, here are a few thoughts from the notes I made. There is no lack of human ingenuity or 'grey matter' (as someone in the film put it), so if we set our minds to a task we can achieve success - including building the fair and green society needed to cut and cope with climate change. We need to re-establish the idea of leaving the world a better place as our notion of progress as opposed to passing on ever-larger problems to future generations. Its no good pretending climate change is not happening, going along with predominant public thinking, or talking about issues but not taking action - the established facts are that we need a total re-ordering of society to solve problems, take opportunities and secure our health and wellbeing. Happiness is not 'stuff'. Climate change is ultimately something of a leveller, with rich and poor at the mercy of natural forces. Are we knowingly going to wipe ourselves out? Surely not. Do we think we are worth saving? Yes! http://www.onlygreen.org.uk/

Brunel backs launch of complete slate of Green MP candidates in Bristol

Enjoyed taking part in the launch of Bristol's Green Parliamentary candidates yesterday. Good to see that it was covered well by local BBC TV and radio, as well as HTV news. No-one from the Bristol Evening Post was there though (its coverage of the local and general elections has been pretty minimal so far). Great fun to see 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' backing the Greens call for a state-of-the-art multi-modal transport hub on Plot 6 right next to Temple Meads (see video for Stephen Petter's excellent performance).

We have an economic mess, inseparable from the political mess. Current politicians have and are failing to invest in the future - just look at Bristol's transport problems for instance. Investing additional billions in public transport is great [and much needed] joined up thinking: good transport policy as it provides quality alternatives to the car; good health policy as it cuts stress from congestion and illness from air pollution; good economic policy as it creates thousands of jobs and gets people to work on time; good environmental policy as it makes more efficient use of fuel and so fights climate change.

Action on women's equality

Email below received from the Fawcett Society. Just sent my responses, saying yes to: tackling the gender pay gap; increasing support services for victims of rape; addressing the low level of rapes that end in a conviction; working to assess the impact of any cuts on women's income and public services.

________________________________________________

Subject: Will you pledge to support action on women’s inequality in Bristol East and the wider UK?

Dear Mr Vowles,

I am writing on behalf of Fawcett Society members in Bristol East and across the UK to ask, if you are elected as an MP on May 6th, will you support action on women’s inequality in Bristol East and the wider UK?

In the South West Region region the pay gap between men and women is still a scandalous 18.8% and only 4.6% of reported rapes lead to a conviction. There is also mounting concern that action to tackle the UK’s deficit, in particular public service’s cuts, may well disproportionably disadvantage women if more consideration is not taken into how tax and spending policies may impact men and women differently.

In this context we are keen to hear whether if elected as MP for Bristol East you would:

Support local and national action to tackle the gender pay gap?

Yes

Increase support services for women victims of rape as well as address the low level of rapes that end in a conviction?

Yes

Work with Fawcett and others to ensure that both local and national deficit cutting proposals are assessed in terms of how they would impact on women – both regarding access to public services and women’s income’s?

Yes

We would be grateful if you could please respond by reply to the questions above as soon as possible and no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 28th April when the responses of all the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate’s in Bristol East will be published both on our web and in local and national media for the information of voters.

Links to answers given by your party nationally can be accessed here:

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1068

Since 1860, when our founder Millicent Fawcett led the campaign for the women’s vote, Fawcett has a proud record of working with parliamentarians to continue to progress equality between men and women.

If elected as the next MP for Bristol East we hope very much to be able to rely on your support.

With best wishes,

Ceri Goddard
CEO
__ _____________________________________________________
Fawcett produces a regular supporters’ e-bulletin, and briefings on key issues affecting women’s equality in the UK, please indicate here if you would like to receive these updates:

Yes

Caring about walking

I care about walking and the walking environment and today signed up to the Ramblers election manifesto*. The Ramblers is Britain’s walking charity, making walking available to everyone through improving places for walking, and encouraging people to walk. Over half a million participants nationwide walk with us every year on 28,000 walks. http://www.ramblers.org.uk/

[The Ramblers] have produced an election manifesto which highlights the areas of importance to walkers, this document is detailed below*. Further campaign information can be found here.

Please support the work of the Ramblers and consider joining, which you can do by clicking here.

___________________________________________________

*The Ramblers

General election manifesto for walking: breaking down the barriers

Introduction
For 75 years throughout Britain, we have promoted walking and campaigned successfully for public access for walkers. We are Britain’s walking charity, making walking available to everyone through improving places for walking, as well as encouraging people to walk.

However, Britain today has increasing levels of political devolution and devolved powers. This means that we need politicians of all parties, whether located in Westminster, Cardiff, or Edinburgh, to support and work with us to contribute to a walking Britain.

As Britain’s walking charity we’re committed to ensuring access to all footpaths, the countryside, the coast, the town, and everywhere where people go walking. Over half a million participants walks with us every year on 28,000 walks. These walks are led by 12,000 volunteers. This work is at the heart of all that we do.

We’re also evolving and building on our achievements from the past 75 years. That’s why we’re doing new types of work including promoting walking for families and for people who currently don’t walk at all.

We deliver a wide variety of walking programmes across England, Scotland and Wales. Our walking programmes contribute to a wide range of political priorities such as: health, wellbeing, the rural economy, the environment and climate change.

In this General Election, we want candidates to commit to breaking down the barriers to walking with us. These are:

Physical Barriers:

A good walking environment is a major motivator for walking whereas a poor walking environment acts as a deterrent to walking.

We want to see:

• Protection and improvement of public paths in England and Wales, as well as proper implementation of legislation for new path networks in Scotland

• Delivery of the coastal route, which became law last November, as fast as possible

Financial Barriers:

There are big financial challenges facing the next Government, but the maintenance of green space, footpaths and open land to walk in, and the promotion of walking, is a low-cost way of delivering key public benefits.

We want to see:

• Linkage of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies which are better used for recreation and access provision

• Investment in walking schemes to benefit health, wellbeing, environment and the climate as part of the Olympic legacy

Cultural Barriers:

Reverse the culture which constantly prioritises vehicle users whilst walkers get left behind. This culture and priority in both national and local government needs to be challenged if the benefits of walking are to be maximised

We want to see:

• Positioning of the walker at the top of the transport hierarchy; particularly giving greater priority to walkers at road intersections

• Strong action being taken against those who put walkers’ lives at risk through reckless driving

Legal Barriers:

The law should be on the side of walking rather than making it harder for walkers

We want to see:

• Amended legislation which requires an independent review when there is an objection to orders to gate alleyways, which are used by people of foot

• The protection and promotion of public access, and green space to be made accessible, safe, and well-maintained, through use of the planning process in both town and country

Refugee protection

Greens want a sustainable society. A crucial aspect of sustainability is fairness: within our society; from generation to generation; locally and globally. Greens are opposed to discrimination on grounds of: age; ethnic group; gender; sexuality; class; nationality...Progess in our society is measured not only by wealth but by our capacity to act in a humanitarian way.

My committment: There is no place for racism and xenophobia in modern British politics. Nor is democratic debate advanced by the denigration of the most vulnerable in our country, including children and asylum seekers who do not enjoy the right to participate in elections. I promise to remember the importance of refugee protection, even in free and wide-ranging debates about immigration policy. I will never play fast and loose with the proud tradition of a nation that must always offer succour to those in genuine fear of persecution.

See: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/

Championing mental health

As a Green I think that health is all about joined up thinking ie I take a systems or holistic approach. This means that to be healthy and to address health issues, problems and opportunities successfully I believe we have to consider physical, mental and social (and, for some, spiritual) aspects and the interrelationships between them. The mental health dimension has long been neglected - and we need to put this right. If elected, I pledge to champion mental health in the next Parliament, taking up the cause of thousands of people affected by mental illness that are: facing discrimination in everyday life; being denied basic treatments to help them recover; languishing in prison without any healthcare (see http://www.rethink.org/).

Rosso - Verde: Defend East Bristol Community Adult Education.

Rosso - Verde: Defend East Bristol Community Adult Education.

Defend East Bristol Community Adult Education. This is about the imminent cuts to the courses that are run in the community; for those who are learning English, for those who have left school without qualifications and now feel ready to try again and maybe prepare themselves for further education and a new career, for those with learning difficulties who benefit from courses that are close and sociable. For many of these people the travel to Bristol City College and accessing the courses there is daunting, expensive and just not appropriate to their circumstances and other responsibilites.

The closure of these local classes is a real loss to them and to the whole community.
Students, teachers and others in the campaign have so far held meetings of over 100 people, lobbied the Council outside and in the council chamber and are now organising a march. See below. Please publicise and support.

Defend Adult Community Education in East Bristol Saturday 24 March
Assemble 11.30 at the Beacon Centre by the City Academy, Russell Town Avenue BS5
(near Lawrence Hill and the bottom of Church Road)
to march into town via Lawrence Hill and Old Market, round Broadmead and to Castle Park
for music, food and speeches.

E mail bigmarch@hotmail.co.uk or join the FacebookGroup: Defend East Bristol Community Education.
Please bring banners, placards, whistles etc.

No Clegg 'bounce' here - on policies!!

Green Party policies are still by far the most popular in this 'blind' online test. I reported on this policy test after 91,000 votes had been cast but before the first 'leaders debate' and the Greens then had a very clear lead. Now, after nearly 141,000 votes and after the first 'leaders debate' and despite the Clegg/Lib Dem bounce up in the polls, Greens still have almost a ten point lead (see screenshot, click to enlarge).

Affordable homes, safe and sustainable communities

I'm very happy to agree to this National Housing Federation pledge (email sent today). 'I pledge to back the building of more affordable homes and to work towards all constituents having access to decent, affordable housing in safe and sustainable communities.'

Green Party policy on housing is to: build a new generation of quality council homes; support the development of housing co-ops; bring back into use Britain's 300,000 long-term empty private sector homes; renovate Britain's 37,000 empty council homes to help cut waiting lists; give social housing tenants greater control over the management of their homes and neighbourhoods; improve the quality of housing stock to help reduce household bills; help people at risk of repossession keep their homes via a Right to Rent scheme. Further policy details here.

Friend of the Earth

Many thanks to Friends of the Earth for all its efforts over many years on a wide range of issues. They have given great leadership. I'll continue to do my best to take part in and support their work (including signing their pledge, below) by advocating a sustainable society ie one that reconciles the economic, social and environmental. The Green New Deal, a £45 billion investment plan, would be a great start down this path.

I PLEDGE TO SUPPORT

· Policy 1: A local carbon budget for every local authority: that caps CO2 in the local area in line with the scientific demands for emissions cuts and local circumstances; and enough money and technical support to enable councils to do their bit to tackle climate change.

· Policy 2: Sufficient investment in switching to a low carbon economy to: achieve a reduction in UK greenhouse gas emission of 42 per cent by 2020; create jobs and boost the recovery; and eliminate fuel poverty.

· Policy 3: An international deal on cutting emissions where those responsible make the deepest cuts first, and developing countries are supported to grow in a low carbon way.

· Policy 4: A new law which will tackle the major greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation caused by the UK’s dependence on imported feeds for livestock - and which will support better UK farming and domestic feed production.

Green Party manifesto launch: some links

*Election 2010 Peter Walker - Greens promise tax rise to boost public spending
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/15/general-election-green-party-manifesto
"The best outcome for the party would be to hold significant bargaining power in a hung parliament, where any Green MPs would offer their support on a "case by case basis".

*Election 2010 John Vidal – Green Party’s radical new policies would be a boon to the new parliament
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/apr/15/green-party-radical-policy-parliament
"The policy wonks in other parties should start taking them seriously."

*Manifesto dissection by way of annotated policy guide
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/interactive/2010/apr/15/green-party-manifesto-2010-policy-guide

*Slick launch – Election blog
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/15/green-party-launch-oliver-burkeman
"There are multiple camera crews and TV lights and constant, clicking shutters, and a manifesto document with graphic design that rivals Labour's and outshines the Tories'. There are several designer suits in evidence, and very little facial hair."

*The Green Party: A manifesto for a low key life – Michael White
"So it's a pleasure to read a document that starts off from the proposition that work should be satisfying, that life should be quieter and fairer, that quality time matters."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/15/green-party-tax-quality-life
Also mention cloud of volcanic ash that threatened our media coverage, along with the UK skyline

*And a minute by minute blog:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/apr/15/general-election-2010-leaders-debates

*The Times
Green Party launches its business as usual alternative manifesto - Laura Dixon
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/election_2010/article7098748.ece
"While environmental issues are still key — with pledges to invest heavily in public transport and nationalise the rail system — the party is also keen to also present itself as the party of social reform."

*Much BBC online coverage. Here are two items:
Greens pledge for a fair society
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8623197.stm
Manifesto watch: Green Party
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8622742.stm
"The fact that some of Fleet Street's finest had made the journey to the South Coast shows how seriously the party is being taken these days."

*Daily Telegraph Two articles with embedded video footage, focus of coverage on tax rises
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/green-party/7593669/Green-Party-election-manifesto-sets-out-73bn-of-tax-rises.html

*Mirror:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2010/04/15/green-party-urges-fairer-society-115875-22188005/

Peter Tatchell in Bristol

I'll be introducing Peter Tatchell at a discussion event next Thurs, 22nd April, 8pm, The Thunderbolt pub, 124 Bath Rd, BS4 3ED. £3 on the door.

'Big business isn't working - why the future is Green' is the topic the prominent rights activist, campaigner and Green Party member will be speaking on. Click on image to enlarge.

For me Peter is an inspirational character who has shown great courage and persistence on both a personal and on a political level...whether its his attempt at a citizens arrest on Robert Mugabe, advocacy that we protest about the Pope's forthcoming visit to the UK, or his very persuasive argument for gay marriage via a civil ceremony as a benchmark for equal treatment under the law, and more...details via: http://www.petertatchell.net/

The Age of Stupid south east Bristol screening

An Indie Screening of The Age of Stupid, the climate blockbuster from the director of McLibel, starring Pete Postlethwaite: Tues 20th April, 7.30pm, The Thunderbolt, 124 Bath Rd, Bristol BS4 3ED. Free entry. Click image to enlarge.

"You wont see a more important film this year" according to the News of the World.

"I defy anyone to come out and not feel like they've got to make a difference" Caroline Lucas, Green Party Leader.

Bristol Happiness Lectures 2010

You may recall my post on the Happiness Lectures a couple of years ago. I wrote about sustainability-happiness connections. Many people are overloaded and stressed due to fast, urban lifestyles and long hours of work. They are often in debt, anxious and depressed, wasteful and polluting because of their dogged pursuit of more and more. People try to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ but gain no fulfillment from this as they go around the unsustainable viscious circle of consumption. Yet politicians in the big parties still say we need more consumption to get us out of recession!

I've written on happiness and related topics a fair amount (published in date order here). Thought I'd mention this year's Bristol Happiness Lectures taking place at St George's Hall on the Tuesday evening, of May 18th (see picture, click to enlarge). The lectures also mark the launch of the new improved edition of the book Find Your Power, now subtitled 'a toolkit for resilience and positive change' by Dr Chris Johnstone from Bristol University, a key thinker on happiness and related issues. Pity the lectures are not happening during the election campaign, to encourage discussion on wellbeing.

The new edition of Find Your Power has a forward from Rob Hopkins, of the Transition Movement. It has been updated to look more into our current context of economic uncertainty and climate challenge, and has new material on resilience, recovery from depression and addressing global issues. This is a book that can be applied to any kind of change - and it addresses both personal and planetary issues (including climate change and peak oil). I'll be reviewing Chris Johnstone's updated book in full on this blog later in May/June.

For more on the link between tackling depression and addressing global issues, see the article 'Resilience, Recovery and the Self-help SSRI' which can be downloaded from the writing page on Chris Johnstone's website at http://www.chrisjohnstone.info/writing.htm

Green Party | “87% of Britons would be better off” under Green Party’s recession-busting manifesto, says the candidate tipped by ICM, YouGov and Betfair to become UK’s first Green MP

Green Party “87% of Britons would be better off” under Green Party’s recession-busting manifesto, says the candidate tipped by ICM, YouGov and Betfair to become UK’s first Green MP

The Green Party today launched its general election manifesto Fair is worth fighting for at the Brighton Metropole Hotel. The manifesto (1) was launched by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party leader who is tipped by pollsters and bookies to take the Brighton Pavilion seat on 6th May. Deputy leader and Norwich South candidate Adrian Ramsay also addressed the lively press conference, as did Darren Johnson, Green Party candidate for Lewisham Deptford and current chair of the London Assembly...

To see the key policies and read or download the manifesto click here:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies.html

DEMREF 2010 press release

GLENN VOWLES ISSUES CHALLENGE TO FELLOW CANDIDATES TO BE OPEN WITH VOTERS ABOUT CLEANING UP POLITICS

Glenn Vowles, Green Party candidate for Bristol East has challenged other candidates in his constituency to openly state their views on reforms that might help to restore public trust following the scandal over politicians’ expenses.

Glenn has taken part in DEMREF 2010, the non-party election web initiative that allows voters to compare the reform policies of their candidates. He believes that all candidates should put themselves forward for voter scrutiny in this way, in the interests of openness and accountability, but the only other Bristol East candidate to take part so far is Lib Dem Mike Popham.

"Voters want to know where all politicians stand on reforming politics following the expenses scandal that has seriously damaged public trust," Mr Vowles said. "I challenge all my fellow candidates, especially Labour's Kerry McCarthy and the Tories Adeela Shafi, to take part in DEMREF 2010 so that the voting public can scrutinise our views and make an informed choice about which of us has the best policies for cleaning up politics."

DEMREF 2010 asks candidates for their views on fixed-term parliaments, free voting, the electoral system, open primaries, voting age, recalling MPs and House of Lords reform. There is also space for candidates to put forward their own favoured reforms.

Ends

Contact:

Glenn Vowles, tel 9717023
glennvowles@bristolgreenparty.org.uk

Notes for editors

DEMREF 2010 can be viewed at www.polinfluence.com/DEMREF2010.html

Voters concerned that their candidates have not taken part in DEMREF 2010 should simply text (standard charge) the name of their constituency (no other information required) to 07770 503610 and a reminder will be sent to the relevant candidates.

To take part in DEMREF 2010, candidates should email tony.samphier@btinternet.com

BBC News - BNP accounts to be investigated

BBC News - BNP accounts to be investigated

This BBC report concludes...

...The investigation follows comments by the registered auditors, Silver & Co, that the financial statements submitted did not "give a true and fair view of the state of the party's affairs at December 31, 2008".

The auditors went on: "In our opinion it cannot be said that the accounts comply with the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as adequate records have not been made available."

Commuter stress takes up to two years off your life - Times Online

Commuter stress takes up to two years off your life - Times Online

Now here's another reason for developing local jobs in local economies and strengthening local community life - and cutting the need to frequently travel long distances - at the core of Green thinking and practice.

RESIDENTS of commuter towns should be worrying about more than the price of their season tickets. Those with long journeys face stresses that are taking up to two years off their life expectancy, new research has found.

People living in Watford, Hertfordshire, can expect to die 1.8 years earlier than the national average of 79.6 years, while the residents of Windsor, Maidenhead and Reading in Berkshire, and Brighton in East Sussex were all found to have a life expectancy of a year less than the national average for those earning similar incomes...

The old politics is dead. But where is the new? | Anatole Kaletsky - Times Online

The old politics is dead. But where is the new? Anatole Kaletsky - Times Online

Its GREEN !! We may well see the first Green MP(s) elected this time, to add to MEPs, MSPs, AMs and over a hundred councillors.

BBC iPlayer - Panorama: Spoilt Rotten?

BBC iPlayer - Panorama: Spoilt Rotten?

Yet another reason for big emphasis Greens are putting on the vital importance of preventive health care and health education, including measures against smoking, alcohol and other drug abuse for, healthy diets and more walking, cycling and other exercise...

From obesity to alcohol misuse, from rotting baby teeth to hearing problems caused by passive smoking - Britain's largest children's hospital is treating younger and younger children for health problems which are ultimately preventable. Many are the result of kids' lifestyles and are, according to the experts, causing them unnecessary suffering.

BBC News - 'No malpractice' by climate unit

BBC News - 'No malpractice' by climate unit

This is no surprise to me. The core science has always been very sound - and verifiable by multiple pieces of work by different sets of scientists all over the world. The BBC report begins...

There was no scientific malpractice at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, which was at the centre of the "Climategate" affair.

This is according to an independent panel chaired by Lord Oxburgh, which was convened to examine the research published by the unit...

Green Party | Greens in first place in online policy survey

Green Party Greens in first place in online policy survey

...an independent website which allows users to pick a political party based on policy alone has had some intriguing results.

www.voteforpolicies.org.uk sidesteps bias and traditional loyalty by getting voters to pick their favoured political policies without knowing which political party the policies have orginated from.

After 62 000 votes, the Greens have surprised political commentators as runaway leaders with over 28% of the vote.

By contrast, the establishment political parties are faring less well. The Liberal Democrats were the highest scorers of the other parties with 18% of the vote. Behind them Labour and the Conservatives followed with 17% and 16%, respectively. Minority parties UKIP and the BNP lagged behind with 11% and 10%.

Three former Labour MPs granted legal aid for expenses trials | Politics | guardian.co.uk

Three former Labour MPs granted legal aid for expenses trials Politics guardian.co.uk

Three politicians charged in connection with alleged irregularities in their parliamentary expenses have been awarded legal aid, it was reported today.

Court officials confirmed that the former Labour MPs David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine would receive taxpayers' money to fund their legal bills, which could run into six figures...

What a damn cheek these former MPs have - applying for tax payers money to defend themselves against fraudulently taking taxpayers money!

Supporting fairtrade

'If you are elected as an MP on May the 6th, would you, in principle, support the continued growth of Fairtrade in the UK?' *YES - and in practice too (see here)!!

I feel very strongly about this - and I'm sure you are not surprised to hear that it is natural Green territory to work for 'better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world...requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price),...address[ing] the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers...enabl[ing] them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.' See http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

____________________________________________________

Dear Mr Vowles,

I am aware you must be very busy these days, but as we approach the general election I would like to ask for two minutes of your time to answer one simple question:

If you are elected as an MP on May the 6th, would you, in principle, support the continued growth of Fairtrade in the UK?

A simple yes or no answer would be very useful. [*see above!]

Of course we would also welcome any additional thoughts or comments you'd like to provide regarding Fairtrade!

Please respond to the following e-mail adress:
election2010@fairtrade.org.uk

Many thanks,
Toby Quantrill
Head of Public Policy,
Fairtrade Foundation

Only Green

Today sees this website go live: http://www.onlygreen.org.uk/. Here you can: see the Greens Party Election Broadcast; you can personalise it and email it to your friends; you and your friends can visit the site and not only look at our key policies but take a Policy Matchmaker test to see how close you are to the Green Party.

Green leader Caroline Lucas interviewed on the Andrew Marr show

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8613967.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/The_andrew_marr_show

Labour attacked over mailshot to cancer patients - Times Online

Labour attacked over mailshot to cancer patients - Times Online

What an unethical approach to politics this is, targeting cancer sufferers and/or potential sufferers. I think we should be told exactly how this targeting was done so we can all check to ensure that private medical data was not used in any way.

Richard Dawkins: I will arrest Pope Benedict XVI -Times Online

Richard Dawkins: I will arrest Pope Benedict XVI -Times Online

...Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author, have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict XVI over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic church.
The pair believe they can exploit the same legal principle used to arrest Augusto Pinochet, the late Chilean dictator, when he visited Britain in 1998.

The Pope was embroiled in new controversy this weekend over a letter he signed arguing that the “good of the universal church” should be considered against the defrocking of an American priest who committed sex offences against two boys...

Clean up politics! Power 2010 event

Great to respond to questions from voters at the Power 2010 event in Broadmead this Saturday (see pictures). Also good have a natter with other candidates, though representatives from Labour and the Tories were very thin on the ground (Paul Smith from Labour and Nick Yarker from the Tories were there and some other Labour leafletters came along late on) - does this say anything about their committment to radical democratic reforms??

See my post on the Power 2010 pledge here. My response to the DEMREF 2010 survey on democratic reforms is here. Blog posts on democracy or related to democracy are published in date order here.

Detailed Green Party policies on public administration and government:

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfsspa.html

BBC News - Gordon Brown gives advice on tactical voting

BBC News - Gordon Brown gives advice on tactical voting

'...if people don't want a Conservative government, then they must make sure they don't allow the Conservatives to get in.' Gordon Brown

Since the fight in Brighton Pavillion is between the Greens and the Tories, Gordon Brown is effectively advising non-Tory voters there to vote Green. I've alway been of the view that people should vote on their convictions myself but the current first past the post system does present some people with a dilemma - and in Brighton, as elsewhere, people voting Green could help create historic wins.

The Greens top three seats...

Brighton Pavillion http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl.html

Norwich South http://www.adrianramsay.org.uk/sites/adrianramsay.html

Lewisham Deptford http://www.darrenforlewisham.org.uk/sites/darrenjohnson.html

Free schools meals for all children

I very strongly agree with Steve, who emailed me today (copied below). Its Green Party policy to provide all children with a meal at school free of charge. Our full policy statement on schools meals says,

'It will be a minimum requirement that all children are provided free of charge with a balanced nutritious lunch including local and organic non-GM food, free from additives. Vegetarian, vegan, religious and other dietary requirements will be catered for. Vending machines will only supply healthy snacks and not crisps, carbonated drinks and sweets. Schools will be encouraged to involve children in growing, preparing and cooking food. Not only will this provide invaluable and essential education in the importance of a good diet, but evidence shows it will greatly improve behaviour, quality of life and learning.'
__________________________________________________

Dear...

I am writing to you because all children deserve a hot healthy meal at lunch time. Providing more free school meals will ensure that every child in your constituency realises their right to not go hungry and will reduce educational and health inequalities. They also make good economic sense as they reduce health care costs and increase educational standards.

As a Parliamentary candidate for my constituency I call on you to support the extended provision of free school meals to ensure that all children have a hot, healthy meal at lunch time.

Yours sincerely

Steve...

________________________________________________

Further Green policies on Young People and Education:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/young_people_2010.html

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/young_people_2010/young_people_detail.html

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfssed.html

Pledges on children and childhood

I pledge to support children today to make tomorrow better for everyone - see email below from Action for Children. See all posts on young people here (which includes details of NSPCC, Every Disabled Child Matters, Save the Children and Gingerbread work and pledges).

Via the Political Exchange site I've also signed Plan UK's pledge to: Do what I can to ensure young people are given a voice in discussions about issues that affect the world they live in, particularly climate change; Support the campaign to ensure more girls have the chance to realise their potential and go to secondary school; Encourage more schools in my constituency to create links to schools in developing countries to share learning and turn young people into global citizens.

Also via Political Exchange I've agreed with the National Deaf Children's Society work to: Close the gap in educational attainment between deaf children and other children; Improve public services so deaf children and their families get the support they need from the start; Help deaf children in my constituency get the same opportunities as other children
______________________________________________

Dear Mr Vowles,

Make the future better: take your action for children now

As a prospective parliamentary candidate for the forthcoming general election, I would like you to take action for children now by pledging to support children today to make tomorrow better for everyone.

Around a million of today's children will be trapped in the same cycle of deprivation as their parents. From the moment they are born, their hopes of leading a happy and fulfilling life will diminish. Right from their first breath, they will be at risk of neglect - they will do worse at school, they are more likely to be unemployed, they are more likely to suffer mental ill health, to misuse drugs or alcohol and to end up in prison. And eventually, when they have children, the chances are the same thing will happen all over again. The costs of this to individuals, families, the State - and society as a whole - are almost unquantifiable.

But it doesn't have to be like this. Financial support alone will not solve the problem of deprivation. We are writing off their futures unless we take action now. We know what action is needed: targeted early intervention breaks the cycle of deprivation.

Please sign our pledge to support our campaign for early intervention and help us stop another generation being caught in the cycle of deprivation.

http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=114&ea.campaign.id=5915

To find out more, read our latest research: Deprivation and risk: the case for early intervention.
http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=680

Best wishes,

Helen Donohoe
Director of Public Policy

Pledge to Save Grove Wood

I agree with all the points raised by the Snuff Mills Action Group email (below) and have signed up to: publicly support the campaign to ensure Grove Wood becomes a nature reserve and is in safe public ownership as soon as possible; urge Bristol City Council to do all it can to ensure the current landowner does not do any further damage to the woodland if I'm elected; support the call for Grove Wood to become a Town Green, protecting it for public enjoyment for all time; support efforts to ensure the rare wildlife that lives in Grove Wood is not disturbed by the landowner's damaging actions.

I have a while back signed up to the Woodland Trust's manifesto about trees and woodland to show my wider committment to the natural world (by clicking on the labels at the end of this blog post you can see what I've said and done about related issues too).

Many thanks to all involved in the Snuff Mills Action Group and to all its supporters for their excellent and ongoing work. I'll do all I can to help them before and after the election.
______________________________________________________


>Hello
>
>I am the Chair of Snuff Mills Action Group, a dedicated group of local
>people with over 250 supporters who are trying to protect the precious
>greenspaces around the River Frome in Stapleton.
>
>For the last two years we have been fighting a long and controversial
>campaign to protect Grove Wood, a large area of ancient woodland next to
>the river. The woodland is currently in private ownership and the
>landowner has felled trees without permission, disturbed protected
>species including kingfishers and otters and attempted to stop the public
>from enjoying the woods.
>
>Snuff Mills Action Group has achieved notable success in persuading
>Bristol City Council to protect the trees in the woodland with a Tree
>Preservation Order and to remove Permitted Development Rights from the
>landowner to stop him degrading the woodland with further inappropriate
>development.
>
>To date we have had excellent support for the campaign to save Grove Wood
>from both of our sitting MPs - Roger Berry (Kingswood) whose constituency
>currently includes Grove Wood and Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) whose
>constituency will include Grove Wood following boundary changes at this
>election.
>
>We believe the protection of Grove Wood to be a very important local
>issue and that many voters will be interested in your position about its
>future. We are therefore seeking a committment from all of Bristol
>East's PPCs to work with us to ensure that Grove Wood is protected.
>
>We would like you to to:



>Publicly support our campaign to ensure Grove Wood becomes a nature
>reserve and is in safe public ownership as soon as possible

> Agree to urge Bristol City Council to do all it can to ensure the
>current landowner does not do any further damage to the woodland if you
>are elected

> Support our call for Grove Wood to become a Town Green, protecting it
>for public enjoyment for all time

> Support our efforts to ensure the rare wildlife that lives in Grove Wood
>is not disturbed by the landowner's damaging actions

> Sign up to the Woodland Trust's manifesto about trees and woodland to
>show your wider committment to the natural world. Visit:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigns/woods-for-people/general-election-2010/Pages/our-manifesto-full.aspx
>
>We intend to publish all responses from PPCs on our website at http://snuffmills.blogspot.com/ and
>alert our supporters to your position so they can include Grove Wood in
>their decision making regarding who to vote for on election day. We are
>non partisan and so we will not make a recommendation as to who to vote
>for.
>
>I am looking forward to hearing from you and if you would like to visit
>Grove Wood as part of your election publicity, we would be very happy to
>show you around.
>
>Best wishes
>
>Steve Micklewright
>Chair
>Snuff Mills Action Group

Why vote Green? Part Seven

We believe health and wellbeing should be the measure of progress in society. Public health issues are thus a high priority for Greens and above all we favour the prevention of ill-health and the promotion of good health. We would: abolish prescription charges; re-introduce free eye tests; ensure NHS chiropody is widely available; fight to restore free dental care; provide everyone with the choice of an NHS dentist.

A poor quality environment produces ill-health, so Greens lead on campaigning against all pollution and for high air, water, land and food quality. We very strongly favour sex education, health education and economic incentives to cut the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Greens were prominent in opposing genetically modified food, including keeping them out of school dinners. We oppose the fluoridation of our water supplies, an issue that has reared its head last year in Bristol, because it does not work, is not safe, is unethical and is not wanted.

More information:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/nhs_2010.html

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/nhs_2010/nhs_detail.html

Protect the BBC from cuts

The BBC is a great organisation that we all learn so much from, as well as being informed and entertained. I'm a massive fan of the science, history and art documentaries in particular and I find the BBC website hugely valuable. I dont want to see it diminished as it will damage the social learning required to build a more stable, secure and sustainable society. As a result and having received a large number of the emails copied below, I have today signed the pledge to protect the BBC from massive cuts, including closing two radio stations and halving the size of its web site. 'Surrendering to pressure from commercial rivals, who are lobbying politicians hard to impose even deeper cuts' is in any case entirely the wrong motive to have for making changes.

__________________________________________________

Dear Candidate

I am writing to urge you to pledge to protect the BBC and its services, should you be elected as a member of parliament this year.

I am very concerned about the amount of criticism the BBC is currently being subject to, particularly from commercial rivals, who would like to see its operations shrink. Since the announcement of proposed cuts to BBC services, over 40,000 people have signed the petition or written to the BBC Trust, calling for the services to be saved.

The text of the pledge reads:

If elected as a member of parliament, I pledge to:

* Oppose the proposed closure of BBC 6Music, BBC Asian Network, the cuts to the BBC website, including the proposed redundancies and the disposal of the BBC’s magazine titles.

* Work to ensure that the future of public sector broadcasting, is properly resourced, maintaining and strengthening investment in quality programmes.

As a potential constituent, I call on you to sign up to this pledge and support the BBC.

Please sign the pledge here: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/bbcppcpledge

General Election

Well, ‘we’re off’ in the general election ‘race’ as some would put it. Economy, economy, economy - obviously the top three issues! Current politicians have seriously messed up the economy, creating deep recession and being more interested in their rich banker, sporting and celebrity friends than people generally.

There is little difference between the big three parties and you will get no fundamental change from them – the status quo favours them so they protect it. They all plan cuts in public services, all claim to be able to find billions in ‘efficiency savings’ far beyond what is reasonable, and all see ‘growth’ as the solution. Health and wellbeing – the way we look after older people, educate our children, safeguard our community our jobs, our environment – should be the measure of progress.

Current politicians have failed to invest properly in building the stable, secure and sustainable economy that would enhance our health and wellbeing. I’m working to promote the Greens £45 billion plan ie serious investment in: local, safe, stable jobs; strengthening local communities; local bus and train services; efficiency and renewable energy; promoting good health; crime prevention; and quality of life. Prominent features of this plan are free insulation for all homes and free health and social care for the elderly.

Knitted in to our economic crisis is an inseparable political crisis. Current politicians have messed up the political system, setting it up to serve themselves and not the people. We need a whole series of radical democratic reforms, including giving voters real power to sack MPs between elections. This would monitor and give feedback on MP performance and enable people to get rid of those that are corrupt and not doing a good job. We need MPs who are independent-minded, free-thinking, strong characters to replace those who merely follow the party line. Lets hope the high turnover of MPs at this election results in a far better quality House of Commons.

Epetitioner: Aldi North St should reinstate plastic recycling bank

Epetitioner - click here to sign up!!

Lead Petitioner: Charlie Bolton

Status: > collecting signatures

Petition
We the undersigned request that Aldi on North St reinstate the plastic recycling bank which they removed from their car park

Background Information
The plastic recycling bank at Aldi was well used. Most of the waste is produced by supermarket packaging. Aldi should take its responsibilities to the local community seriously and reinstate the bank.

Chris Grayling reveals the real Tories | Peter Tatchell | Comment is free | The Guardian

Chris Grayling reveals the real Tories Peter Tatchell Comment is free The Guardian

By supporting homophobic discrimination by B&B owners, the shadow home secretary has shattered David Cameron's gay-friendly image

Power to the people (part 2)

Just signed the POWER Pledge after receiving several of the emails copied below. I favour all the changes listed: introducing a proportional voting system; scrapping ID cards and rolling back the database state; replacing the House of Lords with a fully elected chamber (which I note my Lib Dem opponent in Bristol East does not want); allowing only English MPs to vote on English laws; drawing up a written constitution. They have been Green Party policy for some some. I'm also making a point of campaigning for voters to have the power to sack MPs between elections (recall system) - and am firmly comitted to a wide range of radical reforms of our democratic system (details).

________________________________________________________

>Dear Sir or Madam,
>
>I live in the constituency you wish to represent in Parliament. As a
>candidate in the election you are asking me to vote for you. But I would
>first like to know if you understand the need for real change at this
>election - or instead want to continue with politics as usual.
>
>Our political system is broken. It has failed its people and its purpose.
>But there is a way for you to show that you want change - by signing the
>POWER Pledge.
>
>POWER2010 ran the UK's largest ever democratic consultation. Tens of
>thousands of people were involved in identifying the people's priorities
>for cleaning up and reforming our politics - and over 100,000 votes were
>cast. The five most popular reforms became the POWER Pledge. These are:
>
>1. Introduce a proportional voting system
>
>2. Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state
>
>3. Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber
>
>4. Allow only English MPs to vote on English laws
>
>5. Draw up a written constitution
>
>To sign the POWER Pledge you don't have to agree with all five reforms.
>All you have to do is back a majority of the ideas - and then join our
>call for a reforming Parliament that will act on them.
>
>If you support at least three of these ideas I urge you to click the link
>below to sign the POWER Pledge:
>
> http://www.power2010.org.uk/page/s/ppcpowerpledge
>
>If you sign the Pledge your name will be added to a list on the POWER2010
>website of PPCs who are willing to stand up for change.
>
>Thank you!

Racist vandals condemned after 'sick' grave graffiti in Bristol | Bristol News

Racist vandals condemned after 'sick' grave graffiti in Bristol Bristol News

Police are appealing for information following the incident.
Witnesses, or anyone who thinks they know who carried out the attack, should call the police on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bristol's Cabinet backs further recognition for Dirac

I'm really pleased to get support from Bristol City Council's Cabinet, following my question/suggestions to Cllr Simon Cook & Cllr Clare Campion-Smith about the city doing more to mark the work of Paul Dirac and at the same time promote science here (see their response below). The Cabinet and Council will now be exploring the possibility of: an annual Dirac science lecture as part of the Festival of Ideas; an innovation award named after Dirac; closer liaison with the University of Bristol; making contact with Graham Farmelo following his recent book on Dirac. All excellent ideas. I'll keep an eye on developments and will be following up my question/suggestions with further campaigning on the issue (have to get both local and general elections done and dusted first)!

Answer

Thank you for bringing this situation to our attention. We are aware that both Cotham School and Bishop Road School do have some form of recognition. In addition, Dirac appeared in “The Bristol Story”, the 2008 Great Reading Adventure book, and will be included in the new painting commissioned by Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, 'Some more who have made Bristol famous' which will be unveiled in June. There will be a small book published alongside the unveiling of the painting, which will cover Dirac, and associated education and media activity which will also cover him.

However, we agree that it would be beneficial to use the achievements of Dirac to raise further the profile of science and innovation in Bristol. We will therefore explore the following possibilities:

1. An annual Dirac science lecture as part of the Festival of Ideas
2. An innovation award named after him
3. Closer liaison with the University of Bristol
4. Making contact with Graham Farmelo, who has written a recent book on Dirac. This was designated as one of the books of 2009 by The Economist and put forward for the Costa Book Prize. We will speak to him to seek further ideas as to how we could benefit in Bristol from Dirac's reputation.

Bristol LibDems to defy their own anti-road building policies | News

Bristol LibDems to defy their own anti-road building policies News

Another Lib Dem flip flop as the Bristol Cabinet approved the road - you just dont know where you stand with them. This list of examples of how Lib Dems change their policies from town to town and city to city to suit their opportunism grows longer.

Bristol Greens make an Older People's Pledge | News

Bristol Greens make an Older People's Pledge News

The Green Party today becomes the only political party to back demands for a state pension of £170 per week and a better future for older people in Britain.

'Where will your child learn to swim when Bristol community pools close?' | Bristol

'Where will your child learn to swim when Bristol community pools close?' Bristol

I agree with the teacher in this story very strongly - let nots forget that Jubilee in Knowle, not listed in the story, is due to close in 2011. More on the issue here:
http://vowlesthegreen.blogspot.com/search?q=swimming+pools

Vote for Policies - Vote for policies, not personalities!

Vote for Policies - Vote for policies, not personalities!

Health and air quality

George Ferguson is spot on to highlight the serious health effects of air pollution (By George, Post, March 29). Each year 24,000 people die prematurely in our country because of it. Up to one in five of all lung cancers are caused by it. Children are particularly vulnerable as they get a bigger dose per unit of body mass. Those already suffering ill-health eg from asthma, bronchitis, heart problems or obesity and so on are at particular risk - though air pollution causes coughing, chest pains and lung irritation in everyone.

It’s a stark reminder of what should be self-evident – that people are a part of the environment and that their health and wellbeing are dependent upon it. I’m not shocked by the figures (which some sources state are higher than I've given) in the sense that I’ve worked to point out the problem for some decades now. We really must join the dots and see connections: types of development such as large supermarkets; car dependency and congestion; air pollution; poor health; reduced wellbeing and quality of life. Greens haven’t campaigned against air pollution just because its an environmental issue – its also a development, transport, planning, economic, health and social issue. It needs to be tackled by joined up thinking, which we so clearly have not done if you just look around the city and the country.

Significant stats (6): Earth's population is 80 million higher every year

2 extra people every second, that is 200,000 each day or nearly 80,000,000 per year is human population growth on this planet - all needing food, water, warmth, shelter and aspiring to have good choices and a decent life. There are nearly seven billion people on Earth already. This cant be sustained and we should be doing something about it, which is why I am a supporter of the Optimum Population Trust and keen to encourage debate on this issue. http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfsspp.html

Closing ranks

There is evidence all over the place of people in organisations, especially large ones, closing ranks to protect themselves and their institutions whether they are in the wrong or not...MPs moved quickly to condemn those not just greedy but stupid fellow MPs recently caught on camera hiring out their services. The Catholic Church is attempting to defend the Pope from accusations of child abuse cover ups. Banks defend giving large bonuses. All big businesses have huge PR budgets and legal experts. Further examples are easy to find in places like Parliament and the NHS. I have personal experience of this kind of behaviour from: the NHS in Bristol; Bristol City Council; care homes; schools and colleges. I'm sure I'm far from alone in my experience - and in thinking that because of the way organisations protect themselves we only get to know the tip of the iceberg. So, I pledge that I will continue, whether elected or not, to do all I can to: expose and oppose all such behaviour: campaign for large organisations to be scaled to a more human level: spread power out within institutions and to all their users; maximise information availability and general transparency and accountability; and for organisations to go beyond token consultation, to maximise the opportunity for people to be empowered and fully participate.

Cut Trident, save £97 billion, protect public services

Received the email copied below from Greenpeace today. I agree entirely with them that we should cut out the Trident nuclear weapons replacement and save £97 billion - and help protect essential public services from cuts. Whilst on the topic of military spending we've spent £8-£9 billion on the war in Afghanistan over the last 8yrs or so too - lets bring our troops home, save our soldiers lives and avoid spending a further £8-£9 billion in the next 8yrs too.
___________________________________________
Hot on the heels of our 'In the Firing Line' investigation, which showed that Trident replacement will cost UK taxpayers a shocking £97 billion, we’re busy campaigning to stop the UK building new nuclear weapons.

In December we projected a 100 foot high message to the Chancellor onto Big Ben – an image of a Trident missile with the caption: 'Darling...Cut the crap'.

But yesterday Alistair Darling missed a golden opportunity in the pre-election budget. He could have cancelled Trident, and used the money to help fund new green jobs, protect frontline services and reduce the nation's debts.

Instead, he preferred to effectively cut public sector pay and services by reducing government departmental spending by £11bn.

With an election in the offing, now is the time to tell politicians that we want our hard-earned taxes spent on things we actually need, not wasted on doomsday machines which many former generals admit have no military value.

So we've made it easy for you to write to all your parliamentary candidates in one go, to ask them if they are happy to waste £97bn on a weapon which is irrelevant to the real threats we face.

For inspiration, visit our video wall to get ideas about how we could better spend this enormous sum of money. For just £2bn, for example, we could reduce class sizes in UK schools down to an average of 20 by 2020. We could spend it on tackling climate change and fuel poverty.
On the wall you can post your own views about how this huge amount of cash could be better spent, and you can also watch our Cut Trident animation (complete with soundtrack by Massive Attack) or spread the word by sharing it with your friends.

With President Obama committing to reduce nuclear weapons, and the US and Russia close to agreeing a new arms control treaty, the possibility of a nuclear-free world is no longer pie-in-the-sky. With your help, we want to put the phrase 'Cut Trident' on everyone's lips in the run up to this election, and take a big step towards making it a reality.

Thanks so much for your support,

Cameron slips up on gay equality - Channel 4 News

Cameron slips up on gay equality - Channel 4 News

Budget? What budget?

Copy of a letter written by me, first published in the Bristol Observer in April 1990, about the budget of the day (pictured, click for larger version). Almost every word of it applies directly to today's budget - that's how much the economics of sustainability has advanced at the top of Government despite the glut of evidence that we desperately need it for our health, our jobs and our future! The only glimmer of promise was the setting up of a green investment bank but even that had too little money backing it. Basically this budget was hardly a budget at all, more a straight political speech, eyes firmly on the general election.
________________________________________________________

The budget could have been used as an opportunity to put our economy on the right road. This chance was wasted. It could have been used to set us on the road away from the rat race of non-selective economic growth, which is wasteful and polluting – it did not.

It could have helped create a way of life we can afford in both economic, social and environmental terms – it did not. It could have helped create the jobs that need people, by building on the resources of the people – it did not.

It could have helped to build a more self-reliant and stable economy – instead we are still reliant on a system of international finance which cannot last much longer. It could have started to establish an economy which can be sustained into the future, without killing our environment and exploiting the people – it did not.

...Instead there are signs the Chancellor had the…next general election in mind. He wanted to set the scene for favourable short term conditions to get elected next time – and he has probably failed even to do that. What a lack of courage and vision he showed.

Epetitioner: Say No to Park and Ride on Stapleton Allotments

Epetitioner

Say No to Park and Ride on Stapleton Allotments

Another Lib Dem flip flop?

At a St Brendans College meeting with politics students yesterday Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy said she favoured votes for 16 yr olds as the Labour candidate. I said I favoured this too, as the Green candidate. No Tory view was available to students because they couldn't get the candidate or a representative of her there. Lib Dem candidate Mike Popham said he wanted votes for 16 yr olds too - but I picked him up on this, as my recollection was that he had indicated in the DEMREF 2010 survey that he wanted the voting age to stay at 18. He categorically denied that he had done this but when I checked later I found that he had in fact returned the survey saying the voting age should stay at 18 (see screenshot, click to enlarge). So, is this an error of some sort on his or someones part or does he change what he says according to the audience in front of him (as Lib Dems often do)??

See:
http://www.polinfluence.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/ppa70mikepopham202.pdf

BBC News - Lobbying and British politicians

BBC News - Lobbying and British politicians

We've had expenses scandals. Now its 'MPs for hire' scandals and MPs who break travel rules scandals. Not long before we make Berlusconi look like 'Mr Ethical' and Italian politics look clean!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/23/mps-accused-breaking-travel-rules

The Liberal Democrats: just what do they stand for??

Watching Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg on The Politics Show this weekend I was disappointed that he was not challenged on the [lack of] consistency and conviction behind Lib Dem policies and action. There’s no shortage of examples:

*Economic policy
Nick Clegg says he wants a fair society BUT has recently stressed his admiration for monetarist, ‘no such thing as society’ Margaret Thatcher! This presumeably will help his work for savage cuts in public services.

The LibDems [so-called] “green tax switch” promises to “cut income tax and switch to green taxes on pollution instead” BUT no serious Green would contemplate this. We need income taxation to pay for schools, hospitals, public services… So-called green tax revenue in place of income taxation means keeping the pollution going, to keep the revenue coming in, so that we don’t then have less money for schools, hospitals, public services…

*Democratic reform policy
Nationally say they want voters to have the power to sack MPs through a recall system BUT in Bristol Lib Dems opposed a Green motion to introduce recall locally.

*Transport policy
Norman Baker has said a LibDem government would stop spending on road building BUT his colleagues in Lancashire support the Lancaster Northern bypass.

Lib Dems wanted a moratorium on road building BUT then wholeartedly supported the Newbury bypass, the Batheaston bypass, the M74 extension in Scotland…

They favour congestion charging nationally BUT are against it in Edinburgh, Manchester and York.

Lib Dem MP Norman Baker has [rightly] complained that British rail passengers pay the highest fares in Europe BUT then he said the LibDems would improve matters by freezing UK rail fares - at the highest level in Europe!

Lib Dems opposed the expansion of Heathrow BUT have been happy to expand Birmingham, Carlisle, Exeter, Liverpool and Norwich airports – and enthused about Manchester airport’s second runway (except Lib Dems in Stockport, under the flightpath!).

*Waste management policy
LibDems in Sheffield argued for a new incinerator BUT in Hull fought against an incinerator. They stopped incineration in Bristol BUT have supported incinerator projects in Exeter, Plymouth and Barnstaple, and also in Essex.

*Energy policy
Say they want a zero carbon economy by 2050 BUT have opposed windfarm proposals in Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon and Worcestershire and in Lewisham the they voted against a Green Party budget package to insulate 25,000 homes for free. (They have until this year opposed Bristol Green Cllr Charlie Bolton’s budget amendments allocating more money for insulation.)

They say the environment is at the ‘heart of everything’ they do BUT the party is built on flip flopping opportunism not ecological principles. This explains their lack of joined up (systems) thinking, the root of all truly Green politics.

Chris Hutt

Very sad and shocked by news of the death of cycling campaigner and well known blogger Chris Hutt. (http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.com/).

We've lost a great green campaigner with a distinctive libertarian perspective and a very committed, independent-minded and persistent character. I first met Chris over 20 yrs ago and I've worked with him a lot in recent yrs on cycling and green spaces issues. I know just how strongly he felt about excellent achievements like the Bristol to Bath Railway Path.

Tributes to Chris here:

Bristol Traffic

James Barlow