In the world of Adam Nazir Ahmed Teladia

http://www.adamteladia.org.uk/

2007-04-08T13:01:00.000+01:00

http://www.adamteladia.org.uk/

Electoral Commission Guidance for candidates and agents

2007-03-29T13:32:00.000+01:00

The Electoral Commission have produced Guidance for people who may be candidates or agents at the local government elections in England on 3rd May 2007.

The guidance can be downloaded either as a whole document (pdf format) or in sections, from The Electoral Commission http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/

Guidance for candidates and agents available as pdf at:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/FullReport-_24596-17910__E__N__S__W__.pdf

World Water Day 2007

2007-03-22T18:45:00.000Z

As readers may know today is World Water Day. Living in the UK where we have little difficulty finding clean and safe water we can sometime forget the importance of water.

There are those who are less fortunate then us. I was surprised to hear that there are still more than one billion people in the world who lack access to a safe supply of water and instead have to drink from contaminated sources. As a result they face the prospect of illness and even death. 5000 children die every day as a result of drinking dirty water.

If you wish to help improve the situation you can contact your MP to encourage them to sign the Early Day Motion 1113 or you can donate money to WaterAid an international charity dedicated to helping people escape from poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

http://www.wateraid.org/

ID cards

2007-03-19T10:36:00.000Z

Dear Khalid Mahmood MP,

You may have seen in Daily Mail of 12th March 2007 that the Government is planning to sell access to our personal data once the ID cards scheme has been introduced.

The story mentions that when ID cards are introduced, we will be expected to produce them in banks, shops, libraries, post offices. The Government will then charge these organisations to check we are who we say we are.

It is bad enough that the government insists on gathering vast amounts of information from the British people, and charging us for the privilege. The fact that they will be making vast sums of money out of charging people and businesses to check that data merely adds insult to injury.

Since the parliament passed legislation imposing this utterly unnecessary ID cards scheme information has come to light about the increasing costs which each and every one of us will have to bear for this unnecessary ID cards scheme.

I hope that this continued news about the rising costs of this utterly unnecessary ID cards scheme will get you to change your mind on the needs of this scheme and I hope that you will ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to give Parliament another chance to discuss introduction of the ID cards scheme once all the costs of the scheme are known.

Yours sincerely,
Adam Nazir Ahmed Teladia

RICKY GERVAIS - LIVE

2007-03-15T17:22:00.000Z

Last night I met up with some friends and went to the National Indoor Area to see Ricky Gervais who is in Birmingham as part of his third live show Fame.

Most of the content covered in last nights show was based on Ricky Gervais’s he made jokes about the work he has done with Cancer Charities which led him into a few jokes about obesity. He had a pop at Dawn French and took the piss out of The Vicar of Dibley. He did a fair bit on how disgusting public toilets can be but his best moment was he was trying to impersonate an African but just couldn’t get the accent right. He tried a couple of times and then finally managed it. As always with Ricky Gervais some of the jokes were close to if not actually un-PC but the fact that he does it with no hesitation is what makes them great.

Two other things I really enjoyed was the warm up act, I can’t remember the guys name but I think he has been on previous Ricky Gervais tours, unfortunately he was only on for about twenty minutes but was good and Ricky Gervais’s entrance on to stage was good too. He appeared from behind a curtain with RICKY in lights behind him wearing a Crown and red cloak (like the one Peers wear in the House of Lords).

It was a great night and I would recommend Ricky Gervais - Fame! To anyone if it is coming to a venue near. Tickets are still available for the NIA events on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th April.

Colin Ross shares his thoughts on the night in his post Ricky Gervais - Fame!

Liberal Democrat Peers call for public to be heard on Lords reform

2007-03-14T08:13:00.000Z

On Tuesday Liberal Democrat Peers launched a consultation website www.lordsreformvote.org encouraging members of the public to have their say on reform of the House of Lords.

The House of Lords

2007-03-12T08:19:00.000Z

I have just been spending sometime sending the message below out to the Liberal Democrat Peers for whom I could find email addresses.

Dear Lord / Baroness,

I am sure that you will be aware that later today Monday 12th March 2007 the House of Lords will discuss the White Paper The House of Lords: Reform.

I hope that during the debate and votes you will take into account that last week the House of Commons the democratic arm of the UK legislature supported the options of 80% elected / 20% appointed by a relatively large majority of thirty-eight and that the option for a fully elected second chamber passed by a massive majority of one hundred and thirteen.

In the twenty-first century there is no need for a liberal democracy like the United Kingdom to have any legislators who are not elected by the public. Our laws are currently being passed by a chamber of aristocrats, bishops, businessmen, charity workers, judges and ex-MPs.

I would like you think about how we Liberal Democrats would have reacted if the Afghanistani constitutional convention had decided that some members of the legislature should be chosen by their Head of State and political leaders or if the Iraqi constitutional convention had recommended that part of its national legislature should be appointed by the head of government and political leaders because of their wealth, religious affiliation or support of their political leaders in the past. As Liberals Democrats we would have rightly questioned if that was quite the commitment to democracy that we were hoping for. So should we not now reinforce our commitment to democracy by only supporting a predominately or wholly elected second chamber in our country?

I hope that when given the opportunity to vote you will only support options that the House of Commons approved and do all in your power to get your fellow Liberal Democrat Peers to do the same.

Yours sincerely,
Adam Nazir Ahmed Teladia

Belsen survivor's death mourned

2007-03-11T10:16:00.000Z

I have only just read on the West Midlands section of the BBC news website that Paul Oppenheimer a Holocaust survivor died on Thursday, aged 78.

Paul Oppenheimer survived five years under Nazi rule in Holland including time spent in the concentration camp at Belsen.

After his experiences of the Second World War Paul Oppenheimer came to live in the West Midlands and became an engineer however it was sometime until he started to share his experiences with others. His story which became known in the tale The Last Train From Belsen was told in book From Belsen to Buckingham Palace which was publisher by Beth Shalom Ltd in September 1996.

I met Paul Oppenheimer in 2004 when he attended a Holocaust memorial event organised my Zabir Ali and myself after our visit to former Nazi concentration camps in Poland.

My memory of Paul Oppenheimer will be of a polite man who was helpful to young people trying to understand what Nazi Germany was like and what life in a concentration camp was.

Nearly there

2007-03-10T11:32:00.000Z

As you will have heard the House Of Commons supported the options of 80% elected / 20% appointed second chamber passed by a simple majority (ayes: 305; nos: 267) and the option for a fully elected second chamber passed by an absolute majority (ayes: 337; nos: 224).

I didn’t get the chance to read or watch much of the debate that took place in the House of Commons with regard to House of Lords reform last week so I was very surprised to hear that the House of Commons had only supported the 80% elected and 100% elected options. I was almost certain that the 20%, 40% and 50% options would fail but I also expected the 100% appointed and 100% elected to fail. I thought that if any would pass with a majority they would be the 60% and 80% and I thought that the majorities would be small, maybe even in the single figures.

As time has passed I have become a stronger supporter of a fully elected second chamber but I didn’t think we would get to this point so soon. I thought that we may get a partly elected second chamber soon and wait for it to push for an increase in its elected proportion.

Even with the success that supporters of reform enjoyed on Wednesday we can become complacent, relaxed and satisfied just yet. The battle for a democratic second chamber is not over yet.

The House of Lords will be debating its future this coming week and the call for a democratic upper house is likely to be met with defiance, opposition and resistance in the House of Lords. Not only from traditional opponents of reform but also from those who now enjoy their privileges as an unelected member of the legislature and do not wish to give them up.

If the supporters of reform become complacent, relaxed and satisfied now the success of Wednesdays vote will remain unfulfilled for years, even decades.

If you are a supporter of reform I would like to urge you to contact as many peers as possible urging them to support the Commons will when they have the chance to vote on reforming the House of Lords on Wednesday.

The Question Of White Supremacy

2007-03-08T17:27:00.000Z

Thanks to Chris Black for this

Lords Reform

2007-03-06T16:52:00.000Z

Today the House of Commons started debating on how we should reform the House of Lords (the vote is tomorrow).

In an email to supporters Unlock Democracy said "we have significant grounds for optimism, but not for complacency. 9 cabinet members have written to Labour MPs urging them to vote for the 50%, 60% and 80% elected options, while Liberal Democrat support appears to be holding firm. Our main concern however is that despite David Cameron's pledge to personally support the 80% option and despite a manifesto commitment for a 'substantially elected second chamber', Conservative support is not as firm as we would like it to be". I would like to urge David Cameron to call on his parties MPs to vote for its own policy.

The vote tomorrow is on the principle of reform, not the details of the Government's White Paper. If the democratic options are defeated tomorrow, the prospects of reform will be put back by a generation, it has taken us ages to get another chance to have parliament discuss the reforms since the proposals made by Robin Cook didn’t win sufficient support. So please encourage your local MPs to support an elected House of Lords.

David Blunkett @ University of Wolverhampton

2007-03-05T15:50:00.000Z

Former Education, Home and Work & Pensions Secretary David Blunkett was at the University of Wolverhampton today to talk to staff and students.

David Blunkett's talk was entitled Can Democracy Live Up to the Challenges of the 21st Century.

David Blunkett spoke for just over thirty minutes laying out what he thought were the cultural, economical, political and social challenges to democracy in 21st Century GB.

Having spoken to two colleagues we were all surprised at how open David Blunkett was. We were all expecting him to be a bit of an arse but found that he was actually a lot nicer then we expected and thought he would be.

David Blunkett was the most high-profile speaker at the university since I have started and his speech was certainly interesting.

Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2007

2007-03-05T15:10:00.000Z

I was at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Harrogate this weekend, I had planned to do a number of things while at conference but unfortunately only managed to do a few.

I arrived in Harrogate later then I had originally hoped for which meant that I missed the bulk of the Better Governance Working Group Consultation, however I caught the last section of the session which was lead by Jonathan Marks QC.

Following the consultation session I met with Simon Drage with whom I was training first thing on Saturday and we found that the handouts which we were supposed to use on Saturday had not printed so well, so we then spent the next few hours printing and sorting our handouts. On Friday evening I went out for a meal with the York University Liberal Democrats group, always a pleasure as I now know some of them and always a good chance to meet recent recruits and discuss what they think about the party policies etc.

On Saturday I had a 9.15 start as I was training Winning the youth & student vote with Simon Drage, this was a well attended session once again.

That was followed by training Your local party checklist which I was training with Dave Hodgson of the Membership Department. This was the first time I trained for the membership department and the first time I trained with Dave Hodgson who I now known for a couple of years. This session was not so well attended but that was to be expected as it was running at the same time as the policy debate on Trident. Unfortunately my friend Colin Ross was not called to speak in this debate which was a shame since I had suggested some minor changes to text he had sent me earlier in the week.

After I was done with the training I was on the Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association's stall as an executive member I try to help out at every conference with the stall. Unfortunately this year the exhibition didn’t seem as busy as in the past so I spent most the afternoon reading and talking to people on the neighbouring stands. I did get a visit from Elspeth Campbell who was interested in some of the changes in electoral law coming in at this election. Later Sir Menzies Campbell also came by and he wanted to discuss the development of training.
On Sunday I was hoping to get into the hall to list to Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats and Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats speeches which were scheduled for 9:15 and 11:45 however I felt very lazy and tired so decided to just waste my time doing nothing.

After conference I spent a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon in an Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association Executive meeting which discussed various issues.

We left Harrogate at 4pm but I only got home at approximately 8:30pm since the weather was not the greatest the drive back involved a number of traffic jams and speed restrictions.

All in all not a bad conference as I got to do some training and meet a number friends and people I know who I only get to meet at conference.

Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2007

2007-03-01T17:14:00.000Z

I am going to be at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference this weekend, I have a rough timetable for the weekend but like most conferences its not set in stone and will most probably involve me not getting to everything I want to get to.

Tomorrow I hope to get to the Better Governance Working Group Consultation in Harewood 1 at The Holiday Inn. This should start at 3pm and finish by 5:30.

On Saturday I have a 9.15 start with Winning the youth & student vote which I am training with Simon Drage in Queen’s Suite 4 of HIC. That is followed by Your local party checklist which I am training with Dave Hodgson of the Membership Department. This session runs from 11 in Queen’s Suite 4 of HIC and finishes at 12:30. Your local party checklist is a first for as previously I have only trained for the Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association and Liberal Democrat Youth and Students.

After I am done with the training I should be free for the rest of the day so I have volunteered to help out on the Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association's stall.

In the evening I would like to get to the Liberal Democrats Training Task Group fringe What’s new in training which starts at 6:15 in Queen’s Suite 8 of HIC.

On Sunday I would like to get to Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats and Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats speeches which are scheduled at 9:15 and 11:45.

After the conference we have a meeting of the Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association Executive planned.

I am quite looking forward to conference especially as this time I have chance to train for someone who I have not trained for previously and as always conference is a good chance to meet up with colleagues and friends who I don’t get to meet that often.

"proper job"

2007-03-01T16:50:00.001Z

As you may know I am hoping to get a "proper job" come June as I hope I will be done with education by then.

So recently I started looking at the recruitment pages of newspapers and so on. Yesterday I sent off an application form for the post of Administrative Assistant, External Training Services at the Royal National Institute of Blind.

I would be very grateful if people would let me know of any vacancies they hear, know or see advertised.

My ideal job would involve working for a not for profit organisation as a Fundraiser, Policy Developer/Researcher or Conference & Events Co-ordinator/Planner.

I would ideally like to be based in the West Midlands but would consider moving to Leeds, London or Manchester and the Salary does not bother me too much (the job I applied for yesterday starts at £11k).

Please get in touch if you hear, know or see something, I would very much appreciate it.

2007-02-28T18:53:00.000Z

"Proper job"

As people may know I am hoping to get a "proper job" come June and so today I spent a couple of hours filling in an application form for the post of Administrative Assistant, External Training Services for the Royal National Institute of Blind.

I also saw an advert for the post of Office Services Assistant for English Heritage in the Metro on Monday unfortunately I have not got round to requesting the application pack for that job yet but since closing date is on 8th March I better hurry up.

2007-02-25T15:52:00.000Z

Votes at 16

I was recently invited to a Secondary School in Wolverhampton to talk to about two hundred fourteen to sixteen year olds about the Votes at 16 campaign.

I have published the text of my speech below. However please remember that I am a supporter of Votes at 16 and that I was asked to prepare a talk which considered both the arguments for and against votes at 16. If someone is looking form an opinion on this issue I would recommend that they look at or read Give Wayne Rooney the vote, http://www.votesat16.org.uk/, The Real Democratic Deficit and Votes at 16 Issues Briefing.

A number of the arguments that I will make for or against reducing the age at which people can vote were also used in 1971 when the minimum age was reduced from twenty one to eighteen.

At first a number of people of all ages, gender, marital status, communities, political views, race or religion will say that they are not interested in politics or that politics does not affect them. However if we think about the number of people who are concerned about or affected by BBC, Education, Environment, Food, Health, Sport, Transport and so forth we will realise that politics does indeed concern or affect everybody.

People like me who support the idea of reducing the minimum age at which people can vote will argue:

First and foremost there is a basic democratic principle that there should be no taxation without representation. Young workers pay income tax and national insurance, young shoppers pay VAT and the government has no problems collecting the money without reference to date of birth. Not letting sixteen and seventeen year olds express their political views through the ballot box gives the impression to young people and to the rest of society that young people’s views are either not valid, or not as valid as the views of older citizens. This implies that young people are not real citizens.

Second, there is a lack of consistency about the age at which a person gains various civil rights. If people are old enough to marry, die for their country, change their names, and pay prescription charges and full fares on public transport, why should they not be able to vote for the Men and Women who form the laws and regulations which govern these issues. I realise that some of these are actions for which people under eighteen do need parental consent.

Third, Citizenship education is now a compulsory part of the national curriculum in England at key stages three and four and it is an optional part of the curriculum for key stages one and two. So by the time someone is sixteen they could have had eleven years of Citizenship education. Young people reaching the age of sixteen will have a great deal of knowledge of how the British political system works, perhaps a better knowledge and understanding than most people that are older. Yet they are denied the right to use this knowledge and understanding for at least two further years. Lowering the voting age to sixteen would allow a seamless transition from learning about elections, democracy, the importance of voting, the different electoral systems, pressure groups, topical political issues and so forth to putting such knowledge into practice.

If we stick with the status quo some people who may have been enthused or motivated by citizenship classes will, in fact, have to wait much longer than two years for a general election. Someone who turned sixteen in June 2005 will be twenty-one by the time of the next general election.

A poll commissioned from YouGov by the Social Market Foundation in 2002 showed a link between the age at which people first vote in a general election and their inclination to use that vote. People who turn eighteen in the year leading up to an election are significantly more likely to vote than those who turned eighteen in the year after an election and have therefore had to wait up to five years. The Social Market Foundation poll looked at the turnout for young voters of different ages in the 2001 general election. It found a dramatic difference between 27-year-olds and 28-year-olds. Turnout among 27-year-olds was only forty nine per cent; among 28-year-olds, it was sixty five per cent. One explanation is that the first group was under eighteen in the 1992 general election, and therefore had to wait five years to influence the choice of a government. The 28-year-olds, by contrast, had turned eighteen in time for the 1992 election and went to vote with enthusiasm. This enthusiasm carried through to 1997 (when seventy per cent voted compared to sixty four per cent of those who just missed voting in 1992) and had diminished only slightly by the 2001 election. This "birth effect" was also found among those going to vote for the first time in 2001. Among 22-year-olds, who had waited four years to vote, the turnout was fifty four per cent; among 19-year-olds, it was as high as sixty eight per cent (nine per cent above the national average). Lowering the voting age to sixteen cannot erase the “lottery of birthdays”, but it will ensure that everyone can participate in a general election by the time they turn twenty one. If it is true that those who “vote young vote often”, then the argument that lowering the age at which you can vote will decrease turnout is weak, since in the long run it will have opposite effect.

The advent of the internet, together with an expansion of the number of television channels has led to a huge increase in the amount of information available to people of all ages, but to young people in particular as news organisations can now tailor their news to a younger audience. The age at which young people are developing a range of political and issue viewpoints is getting younger and it is right that this should be reflected in the age at which they should become entitled to vote in elections. Some people claim that young people find it difficult to differentiate between fact and opinion and so they could easily be misled by what they hear, read or see in the media or on the internet.

Research shows that younger people are less likely to vote than older people. Research by the Electoral Commission in 2001 found that, whilst overall turnout in the General Election 2001 was 59.4%, turnout among those aged 18-24 it was just 39%. The Commission found that, in common with those aged twenty five and above, many younger voters had little interest in politics, but also found that a significant proportion of younger voters were not registered to vote. It is often argued that by extending the franchise to sixteen and seventeen year olds, turnout is likely to fall further. However I would argue that as the research by the Social Market Foundation showed that we could tackle lower turnout by lowering the voting age and the problem of people not registering to vote is different. You will find that many minority groups such as the young, BME etc are not registered to vote and this should be looked at separate from the debate on lowering the voting age.

Many also argue that older voters know younger people who they do not consider to be sufficiently mature to cast a vote. They ascribe this trait to all those under the age of eighteen. There are also a number of sixteen and seventeen year olds who do not consider themselves mature enough to vote.

Many opponents of lowering the voting age argue that those who are entitled to vote do not do so simply out of their own interests, but also bearing in mind the greater good and the needs of society as a whole. They also argue that many young people are too innocent of the world and that older people know what is best for sixteen and seventeen year olds.

This argument is the same as that which was used in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by those opposed to the extension of the franchise to women and members of the working classes.

It is argued that young people themselves show no desire to see a lower voting age and that an extension of the franchise to sixteen and seventeen year olds would be of interest and benefit to just a few, rather than the many.

2007-02-22T17:39:00.000Z

Liberal Democrats' Better Governance Working Group

I am currently a member of the Liberal Democrats Better Governance Working Group which which was set up by the Liberal Democrats Federal Policy Committee to look at issues such as how we can re-engage citizens with government & politics, how we can ensure effective scrutiny & accountability in our democratic system, how we should respond to issues relating to decentralisation, and in particular the “English Question”, and how boundaries between the state and citizens should be defined.

Under the chairmanship of Lord Paul Tyler the working group has produced How can we improve the way we are governed? a consultative document which will be discussed at the Liberal Democrats in Harrogate conference next week.

However people also have the opportunity to participate in the discussion online at http://consult.libdems.org.uk/governance/. People can post their comments and views at http://consult.libdems.org.uk/governance/ or if they wish they can submit an article or articles which should be sent to articles@consult.libdems.org.uk.

Last night we had another one of our “evidence” sessions which involve someone who has expertise in the area coming into discuss their ideas. I happen to miss the first witness session a couple of weeks ago with Lord Anthony Lester QC however yesterday I was were pleased that Baroness Helena Kennedy QC came along to speak to us. As you may know Helena Kennedy QC chaired the Power Inquiry and is one of the country's leading barristers. She had some interesting comments, ideas and views on issues such as public participations and the constitution yesterday.

I would encourage anyone reading this to take a look at the consultation paper available at http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/Better%20Governance%20CP85_final.pdf and use http://consult.libdems.org.uk/governance/ to let us know what their ideas and views are with regard to accountability & scrutiny, citizen & the state, the constitutional settlement, decentralisation & devolution and re-engaging citizens.

If you will be in Harrogate for the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference there is a consultation session at 3pm on Friday 2nd March in the Holiday Inn (Harewood 1).

2007-02-19T12:47:00.000Z

Who are the most influential unelected people in the country?

The Guardian is trying to compile a list of the countries most influential unelected people.

Anne Alexander, Camila Batmanghelidjh, Russell Davies, Michael Eboda, Georgina Henry and Isobel Larkin have all nominated 10 people each. You can also email your nominations to politics.editor@guardian.co.uk just make sure you put 'top 50' in the subject field of your email.

My list of the 10 most influential unelected people in the country is:

1. Jonathan Powell, chief of staff, Downing Street
2. Sir Gus O'Donnell, head of the civil service
3. Lord Falconer, Lord Chancellor
4. Baroness Valerie Amos, leader, House of Lords
5. Ian Blair, commissioner, Met Police
6. Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC
7. Rebekah Wade, editor, the Sun
8. Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England
9. The Queen
10. Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive, Tesco

2007-02-12T12:23:00.000Z

Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2007

The Liberal Democrat Spring Conference 2007 will be in Harrogate on 2nd - 4th March 2007.

Like last year I will be training at this conference too. The sessions I will be training are listed below. I know that Your local party checklist does not list me as one of the trainers unfortunately Colin Ross will not be able to make that session as he will be occupied else where so Dave Hodgson has asked if I will help out.

The directory and agenda for the conference are now available on the Liberal Democrat Conference Homepage

Saturday 3rd March: 09.15-10.45
Winning the youth & student vote
Simon Drage and Adam Teladia, LDYS.
Queen's Suite 4, HIC

Saturday 3rd March: 11.00-12.30
Your local party checklist
Dave Hodgson and Colin Ross, Membership Department.
Queen's Suite 4, HIC

Saturday 3rd March: 16.00-17.30
The count
Colin Penning and Adam Teladia, Agents Association.
Queen's Suite 9, HIC

2007-02-11T14:55:00.000Z

West Midlands Liberal Democrats Moving Forward & Warwick and Leamington Question Time

Yesterday I travelled to Warwick for my first Moving Forward day of 2007. The West Midlands Liberal Democrats Moving Forward programme is for seats which the West Midlands Liberal Democrats hope will do well at the next General Election.

Despite the weather not being the best I was pleased to see that a number of seats sent representatives.

The training covered was on literature, mainly encouraging local parties to try different types of literature, making the most of election week and the postal vote campaign.

During the Lunch break all the seats taking part in the programme have a 1-2-1 to review progress, I sat in on the Birmingham Hall Green progress and was pleased to hear about the progress they are making and their plans for the next few months.

Ed Davey MP who is the Liberal Democrats Campaigns and Communications Committee Chair and Sir Menzies ("Ming") Campbell's Chief of Staff also attended part of the Moving Forward Day and gave us a briefing on the national picture and plans which was interesting.

After the Moving Forward Day Warwick and Leamington Liberal Democrats hosted a Question Time event which included local Parliamentary Candidate Alan Beddow, Phil Bennion, Ed Davey MP, Warwickshire Councillor Nigel Rock and Colin Ross.

I submitted three questions none of which were asked but I was lucky enough to make comments during the discussion on housing and what would happen if there was a hung parliament. Other issues discussed were Climate Change and Trident.

All in all it was a good day for me because I got a chance to chat with a number of the representatives from the Moving Forward seats and had a chance to meet up with some colleagues and friends I had not seen for sometime.

2007-02-09T12:02:00.000Z

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

I recently reported on this blog that the day of Ashura had just planned and that on this day Muslims should be generous towards their family & dependants and spend more on them then what is normally spent. I usually receive gifts from my parents and brothers & sister in laws on this day.

This year my brother Bashir & his wife Sabiha gave me a gift on the day but my brother Umar & sister in law Zarina said that my gift had been delayed so I would have to wait.

Today my gift finally arrived it is a Chocolate Fondue Fountain. Those who know will know that I like a chocolate from time to time so this will be a gift that I am sure to enjoy.

2007-02-06T14:52:00.000Z

A new Prime Minister & his/her first 100 days in office

Later this year we should be having a new Prime Minister entering Number 10. progress have set up a page on their website http://www.progressives.org.uk/ asking people to suggest policies or initiatives they would like to see the new Prime Minister introducing in his/her first 100 days in office. If you wish you comment please visit http://www.progressives.org.uk/100/

Some the ideas that people have suggested which I like are begin the separation of executive and legislative powers, electoral reform, introduce a plastic bag tax, make a commitment to end the genocide in Darfur, make a commitment to move to a democratically elected head of state, reduce the voting age to 16, remove the right of the Prime Minister to exercise the Royal Prerogative on behalf of the Monarch and work to reform International bodies (EU, G8, IMF, UN, World Bank).

I’m not sure a new Prime Minister would be able to achieve a lot on some of these ideas in his or her first hundred days however I do hope that the next Prime Minister whoever it may be does achieve something on the issues mentioned above.

With regard to the separation of executive and legislative powers I hope that the reformed House of Lords is totally independent of the executive and has no Secretaries of State or Ministers.

I hope that the next Prime Minister can at least deliver the referendum on Proportional Representation that we were promised in 1997 Labour Manifesto.

Make a commitment to end the genocide in Darfur is a little vague but I must be honest that I don’t know enough about the situation there but I have to say that it has been going on for far too long and while our attention has been focused on Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq etc hundreds of thousands if not millions of people have been forced out of their homes and this is putting great pressure on the countries neighbouring Sudan.

Make a commitment to move to a democratically elected head of state is something that I would like every government to offer and I really hope that the Liberal Democrats will sooner rather then later adopt this as policy however I don’t think that there are many supporters for this idea at Westminster.

Reduce the voting age to 16 is something that seems to have disappeared from discussions on constitutional reform at the moment but sometime ago the Electoral Commission reported that it was not the right time but I hope that a new Prime Minister will look again at the issue.

Removing the right of the Prime Minister to exercise the Royal Prerogative on behalf of the Monarch is something that I doubt we will see any Prime Minister suggest I think this will happen by Parliament acting to limit the issues on which the Prime Minister exercise the Royal Prerogative on behalf of the Monarch one by one.

Work to reform International bodies (EU, G8, IMF, UN, World Bank) is also something that is important especially if we want to make progress in the twenty-first century however this requires a united effort especially from the leaders of the worlds leading countries such as USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan etc. Some of these have recently elected new leaders of their governments and USA, UK and France will all have new leaders by January 2009 so I hope that either by then or soon after the new leaders have taken office we get some movement of the reform of some if not all of these organizations.

2007-02-05T17:01:00.000Z

Liberal Democrats launch manifesto consultation

The Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto consultation today. Every party member can now log on to http://manifesto.libdems.org.uk/ which will enable them to contribute to the creation of the Liberal Democrats manifesto for the next general election.

Today key party figures, including party leader Menzies Campbell, Chief of Staff, Ed Davey, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, David Laws, and Chair of the Liberal Democrat Election Manifesto Team, Steve Webb met to set out the manifesto’s key themes.

For the next election the Liberal Democrats will produce a web-based interactive manifesto, which will use audio-visual communications as its centrepiece rather than the written word.

2007-01-29T11:46:00.000Z

Muharram and Ashura

I don’t usually mention my religion and religious activities on this blog and I don’t wish to make this blog about Islam or Muslims but I will now be using this blog to try explaining and helping create a greater understanding of what Islam is and how Muslims live their lives.

First I would like to point out that there are a number of different Muslim groups, their views on Islam and the way Muslims should live their lives are very different in some cases. There is also the fact that the different cultures Muslims come from also influence the way in which people follow Islam. Therefore I ask that people who read about Islam and Muslims on this blog do not take what is said to be the views beliefs, views and way of life for all Muslims.

We recently entered into the first month of the Islamic calendar which is Muharram. The word Muharram comes from the Arabic word meaning sacred and it is one of the four months mentioned in the Quran (Holy book for Muslims).

Muslims believe that Muharram is a month of great reward and virtue. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram.” it is also reported that the Prophet Muhammad said “The one that keeps a fast in the month of Muharram will receive the reward of thirty fasts for each fast.”

The Tenth day of Muharram (29th January 2007) is known as “ASHURA”, some Islamic scholars state that before the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory the fast of Ashura was compulsory for Muslims however after the fasts of Ramadan were made compulsory this fast became optional. The Prophet Muhammad continued to fast on this day himself and also encouraged his companions to do so. When asked the reason for this fast the Prophet Muhammad replied “It is a compensation for sins of the past year.” i.e. the sins of the year that has gone will be forgiven. Muslims also believe that this is the day when the Prophet Moses and his followers gained freedom from the pharaoh.

On the day of Ashura Muslims should be generous towards their family & dependants and spend more on them then what is normally spent. The Prophet Muhammad said “One who generously spends on his family on the day of Ashura, Allah (God) will increase his provisions for the whole year.”

2007-01-26T17:22:00.000Z

Talk Democracy launches

Electoral Reform Society, Hansard Society, Make Votes Count and Unlock Democracy have come together to launch Talk Democracy. Talk Democracy is an open space for people to share their views and co-ordinate their work in the area of democratic renewal and reform.

Talk Democracy also provides users with a series of forums on topics.

There is also a space for people to promote activities and initiatives for things going on around the country.

To register go to www.talkdemocracy.org.uk/talk

2007-01-26T11:50:00.000Z

Reception in the House of Commons

Last night I was at a reception in the Members Dining Room of the House of Commons. The reception hosted by Liberal Democrats Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell was for members from the black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds.

My invitation said that the event would start at 7pm so I arrived a little early and was in the Members Dining Room in time but not many people were there then so I waited for a short time before Dan Rogerson (MP for Cornwall North) arrived, I know him from by-elections and conferences so we spoke for a bit about how his time in Parliament is going and what I am currently doing. After Dan left I started talking to Alistair Carmichael (MP for Orkney & Shetland) who is the Liberal Democrats, Shadow Transport Secretary. I have spoken to Alistair previously but we had a good discussion on what Alistair is doing now and how it is different for since he had always been involved in the Home Affairs team. While I was talking to Alistair Lorely Burt (MP for Solihull) came over to say Hi. I know Lorely from being on the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Executive. Lorely didn’t have much time as she was trying to meet as many people as possible before she left to make sure she got home last night as she had constituency work today. I then found myself talking to Andrew Stunell (MP for Hazel Grove) who I know from by-elections, conferences and from a Policy Working Group that we were on together. After many years in the Whips office Andrew is now the Liberal Democrats Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, an area in which we share an interest. So we spoke about the situation with Your community, your choice and the work that is happening to rewrite that. While I was talking to Andrew we were joined by Cllr Qurban Hussain the Deputy Leader of the Council in Luton where the Liberal Democrats have minority control.

As we were talking Sir Menzies Campbell started to the proceedings and welcomed us all to the Houses of Parliament. After for a while about how he wanted to see the Liberal Democrats benches in Westminster and Brussels reflect the make up of society. Sir Menzies Campbell then introduced former TV presenter and campaigner, Floella Benjamin who will spoke about how far the BME community had come in the UK and she spoke of her experiences as a young child when as she played in the back garden of her house the neighbour through a bucket of urine over her and her brothers & sisters. After Floella Benjamin, Sir Menzies Campbell called on Simon Woolley, National Co-ordinator of Operation Black Vote. This was the first time I had heard Simon Woolley speak he talked about the frank discussion he had with the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary party on Wednesday night and said that he was serious about seeing better representation of the BME community in Westminster and so would ensure that the Liberal Democrats took the issue seriously too.

After Simon Woolley, Sir Menzies Campbell introduced Lord Dholakia who became a Liberal Democrat Peer in 1997 and has served as an assistant whip between (1997-2002), sat on the recent panel that selected cross-bench peers, was Party President from 2000-2004 and in November 2004 was elected joint Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. The final speaker of the night was Sajjad Karim (MEP for North West England) the only elected BME Liberal Democrat Parliamentarian. Sajjad Karim spoke about how it was difficult in the past for members from the BME background to get selected for elections but that things are getting easier.

After the speeches were done I had a chat with Hong Ling Dyer who I know from when I was involved in the Liberal Democrat Youth and Students, we were joined by Sir Menzies Campbell press officer Puja Darbari who spoke about how this had been a busy week for Sir Menzies Campbell and his team with the launch the Liberal Democrats ‘We Can Cut Crime’ campaign on Monday, followed by the debate on Iraq in the House of Commons on Wednesday when Sir Menzies Campbell outlined the Liberal Democrats strategy to bring troops home from Iraq by October and then there was a lot of press work to do promoting last nights event. Later I spoke to Mike Girling of the Liberal Democrats Press Office. One Mike’s responsibilities is to get the Liberal Democrats message out through the BME media. We spoke of some of the obvious outlets there are and how and where he look to find others he could target.

2007-01-25T08:16:00.000Z

The Papers

Yesterday I was looking at The Independent and The Guardian website and found some articles and blogs which I thought readers may be interested in.

There was Taking liberties by Conor Gearty and Variations on a theme by Sir Hayden written by Edward Pearce on comment is free.

Then there was Hain in plea for power shift by Andrew Grice the Political Editor of The Independent and Huge majority say civil liberty curbs a 'price worth paying' to fight terror by John Carvel and Lucy Ward on The Guardian.

2007-01-24T15:03:00.000Z

Make It An Issue

Earlier this week the Power Inquiry launched the make it an issue campaign with the aim of encouraging people across Britain to call for the rules of democracy to be decided by the people and not politicians.

Make it an issue will shortly announce a series of events and meetings across the country where people can join the campaign and debate the priorities for democratic reform.

Inspired by the moveon.org campaign in the USA, make it an issue will use the web as a space for action and debate.

www.makeitanissue.org.uk launched on Monday with a series of films and blogs.

Key supporters include Saira Khan of The Apprentice, Philip Pullman, Billy Bragg and Greg Dyke.

Organisations and individuals can join the campaign and contribute ideas by signing up at www.makeitanissue.org.uk

2007-01-23T15:35:00.000Z

How will politics change in 2006

I have been reading How will politics change in 2006 by Nick Assinder BBC News website, Political Correspondent from 1st January 2006 and found that he predicted that:

For Britain's three big party leaders (plus one), 2006 will without doubt be interesting. And, as far as politics is concerned, it will be all about them.

He seem to have got that prediction pretty spot on however I would say that David Cameron's early promise has still not been tested and Nick Assinder seem to be more tolerant of Charles Kennedy then some Liberal Democrat MPs giving him a few months of probation.

Nick Assinder predicted that in the budget Gordon Brown "will be forced to raise taxes, cut spending or increase borrowing, this may present the first real challenge to his reputation and leadership hopes". What we got was Tax rises 4p on wine and 1p on beer in line with inflation, but no increase in Income Tax or VAT. Spending promises from Gordon Brown included raising investment in schools from £5.6bn now to £8bn a year over five years, £600m to fund world-class British athletes, a new national sports foundation with £34m from the government, another £2m for evening sports clubs for young people, £1bn for a new energy and environmental research institute, Child Trust Funds to get an extra £250 or £750 when the children reached seven-years-old, child care vouchers increased to £55 a week, By April next year, to increase the number of community support officers from 6,000 to 16,000 by April 2007, free off-peak national bus travel for pensioners and disabled people from April 2008, £1m for Britons injured in terrorist attacks at home and abroad, £200m to promote international peacekeeping and an extra £800m for the armed forces. Gordon Brown said net borrowing would be £37bn in 2006-07 and £36bn in 2007-08.

On the local council elections Nick Assinder predicts "Labour can expect losses", we saw on 4 May 2006 was the Conservatives gain 11 councils, Labour loose 17 and the Liberal Democrats gain 1.

Nick Assinder also predicted that "the issue of the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq and the developments in that country, will continue to have a direct impact on domestic politics" I'm not sure how wrong or right he was on the issue but one thing we are seeing is the distancing of British policy in Iraq from that of the USA. President Bush recently announced an increase in the number of US troops in Iraq but we hope to start seeing the withdrawal of British troops in Iraq soon.

2007-01-19T10:44:00.000Z

Celebrity Big Brother and racism

I was watching This Week last night, usually I switch of straight after the My Moment of the Week. However last night I continued to watch as they discussed the situation in Celebrity Big Brother.

Now I’m not a fan of Celebrity Big Brother, the last time I watched Celebrity Big Brother was when Jack Dee was in the house, so unless I’m mistaken that was back in 2003. Therefore what I have posted in this post comes from just what I saw on This Week last night.

I came to the conclusion that Danielle, Jade and Jo’s behaviour towards Shilpa was a consequence of their lack of information, knowledge & understanding of other cultures rather then racism.

My reasons for believing this are first the discussion that This Week showed between some women (one was Jo from SClub7, I didn’t recognise the other) about whether Indians eat with their hands, showed that they had some knowledge of this occurring but they weren’t even sure where this occurred. One of them mentioned it possibly being China. From my knowledge in the “eastern” world it is the norm for people to eat with their hands. I know that as Muslims we are told to eat with our hands since that was the way the Prophet Muhammed ate.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy mentioned during the discussion that came after his report that Shipla was not participating in the alcohol drinking and discussion about sex that occurred in the House. Now from what I remember of watching Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother in the past those two activities take up some amount of time since people having nothing better to do. I don’t know why Shipla isn’t participating in these activities however I do know that in some Indian cultures these are still things which are not done or at least not done in public. People may have a drink from time to time but will only do it at home or in place where they are not vulnerable. The talking about sex is more a case of a sexual relationship being between the people in the relationship and it being a private matter. In the same way that most people would not invite others to watch them having sex with their partner why would you discuss it with someone else?

I think that the majority of the people who think what has been occurring in the house as racism will be the “educated” and “intellectuals” who can sometimes be over PC and they have a desire, hope or wish that British people were as appreciative, knowledgeable and understanding of other cultures as they are.

2007-01-18T17:01:00.000Z

Unlock Democracy launch new website

Unlock Democracy has launched its new website. As some of you may know Unlock Democracy is name under which Charter 88 and the New Politics Network will be working together to progress their aims and objectives.

The new website has publications published by Charter 88 and the New Politics Network in the last few years, information about local groups and information about Unlock Democracy latest campaigns and projects.

2007-01-17T16:43:00.000Z

Just some interesting reading

I have been going through some blogs and newspaper websites and have picked these articles and posts as I found them interesting.

There is an easy answer to the West Lothian question by Simon Jenkins in The Guardian, Matthew Taylor (the Lib Dem one) is off by James Graham and History of the Union by Gavin Whenman

2007-01-16T16:03:00.000Z

TV's dramatic political year

I have just been reading TV's dramatic political year. I watched some of those programmes like any one who knows me will know that I am a massive fan of The West Wing and it is being repeated on More4 and I have the all 7 series on DVD so there is nothing that stops me from watching and adoring what great television it was especially Series 1, 2 and 4.

However in 2006 I missed most of The Amazing Mrs Pritchard and found that when I spoke to blogers, classmates and lecturers no one seemed to impress and one of the complaints from the political and apolitical was the idea of the Purple Alliance winning a general election was just a little too much.

I like watching Spooks but find that I usually miss it for some reason or the other. The times I have watched they have done some good stories. I happen to miss all the exciting things like the attempted coup, the siege in London's Saudi Trade Centre, Juliet's car exploding in Westminster and Ruth faking her own death. However I did catch the attempt to flood London by sabotaging the Thames Flood Barrier which I thought was a good episode.

Like I said before I am a massive fan of The West Wing and was very disappointed when President Jed Bartlett stood down after eight years in The White House, I was standing there screaming four more years. I was really pleased when I heard that Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) was coming back to the White House to work for President Santos but was very disappointed when that just got us a few minutes of TV time. The most disappointing moment was when John Spencer who played Leo McGarry the Democratic Candidate for Vice President at the time died following a heart attack in a Los Angeles hospital. His character died of a heart attack on election night. What was really spooky was that in the first episode of series 7 The Ticket, Jimmy Smits character Matthew Santos the Democratic Candidate for President says something like "you want out, you're gonna have to drum up another heart attack" and Leo replies “Thanks, that's a beautiful sentiment". The story involving China and Russia was fun and the Wedding episode featured some vintage Bartlett but Series 7 was all about the election and for me there wasn’t enough Bartlett while Santos was good he was no Bartlett.

I watched Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen in Commander in Chief, where as a mother of three she goes on to become the first woman to occupy the Oval Office after a sitting President dies. I think Commander in Chief like The Amazing Mrs Pritchard made the mistake that the person in office was an independent. People just can’t envisage a world where that happens.

I don’t think I ever watched The Thick of It but when they had the Christmas special on I enjoyed that. I'm not sure if it will be returning to our screens any time soon but I would recommend that as one to watch.

2007-01-15T13:06:00.000Z

Birmingham Ladywood Liberal Democrats IGM and Training handover

Yesterday I attended the Birmingham Ladywood Liberal Democrats IGM we are a new local party as part of the reorganization of local parties in our region. Having previously been part of the Perry Barr team I am now in the new Ladywood constituency. The IGM was fairly straight forward and our Parliamentary selection passed without much difficulty as well.

Ayoub Khan has been re-selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate as our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Ladywood constituency which is being vacated by Clare Short.

Ayoub Khan is the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Aston ward. Ayoub stood last time recording one of the best swings in the country from Labour to Liberal Democrats of over 20%. The current Labour majority is 6,801 but as I said above there are boundary changes to the constituency and I am sure whichever candidate does the work he/she will win their votes, having been a Councillor for Aston, Ayoub should already have an advantage.

After the IGM I met with Colin Ross (my predecessor as West Midlands Liberal Democrats Training Officer) for a handover as Stuart Ritchie (the new Regional Chair) was free he joined us and the advice, ideas and information Colin and Stuart shared with me yesterday were really helpful and I hope to be acting on them soon.

I have known Colin since 2003 or 2004 I’m not too sure and I have got to know him a number of capacities as West Midlands Liberal Democrats Training Officer, Liberal Democrats Agents and Organisers Executive, a former Liberal Democrats Youth and Students Executive Officer and as a Liberal Democrats Youth and Students Vice President. Colin also happen to study Politics (combined with Law) at the University of Wolverhampton where I am currently doing my Politics and Social Policy degree. Having so much in common with Colin we have become good friends over the last couple of years and he is great at advising, encouraging and supporting me when I need it.

Colin has done a great job as the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Training Officer delivering training over the entire region, he has delivered training or arranged training in all areas that we cover in the Liberal Democrats and ensuring that more people are accredited as trainers in the region. Colin will be very difficult to follow in the role but I will be doing my best. I don’t plan to be another Colin Ross as the Training Officer something’s will have to change and we will have to adopt a new approach in certain areas of the work of the Training Officer but I hope that levels of satisfaction are just as high when my term expires as they were when Colin finished his term.

If you have any concerns or queries with regard to training in the West Midlands, please do not hesitate to email me on Adam@westmidslibdems.org.uk

2007-01-14T13:42:00.000Z

Facebook Profile

I was updating my Facebook profile this morning and thought I should copy it on here for readers to see.

Activities:
Political Activist, Student

Interests:
Comedy, Drama, Education, Entertainment, Politics, Radio, Reading, TV and watching Athletics, Boxing, Cricket, Football, Formula One, Tennis

Favorite Music:
U218 Singles

Favorite TV Shows:
Bremner, Bird and Fortune, Desperate Housewives, Dinnerladies, ER, Fawlty Towers, Friends, Goodness Gracious Me, Judge John Deed, Little Britain, My Family, My Hero, Only Fools And Horses, Scrubs, Teachers, The Catherine Tate Show, The Office, The Vicar of Dibley, The West Wing, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister

Favorite Movies:
A Few Good Men, Casino, Crash, Hotel Rwanda and My Best Friends Wedding

Favorite Books:
The Autobiography of Malcolm X and The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr

Favorite Quotes:
"Hard work never killed anybody" . . . . .but why take the risk!

"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom"
Malcolm X

2007-01-13T16:10:00.000Z

2007 and what may be yet to come

I saw an advert for a Graduate Training Scheme which I want to apply for which got me thinking about what has already happened and what may yet happen in 2007.

On 3rd January my older brother Bashir turned 30 and I made a number of jokes about him getting old. On 5th January my nephew Muhammed Uwais and his mother Fadila (my cousin Suleman's wife) came to stay with us for a short time and I have had a great time playing with unfortunately him and his mother will be off to Malawi soon and so I don’t know when I will have a chance to play with him again but as they are in England for a couple more weeks I hope to make the most of it. On 6th January I gathered with all my cousins in Birmingham for our Eid party this time we tried something new rather then ordering the food from Take Away, Restaurants or having a Bar-B-Que we decided that we would all make one dish each for the party. On 9th January I handed in the last two essays I had left for Semester 1 work at university.

Still to come this month is the Inaugural General Meeting of the Ladywood Liberal Democrats and the selection of the Liberal Democrat PPC for the Birmingham Ladywood constituency. This meeting is tomorrow and I will try to report back soon afterwards. After the meeting I will be having a sit-down with Colin Ross the former West Midlands Liberal Democrat Training Officer to have a handover. On Monday (15th January) I have the first meeting in 2007 of the Liberal Democrats' Better Governance Working Group. We should be finalising the consultation which should be published soon. On 18th January I will be visiting Highfields School in Penn to speak the students in Year 11 (about 240 15 yr-16 yr) about the Votes at 16 campaign. On 25th I hope to be at reception in the House of Commons hosted by Sir Menzies Campbell. The 27th of January is my friend Jamie Hamilton's Birthday Party. Then on 29th January Semester 2 starts at University. On 31st I hope to be attending some Agents Training which has been put on by friend Mike Dixon which will be trained by Mike Dixon and Colin Ross.

In February on the 7th I hope to be at some Targeting Training which will be trained by Mike Dixon and Colin Ross and then on 8th I hope to be going to watch Thatcher the Musical with some friends at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. On 17th I hope to training at a Candidates Breakfast in Birmingham. 26th February sees the start of Fairtrade Fortnight 2007. I don’t have any plans for what I will do that fortnight but I am sure something will turn up.

As I hope to graduate later this year come 1st March 2007 I hope to start looking for jobs to start on 4th June 2007. If you see anything please get in touch. On 2nd March the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference which is being held in Harrogate again this year starts. So far I have only volunteered to help with Liberal Democrat Agents and Organisers Association stall and have a meeting to go to on Sunday after the conference has finished. on 22nd March the European Movement in association with the Federal Trust and Chatham House will holding a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome which I hope to attend. On 24th March I will be at the West Midlands Liberal Democrats Spring Conference where I will be busy making sure all the training goes ok. The NUS Annual Conference 2007 will be on from 27th March to 29th March, I'm not sure if I will be going along this year. Then finally 30th March will be the last day of Spring Term.

April doesn’t hold much for me at the moment only that on 16th Summer Term will start this could be my final term as a full time student.

May as normal since 2003 for me starts off with the elections. This year they happen to be on the 3rd. Last year I spent election in Wolverhampton where we came so close to wining in Park Ward I hope that this year we can get Robin Lawrence elected. Since the Football League season finishes on 6th May, if Birmingham City haven’t been promoted automatically and find themselves in the play offs I could be going to a football match at some point. 14th May will see the start of two weeks of Exams at University. On 23rd my eldest brother Umar turns 33.

In June I hope to start work as Campaigner, Charity fundraiser, Policy Developer, Researcher or Conference & Events Co-ordinator/Planner however I don’t want finish at uni and spend time unemployed so I would be prepared to accept any job as long as it pays the minimum wage. On 25th June my Results Published which I hope are good and don’t involve any retakes.

I have nothing planned for July all I know is that I will be turning 24 on the 20th, so I might do something to mark my birthday.

Again like July I have nothing planned for August.

Again like July and August I have nothing planned for September too but 10th September 2007 will be 210th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft death so I imagine there may be some events about feminism or Mary Wollstonecraft which I may attend. On 15th September the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2007 will start unfortunately this year it will be during Ramadan (which I think will start around 12th September) and so I wont be able to go.

I have nothing planned for October, November and December however events I know or hope will occur are Eid probably around 12th October, so I will probably have a cousins party around 13/14 or 20/21, West Midlands Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference on 20th October, my mothers birthday will be on the 23rd October, my fathers birthday on 11th November and then our second Eid which will be around 21st December.

Other stuff I hope to do within 2007 are organise training session for the Liberal Democrats as Training Officer for the West Midlands Liberal Democrats, apply for a position on the Liberal Democrats Policy Working Group Panel, get approved as Liberal Democrat PPC, Move out of my parents house, work with James Graham on Reflecting Britain.

2007-01-07T16:32:00.000Z

Conference on 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome - 22 March 2007

Major conference organised by the European Movement in association with the Federal Trust and Chatham House to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. Speakers include Peter Sutherland (Chairman, BP), Geoff Hoon MP (Minister for Europe), Peter Mandelson (European Commissioner), Kenneth Clarke MP and Charles Kennedy MP.

Click here for more information and a booking form: http://www.sussexineurope.org/Chatham_House.doc

2007-01-06T14:16:00.000Z

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

As a fan of Aaron Sorkin I was really excited when I saw that after a break he was coming back to TV and had started work on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I saw an advert for the programme on More4 on the night that they showed the last episode of The West Wing which said coming soon however since then I have not heard or seen anything. Did I miss it?

As people may know Aaron Sorkin was involved in the first four seasons of The West Wing and also did the screenplay for A Few Good Men, wrote The American President, created and did the teleplay for Sports Night.

Aaron Sorkin has also adapted George Crile's best-selling book "Charlie Wilson's War" the true story of Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson and a CIA operative who together manipulated the congress and the CIA into helping to arm the mujahideen in their fight against Afghanistan.

2007-01-05T18:00:00.000Z

Christmas is over, bring on Easter

I was reading Colin Ross's blog and found out that today is the twelfth night of Christmas (the official end of Christmas). Colin seems to be complaining that whilst Easter is still three months away Easter related products are already been seen in the shops already and says that in his opinion its far too early for Easter Eggs.

As someone who loves Easter Eggs can I please ask that if you see Easter Eggs on sale any where could you please let me know either by posting in the comments box or sending me an email. I can't wait till I can start eating Easter Eggs.

2007-01-04T18:33:00.000Z

In our right minds: what works in mental health?

A CentreForum event

6:15pm-7:45pm Tuesday 6th February

Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Westminster SW1A 2JH

Speakers Prof. Paul Bartlett - University of Nottingham
Angela Greatley - Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Baroness Julia Neuberger
Lord David Ramsbotham - former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales.

In our right minds will debate current issues related to mental health.

To reserve your place, email info@centreforum.org or call 020 7340 1160.

2007-01-03T22:52:00.000Z

So you think you know your American states?

I just tooke the So you think you know your American states? test on the BBC Politics Show website and I have to admit that I am sad enough to have got all ten questions right.

2007-01-02T22:37:00.000Z

http://www.electthelords.org.uk

Sometime ago I wrote to my local MP with regard to the reform of the House of Lords. I have not had a reply from him so far so I will be sending the letter below again on Wednesday.

Dear Mr Khalid Mahmood MP,

I am sure that you will have recently seen that there was a leaked discussion paper by the Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Jack Straw MP and that in the recent Queen's Speech the government announced they "will work to build a consensus on reform of the House of Lords and will bring forward proposals."

However unfortunate it maybe the government must be prepared to compromise in an effort to build a consensus for House of Lords reform. The government must accept the overwhelming consensus amongst both MPs and the public that a reformed second chamber should be predominantly elected. Opinion polls have consistently shown that a vast majority of the public support a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber. When the issue was last debated in the House of Commons, the option for an 80% elected House of Lords received the most support falling just a few votes short of the required amount.

The government does not need to build a consensus on this issue, it needs to accept that one already exists. The government cannot continue to insist as it currently does that no more than 50% of the second chamber should be elected.

The last time I wrote to you on this issue on 10th February 2004 your reply dated 19th February 2004 said "I support the Government proposals as the elected House of Commons will remain the Sovereign Body and can be removed by the electorate" there is no reason why even with a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber the House of Commons can not be the sovereign law making body in our country. There is no reason why a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber should be a threat to the sovereignty of the House of Commons.

On a final note I would like you think about how the UK government would have reacted if the Afghanistani constitutional convention had decided that some members of the legislature should be chosen by their Head of State and political leaders or if the Iraqi constitutional convention had recommended that half of its national legislature should be appointed by the head of government and political leaders. Our government would have rightly questioned if that was quite the commitment to democracy that we were hoping for.

It is disgraceful that we as a liberal democracy have more legislators who were not elected by the public than there are elected members. Our laws are being passed by a chamber of aristocrats, bishops, businessmen, charity workers, judges and ex-MPs.

I hope that you will take sometime to reconsider your position and ask the government to do the same.

If as I hope you do change your position on the issue can I ask that you sign up to the Elect the Lords campaign by visiting http://www.electthelords.org.uk or writing to Elect the Lords, 6 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF.

Yours sincerely,
Adam Nazir Ahmed Teladia

2007-01-02T14:33:00.000Z

This Life + 10

As some of you may know This Life + 10 will be on at 9pm on BBC2 this evening. Ten years ago when This Life aired I was only 13 years old and not so interested in programmes such as this therefore I can't remember it and happen to miss it when it was repeated on BBC2 before Christmas however I plan to watch the programme tonight to see what it is all about.

When I woke up this morning I switched on to bbc radio 5 live and they were asking people to call, email or text and let them know what they were doing ten years ago and whether they are doing the same or how their life has changed since.

This got me thinking what was it that I wanted to be doing now ten years ago. I am finding it really difficult to remember but as far I can recall ten years ago I wanted to grow up to become a sports agent or a football commentator. As anyone who knows me will know none of those are true now and I doubt that I’ll ever end up doing any of those any time soon.

I also started thinking about what I wanted to be doing ten years from now which really worries me as ten years ago I had narrowed my list down to two and now I have no idea at all about what I want to do. Back in November 2004 I listed Academic, Campaigner, Charity fundraiser, Fair Trader, Journalist, Peace Advocate, Policy Developer, Refugee Advisor, Regeneration Worker, Relief Worker, Researcher, Strategist, Sustainability Advisor, Sustainable Tour Guide and Teacher as possible careers for me. Given that I may be just six months from finishing my academic life I have to seriously start thinking about what I want to do because if I don’t think I could just jump at the first opportunity of employment and end up doing that for the rest of my life.

From the list the jobs that really interest me are Campaigner, Charity fundraiser, Policy Developer and Researcher from the list above and the one that I wish to add to that is Conference & Events Co-ordinator/Planner.

If anyone has any advice, experience or knowledge that they wish to share please do not hesitate to contact me.

2007-01-01T17:42:00.000Z

new years resolutions 2007

Becoming fitter by excercising more

Get a job

move out of my parents house

2007-01-01T16:56:00.000Z

You Belong in the UK

Blimey!
A little proper, a little saucy.
You're so witty and charming...
No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

2007-01-01T00:46:00.000Z

Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball

Amnesty International

2006-12-29T10:40:00.000Z

Global predictions for 2006

I was just looking back at Global predictions for 2006 by John Simpson who is the BBC World Affairs editor. John Simpson predicted that in 2006

• Even the most resistant scientist, industrialist and politician will have to accept that the evidence for the damage we are doing to our planet is overwhelming.

• It will take a disturbingly long time for a new government to be created in Iraq.

• Iran will take its nuclear ambitions further, and its negotiations with the European countries will seem more and more pointless.

• Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, will wipe out both the Labour Party and Likud, the party he left, in the forthcoming election.

• The American press will finally get stuck into a serious examination of the Bush administration's business links.

• The EU's woes and weaknesses will continue for most of the year.

• Osama bin Laden will be tracked down, but will not be captured alive.

• Saddam Hussein will be found guilty of the Dujail massacre - the case which he is currently being tried for.

• England will beat Brazil in the final of the World Cup in Germany.

We have seen a lot of things happen over the past twelve months which show that a consensus now exists on the amount of damage we causing to the planet. The major work that was published in the UK was the Stern Review back in October.

We have also come a long way with regard to Iran and its nuclear ambitions. Over Christmas the UN Security Council passed a motion supporting sanctions against Iran, however the United States of America and United Kingdom don’t seem to mind working with Iran to find a solution to the unrest and violence in Iraq.

It was greatly unfortunate that not long before the elections in Israel Ariel Sharon suffered a major stroke and in the election that followed Kadima won 29 seats, Labour-Meimad 19 (-2) and Likud 12 (-15). However the major conflict in the Middle East in 2006 was between Israel and Lebanon over the summer.

As far as I know (I may have missed it in the news) we still don’t know where Osama bin Laden is and we think he is still alive but given that there has not been a video from him for a couple of months he could be dead but we just don’t know.

Saddam Hussein was found guilty of the Dujail massacre and could be hanged at any time over the next four weeks, after an appeal against his execution failed. Reports this morning say that his lawyers have been asked to pick up his personal effects and that the US military have handed him over to Iraqi custody.

And yet again for every football fan in England the world cup ended with us screaming at our TVs while player after player missed a penalty at another major tournament. This time we happen to go out to Portugal on penalties. The final was between Italy and France which ended with Italy wining on penalties (5-3) against 10-man France after Zinedine Zidane sent off for a head butt in extra-time.

2006-12-28T18:18:00.000Z

Shopping and my love for Books and DVDs

I really hate going shopping especially at busy times of the year such as the present time. I prefer to do most of my shopping online its much easier and I rarely get tempted to buy stuff I don’t need. Over the last two days I have been out shopping because I need some clothes and shoes as well get some gifts for family members since Eid is coming up soon. However whenever I go shopping I cant help myself but walk over to or walk into the books and DVDs shops or sections in shops.

Over the last two days I have bought Am I Bovvered?: The "Catherine Tate Show" Scripts, Bobby Robson: Farewell But Not Goodbye, Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia, Crash, Have I Got News for You, Little Britain: The Complete Scripts and Stuff - Series Three and Shakespeare ReTold even though I have a number of books and DVDs which I still haven’t read or watched.

My book collection is fairly large and I am now having trouble finding places in my bedroom where I can put my books which is greatly annoying for my parents, over the last four years I have bought seventy five books just off Amazon. I have also purchased a number of books from places like ASDA, The Works, Waterstones & WHSmith and I have been given a number of books as gifts on birthdays, for Christmas and for Eid.

My DVDs collection is much smaller but still growing and taking up space in my bedroom. I am sure that when I move out of my parents house and get a place of my own I will have to have a room especially for the books and hope that I have enough space in another room to get my DVDs in their.

2006-12-27T15:51:00.000Z

The Guardian Christmas quiz 2006

I have just taken The Guardian Christmas quiz 2006 and I got a score of 18 out of 25 which is not bad I am sure if I had paid more attention to things it could have been higher.

The questions I answered wrong to were:

How many Labour backbenchers rebelled against the ID cards bill?

The Met police launches an investigation into 'cash for honours' allegations after a complaint by which party?

A Sinn Féin aide accused of being a British spy is found dead in Ireland. His name was:

Tommy Sheridan, ex-leader of the Scottish Socialist party, won £200,000 damages from the News of the World, over allegations he visited swingers' clubs. One of his defences was that his accusers had not noticed he was:

In the ensuing co-ordinated TV statements, the PM and chancellor spoke to the cameras from where?

The chair of which leftwing party becomes an overnight multi-millionaire after auctioning a painting stolen from her Jewish family by the Nazis?

Tony Blair became the first serving prime minister to be interviewed by the police. The interrogation lasted?

2006-12-26T16:59:00.000Z

Festive Period

I find the period between Christmas and New Years a bit weird and feel like I things happening but without real purpose or speed. As a Muslim I don’t celebrate Christmas so don’t have a family meal or get together as others may do my Christmases are usually spent catching up with friends and family. In the run up to Christmas I took time out to meet with friends and catch on what had been happening with them, my festive period so far has been spent watching DVDs and TV. So far this festive season I have enjoyed Calendar Girls (which I have seen before), The Vicar of Dibley and Little Britain Abroad on TV and I have managed to watch Dirty Dancing, Hitch and the second season of West Wing on DVD. I am looking forward to watching Freaky Friday, Jam & Jerusalem and Lenny Henry.TV tonight on TV as well as trying to watch Rain Man, The Best Comedy DVD in the World and Out Foxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism. I doubt I’ll get through the DVDs tonight but if I manage to get through them before the end of the festive period that would be great.

I also have to find some time to go out shopping I still need to find some shoes, tops and caps to buy and given that we will be celebrating Eid on Saturday I doubt I’ll be able to get much done on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the festive period and I wish everyone the very best of luck for 2007. I do hope to blog again before then but if I don’t manage can I wish all those celebrating Eid an Eid Mubarak and a happy new year to one and all.

2006-12-23T15:40:00.000Z

Top-up fees petition

A new petition has been launched on the 10 Downing Street, website calling for Tony Blair to scrap university tuition fees and stop the marketisation of higher education.

The petition notes that "Since the introduction of university tuition fees, many thousands of talented young people from deprived backgrounds have not gone to university. In 2006 came the introduction of variable fees; the next stage of the marketisation of English higher education. This will invariably lead to those poorer students going to poorer universities, whilst the rich students go to rich universities. This is unfair, inequitable and unsustainable."

You can sign the petition online at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/scrapfees

2006-12-21T11:55:00.000Z

David Hasselhoff "Jump In My Car"

David Hasselhoff "Jump In My Car" music video great at the end

2006-12-20T18:22:00.000Z

In our right minds: what works in mental health?

A CentreForum event
6:15pm-7:45pm Tuesday 6th February
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Westminster SW1A 2JH

Mental Health issues are coming to the fore in many areas of Government policy.

Common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, now account for more incapacity benefit claims than conditions like back pain.

The Mental Health Bill currently in Parliament is the third time in eight years the Government has sought to tighten the legislation regarding the treatment of the mentally ill.

In our right minds will debate these and other current issues related to mental health.

To reserve your place, email info@centreforum.org or call 020 7340 1160.

2006-12-20T13:37:00.000Z

12 Days of Christmas re-worked Indian style

12 Days of Christmas re-worked Indian style

2006-12-14T21:55:00.000Z

Life is all about asses
you're either covering it,
laughing it off,
kicking it,
kissing it,
busting it,
trying to get a piece of it,
or behaving like one .

2006-12-12T17:43:00.000Z

Facebook me!

2006-12-10T18:29:00.000Z

Chile's Gen Pinochet dies at 91

Chile's former military leader Augusto Pinochet died today at the Santiago hospital where he was being treating for an earlier heart attack.

I only happen to find out about this after someone on my MSN contact list put something about it in their sign in name. This encouraged me to check the BBC news website where I read more about the story.

2006-12-08T21:42:00.000Z

David Brent @ Microsoft

worth watching to end just so you can catch the song and outakes

2006-12-06T20:55:00.000Z

Seasons Greetings

I received my second Christmas/Seasons Greetings Cards today which is far too early in the year for me however this early action has meant that I have made a list of people who I have to send a Seasons Greetings Card to and purchased some on the Shelter Christmas card shop.

If you still have to purchase your Christmas/Seasons Greetings Cards then I would like to encourage you to buy them from the Shelter Christmas card shop there are still nineteen card types which you can purchase. You can also purchase Personalised Charity Christmas Cards if you want to do that.

2006-12-05T19:13:00.000Z

10 things I would never do.....

Karen Hamilton tagged me on Thursday but since I have not had much internet access over the last couple of days I have not had a chance to post on the issue.

I thought coming up with 10 things I would never do..... would be easy but it has caused me more trouble then I thought it would but here goes.

10 Things I would never do:

• Buy a cat
• Buy a dog
• Dance in public
• get piercings
• Give up chocolate
• Give up Coca Cola
• Hunt, except to eat
• Join an army
• Stop Eating Meat
• Vote for the BNP

I would like to thank Colin Ross, Karen Hamilton and Mark Valladares their lists gave me ideas of what could be included on my list.

2006-12-01T21:29:00.000Z

The Fair Trade Fair

The Fair Trade Fair will take place on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th December from 12pm to 6pm at the Westminster Central Hall, in Parliament Square.

There are 65 stalls, selling an incredible range of items from the UK and all parts of the world.

Just £3 at the door. Concessions £1 and children come in for free.

Full details are on - www.fairtradefair.org

2006-11-30T22:09:00.000Z

Petitions to the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister has been receiving petitions have for a long time and some of the readers may have even sent signed ones in the past however http://www.number10.gov.uk/ now allows people to create and sign petitions on the website.

I have so far signed three petitions http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/JoinEuro, http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/republic/ and http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/STVvoting/

2006-11-29T18:18:00.000Z

Local Voices Survey

Local Works and Unlock Democracy are compiling a survey to monitor people's views on the state of their local community, as part of our campaigning for the Sustainable Communities Bill. The survey should take just a couple of minutes to fill in and can be completed online: http://tinyurl.com/yx2rpp.

2006-11-28T20:47:00.000Z

European Citizens' Initiative Campaign Launches

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) campaign was launched on 9 November. The goal of this campaign is to collect signatures of people from all member states, demanding the introduction of the ECI by a regulation into European law. Such a regulation would require the European Commission to respond to a proposed change in European law signed by at least one million EU citizens.

When implemented, the ECI will be the first transnational tool of participatory democracy. It would enable European citizens to directly influence the political agenda of the EU for the first time in history.

As the petition in support of the One Seat campaign has shown already it is possible to get a million citizens from across the EU to unite on a single campaign. The petition in support of the One Seat campaign passed the one million mark back in September (http://www.oneseat.eu/). The problem is, currently the Commission has no formal system in place to respond to such initiatives.

Unlock Democracy will be coordinating activities for the ECI campaign in the UK. You can sign up to the campaign directly yourself by going to: http://www.citizens-initiative.eu/.

2006-11-27T20:29:00.000Z

Elect the Lords

Over the last week I have been trying to get a message to my local MP about House of Lords reform using http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ however for some reason I have been unable to send the message. So today I made the decision that I should write to my MP using snail mail.

The letter I have written is copied before. I wrote to my MP on this issue sometime ago and his view was very different to mine then I am hoping that his views will have changed since.

Dear Mr Khalid Mahmood MP,

I am sure that you will have recently seen that there was a leaked discussion paper by the Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Jack Straw MP and that in the recent Queen's Speech the government announced they "will work to build a consensus on reform of the House of Lords and will bring forward proposals."

However unfortunate it maybe the government must be prepared to compromise in an effort to build a consensus for House of Lords reform. The government must accept the overwhelming consensus amongst both MPs and the public that a reformed second chamber should be predominantly elected. Opinion polls have consistently shown that a vast majority of the public support a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber. When the issue was last debated in the House of Commons, the option for an 80% elected House of Lords received the most support falling just a few votes short of the required amount.

The government does not need to build a consensus on this issue, it needs to accept that one already exists. The government cannot continue to insist as it currently does that no more than 50% of the second chamber should be elected.

The last time I wrote to you on this issue on 10th February 2004 your reply dated 19th February 2004 said "I support the Government proposals as the elected House of Commons will remain the Sovereign Body and can be removed by the electorate" there is no reason why even with a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber the House of Commons can not be the sovereign law making body in our country. There is no reason why a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber should be a threat to the sovereignty of the House of Commons.

On a final note I would like you think about how the UK government would have reacted if the Afghanistani constitutional convention had decided that some members of the legislature should be chosen by their Head of State and political leaders or if the Iraqi constitutional convention had recommended that half of its national legislature should be appointed by the head of government and political leaders. Our government would have rightly questioned if that was quite the commitment to democracy that we were hoping for.

It is disgraceful that we as a liberal democracy have more legislators who were not elected by the public than there are elected members. Our laws are being passed by a chamber of aristocrats, bishops, businessmen, charity workers, judges and ex-MPs.

I hope that you will take sometime to reconsider your position and ask the government to do the same.

If as I hope you do change your position on the issue can I ask that you sign up to the Elect the Lords campaign by visiting http://www.electthelords.org.uk or writing to Elect the Lords, 6 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF.

Yours sincerely,
Adam Nazir Ahmed Teladia

2006-11-20T22:35:00.000Z

On this day 20 November 1990

I almost didn’t realise this but found it on the BBC News just before I was about to switch off my computer.

Thatcher failing to win the election outright by four votes is amongst my first memory of politics.

I remember having a discussion with my great grandfather about who we thought should be the next leader of Conservative party and Prime Minister.

2006-11-20T15:08:00.000Z

Baywatch in Birmingham

2006-11-17T16:19:00.000Z

Recall demand after cloning of new biometric passports

The government is facing demands to recall three million micro-chipped biometric passports since a Guardian investigation found that they could be electronically attacked and cloned with a £174 microchip reader.

This serves as a reminder about the sorts of problems Labour's plans for ID cards will run in to.

2006-11-16T21:57:00.000Z

Advance preview of new Liberal Democrat TV broadcast

Tomorrow evening BBC and ITV will be showing the next Liberal Democrat TV broadcast (BBC1 18.55; BBC2 17.55; ITV 18.55), which is about how the Liberal Democrats offer a real, substantive alternative to the spin of David Cameron and the failings of Gordon Brown.

2006-11-16T13:20:00.000Z

Inspiring Women

An entertaining and thought-provoking celebration of women’s achievements, guaranteed to light up a dark November night!

Jenni Murray, presenter of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, will be in conversation with four remarkable guests, hearing about the challenges they have met and the women that have inspired them.

Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, double Paralympic champion

Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Jocelyn Jee Esien, BBC’s “Little Miss Jocelyn”

Wednesday 22 November, 7.30 - 9.15pm

Cadogan Hall, London. Nearest tube: Sloane Square

Tickets cost £15 (£10 Fawcett mem / conc), and include a glass of wine or a soft drink.

To book, call 020 7730 4500 or visit www.cadoganhall.com

Inspiring Women is presented by the Fawcett Society, in partnership with The Guardian, and with the generous support of Lloyds TSB

http://www.inspiringwomen.co.uk

2006-11-14T10:07:00.000Z

Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum Annual Conference & Annual Eid Dinner

The Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum will be hosting an afternoon of debate on The Impact of War on Global Terrorism on British Muslims and the Responsibility of British Government and The Role and Responsibility of British Muslim Community.

The event on Satyrday 2nd December 2006 starting at 1pm will be held at The Mogal-e-Azam, one of Nottingham's best Indian Restaurants.

The afternoon debates will be from 1pm to 5pm, Speakers invited include Dr Gaysiuddin Siddiqi (Muslim Parliament UK), Dr Abdul Bari (Sec. General of British Council of Muslims), Zulfi Bukhari (Director of MPAC UK), Lynn Featherstone MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Affairs Spokesperson), Mark Hunter MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Affairs Spokesperson), Bill Newton Dunn MEP (member of EU Citizens Freedoms Committee)

All information and registration forms are available on the Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum website www.muslim.libdems.org

2006-11-12T17:06:00.000Z

Conference on 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome - 22 March 2007

The European Movement, Chatham House and the Federal Trust will hold a major conference on 22nd March 2007 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

More details are available from the European Movement emoffice@euromove.org.uk or www.euromove.org.uk

2006-11-09T21:42:00.000Z

Democrats seal US Congress victory

With Republican George Allen admitting defeat in the Virginia race for the US Senate the Democrats can now celebrate the mid-term victories in both houses of Congress. Jim Webb victory gives the Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate along with their 229-196 majority in the House of Representatives.

The Republican loss of both houses of Congress will make President George W Bush's last two years in office difficult. He will need to secure the Democrats' approval for any proposals that require the backing of Congress.

The Senate victory will also give the Democrats key posts on powerful congressional committees - and will also gain them more control over the Bush administration's purse strings.

The Democrats will have the right to hold hearings and approve presidential appointments, including those to the Supreme Court and Donald Rumsfeld replacement Robert Gates.

Colin Ross uses his post on the US mid-term elections to say what most liberals must be thinking that its great that Donald Rumsfeld is sacked/resigns as Defence Secretary, Bush should have accepted Rumsfeld resignation after the Abu Ghraib or sacked him then if he was at all serious about improving the situation in Iraq.

Lynne Featherstone uses her post to discuss the election of Keith Ellison in Minnesota who will be the first Muslim member of the Congress.

2006-11-07T17:46:00.000Z

Bollywood at its best

2006-11-01T18:42:00.000Z

Merchants of Bollywood

Last night I met up with my friend Ann and we went out to the theatre and manage to get some dinner.

We met at Birmingham New Street and thought that we should head to The Mailbox in Birmingham given that it is not too far from the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham City Centre.

We decided to go to Red Peppers Restaurant & Bar for dinner I ordered Potatoes Skins and I ordered a Pizza for my main course. I must the Potatoes skins were really nice and the salsa sauce they came with were not too bad too however the Margarita Pizza I ordered with Olives and Tuna as extras was really bad and I would say that if anyone ever happens to end up at Red Peppers Restaurant & Bar they should avoid the pizzas as Ann thought her pizza wasn’t that good either. We didn’t manage to get any desert as we were running late for the theatre.

The Merchants of Bollywood is a theatrical dance spectacular from Harvey Goldsmith, the man behind Live Aid and Live8 steps into the Bollywood arena. The Merchants of Bollywood uses Bollywood movie music to chart the history of the world’s largest and most productive film industry, as well as some of its stars.

The Merchants of Bollywood features a cast of forty or so dancers, singers and actors. As they tell us the story of Ayesha Merchant, her grandfather Shantilal Merchant and the clash of the two generations in India's Rajasthan region. The story is a mixture of dreams, sacrifices, family rebellion and romance.

The stage show is produced by Mark Brady, directed by Toby Gough, choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant with music composed by Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant.

The stage show features Carol Furtado as Ayesha Merchant, Arif Zakariya as Shantilal Merchant, Deepak Rawat as Uday along with Tony Mirchandani, Chander Khanna, Parmod Pathak and Romi Jaspal.

The show is on at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre until 4th November after which it is t Manchester Opera House from 7th November until 11th November, the show them moves to the Newcastle Tyne Theatre from 13th November to 18th November, it will then be at the Glasgow SECC from 21st November to 26th November and then the show goes to the Bradford St Georges Hall from 28th November to 2nd December. In December you can catch this show at the Cambridge Corn Exchange from 5th December to 9th December and then at the Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre from 12th December to 17th December. Finally the show will be at the London Hammersmith Apollo from 21st December to 7th January.

2006-10-19T08:59:00.000+01:00

"Presidential Candidate Selector -- 2008 Front Runners"

I just took the Presidential Candidate Selector -- 2008 Front Runners test. I have publsihed my results below.

Som of the names on the list are ones I have heard of before but some are new. I have heard of Ex-Gen. Wesley Clark (D), Ex-VP Al Gore (D), Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John Kerry (D), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D), Sen. Russ Feingold (D), Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Evan Bayh (D), Sen. Joseph Biden, Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R), Ex-Gov. Mark Warner (D), Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D), Sen. John McCain (R), Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R). All the other names are new to me.

I was suprised to see that a republican appeared so high up on the list.

(100%) 1: Ex-Gen. Wesley Clark (D)
(93%) 2: Ex-VP Al Gore (D)
(90%) 3: Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
(87%) 4: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D)
(86%) 5: Sen. John Kerry (D)
(85%) 6: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D)
(85%) 7: Sen. Russ Feingold (D)
(82%) 8: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D)
(82%) 9: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
(80%) 10: Sen. Evan Bayh (D)
(79%) 11: Gov. Mitt Romney (R)
(78%) 12: Sen. Joseph Biden (D)
(74%) 13: Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R)
(71%) 14: Gov. Mike Huckabee (R)
(70%) 15: Ex-Gov. Mark Warner (D)
(70%) 16: Gov. George Pataki (R)
(69%) 17: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D)
(59%) 18: Sen. John McCain (R)
(58%) 19: Gov. Bill Richardson (D)
(53%) 20: Sen. Sam Brownback (R)
(52%) 21: Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R)
(52%) 22: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R)
(48%) 23: Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R)
(41%) 24: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R)
(38%) 25: Sen. George Allen (R)

Ex-Gov. Mark Warner (D) has already decalred that he wont be running. I'm not sure if anyone else other then Sen. Joseph Biden (D) declared that they will be running.

I must say I have no knowledge of what is happening on the Repulican side. I know who people are because I see pictures but I have read or heard much about any of them. I think I may end up doing some research on Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Gov. Mitt Romney, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, Gov. Mike Huckabee and Gov. George Pataki.

I know a lot of people seem to think that it will be a race between McCain and Clinton but we must remember that the last two Presidents have been Governors. Maybe the electorate likes people with executive experience when electing Presidents.

2006-10-17T23:29:00.000+01:00

Robert de Niro hunts terrorists

I thought you might enjoy this video.

The video is a couple of years old but it's still fun.

If you enjoyed morons at heathrow this is just for you.

2006-10-16T07:12:00.000+01:00

Amnesty International's latest video!

Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign has just launched a new video.

Amnesty International would like as many people as possible to watch it and take action!

The video sends a very powerful message, one that needs to be heard, so please take a look and send the video to as many people as you can - friends, family, colleagues - and help Amnesty International to keep fighting for an end to violence against women.

You can watch the video on: http://www.onemanfight.com

2006-10-15T17:04:00.000+01:00

Left-Libertarian
You scored 13 Conservatism, 46 Liberalism, 33 Libertarianism, and 6 Populism!

You are personally... left-libertarian. You want to be a rebel, but you have a bleeding heart that won't quite let you.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on Conservatism

You scored higher than 99% on Liberalism

You scored higher than 99% on Libertarianism

You scored higher than 99% on Populism

Link: The Personal as Political Test written by SiberianTiger85 on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

2006-10-12T01:28:00.000+01:00

CLASSES FOR MEN

I had seen stuff similar to this but a friend emailed this to me and it made me laugh so I thought I would share.

CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE "LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS" REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY Monday, November 6, 2006

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.

Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub? --- Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor ---
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

Class 6
Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing .
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

2006-10-10T23:06:00.000+01:00

David Brent on Microsoft

I was recently on www.office-humour.co.uk and found David Brent on Microsoft and thought anyone who enjoyed the office or likes David Brent might enjoy this.

I think its worth watching till the end just so you can see the outtakes and the song. A little long for an Internet video at 20 minutes but great fun.

2006-10-03T18:33:00.000+01:00

Above Average
You scored 60 CSIQ!

Well, well, well, seems you know a bit, good job!

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on CSIQ

Link: The American Common Sense IQ Test written by wentnutz on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

2006-10-02T15:36:00.000+01:00

The Mixed Messenger
Deliberate Brutal Love Dreamer (DBLDm)

Just...take...the...fucking...flower...darling. The Mixed Messenger apologizes again.

You're looking for love, but you'll always maintain your independence. You're prepared for a real commitment, but it's also likely that you're ambitious, which creates a certain romantic tension and ambivalence within you. So although you can be very affectionate to someone, you are also capable of pulling some dubious shit.

Your exact opposite:
The Playboy

Random Gentle Sex Master

In a relationship, you're usually the emotional leader. With your friends, you're a little bit more part of the pack. You're well-liked but you're not the uninhibited type, so the spotlight's often on someone else. In both social and romantic situations, however, you almost always get what you want. Influencing people is something you do very well.

ALWAYS AVOID: The Playstation, The Peach

CONSIDER: The Priss

Deliberate	Gentle	Love	Dreamer	The Slow Dancer	The Sonnet
Deliberate	Gentle	Love	Master	The Gentleman	The Maid of Honor
Deliberate	Gentle	Sex	Dreamer	The Backrubber	The Intern
Deliberate	Gentle	Sex	Master	The Bachelor	The Dirty Little Secret
Deliberate	Brutal	Love	Dreamer	The Mixed Messenger	The Priss
Deliberate	Brutal	Love	Master	The False Messiah	The Battleaxe
Deliberate	Brutal	Sex	Dreamer	The Billy Goat	The Nymph
Deliberate	Brutal	Sex	Master	The 5-Night Stand	The Stiletto
Random	Gentle	Love	Dreamer	The Boy Next Door	The Window Shopper
Random	Gentle	Love	Master	The Loverboy	The Peach
Random	Gentle	Sex	Dreamer	The Poolboy	The Nurse
Random	Gentle	Sex	Master	The Playboy	The Playstation
Random	Brutal	Love	Dreamer	The Manchild	The Wild Rose
Random	Brutal	Love	Master	The Vapor Trail	The Sudden Departure
Random	Brutal	Sex	Dreamer	The Last Man on Earth	Half-Cocked
Random	Brutal	Sex	Master	The Hornivore	Genghis Khunt

Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.

2006-10-01T18:10:00.000+01:00

Pure Dork
21 % Nerd, 17% Geek, 65% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Dork, earning you the title of: Pure Dork. Like our friends Napoleon Dynamite & co.

It's not as though you were some whiz-kid in school. Oh, sure, you probably did okay in some classes, but were probably awful in others. Certainly most people thought you were smarter than you thought yourself to be. And it's not that you have some overriding passion, like computers or Star Trek that sets you apart for the crowd, though you likely share some interest in some of those sorts of things. You just like to be yourself, and want to express yourself for who you are.

And, really, there's nothing wrong with that. Being who you are often invites scorn, and so it's a difficult thing in a world that rewards conformity. Be proud of your dorkiness, for often it's just another word for individuality. (I'd vote for you!)

Congratulations!

Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in any of the following:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Professional Wrestling

Love & Sexuality

America/Politics

Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on nerdiness

You scored higher than 99% on geekosity

You scored higher than 99% on dork points

Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

2006-09-29T00:03:00.000+01:00

David Hasselhoff "Jump In My Car" music video

fantastic

2006-09-26T22:25:00.000+01:00

Ramadan

As many of you may know the Islamic month of Ramadan started on Saturday. I know that a number of people wonder what it is all about so I have decided to post some of the basic facts and information about Ramadan on this blog. However if anyone has any specific questions which are not answered below please do not hesitate to email me or to post the question or comment or remark in the comment box. I'll try get back to you as soon as possibble.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn till dusk abstaining from food and drink.

Muslims believe that while fasting is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. Muslims believe that when an individual abstains from the worldly comforts such as food and drink he/she gains true sympathy with those who go hungry while growing in his his/her spiritual life.

During the month of Ramadan Muslims are encouraged to perform tarawih which is a prayer service read every night in the mosque during which the Quran is recited. Over the twenty nine or thirty nights of Ramadan the entire Quran will be recited at least once. Muslims are also asked to be more charitable during the month of Ramadan, Muslims believe that there are great rewards in offering some food or drink to help others to break their fasts. Muslims also spend a greater amount of time reciting the Quran on a personal basis.

2006-09-25T22:40:00.000+01:00

If you're into music, Oxjam want to know what you think

In return for your words of wisdom, you could win t-shirts signed by Kasabian, Hard Fi and Art Brut, and top music DVDs from Universal Music.

Oxjam want to know what you think about live music. Do you go to gigs? Are you in a band? Would you like to be? Click the link below to fill in the quick two-minute survey.

http://updates.oxfam.org.uk/apps/redir.aspx?type=2&l=UcbebI&t=f64-8b-8b-a4a-25bb8e&U=http%3a%2f%2fqnr.surveyshack.com%2fs%2fNGmsP6XosvrSfXjbiFh9

2006-09-24T17:43:00.000+01:00

STOP PRESS - last chance to renew your passport before price hike

There's still time to renew your passport without getting onto the National Identity Register - the massive database at the heart of the ID card scheme - but the government is hiking the cost of 10 years' freedom to £66 from October 5th. You can expect further rises so if you have just a few years left to run on your passport, now's the time to renew.

As a part of 'Renew for Freedom' campaign, NO2ID would particularly like to hear from anyone who gets a NON-chipped passport after Oct 1st.

For more information and our factsheet, see http://www.renewforfreedom.org/.
If you do renew and receive an old style passport after 1/10/06, please send an e-mail to renewforfreedom@no2id.net

2006-09-12T09:02:00.000+01:00

The West Wing - Complete Season 7

The West Wing Season 7 was released on DVD yesterday and being a massive fan of the programme I spent my lunch break yesterday going through HMV looking for a copy. Luckily just as I was about to give up a shop assistant came over and asked if I needed any help and directed to me to where he thought they were. When I got there I happen to pick out the only one left.

So upon getting home at the end of the evening I spent my evening watching The Ticket, The Mommy Problem, Message of the Week, Mr. Frost, Here Today, The Al Smith Dinner and The Debate.

So far in the series they have managed to give us a good mix of the national security leak and the presidential campaign. Plus there was also the news involving the Bartlet’s daughter Ellie (Eleanor).

2006-09-10T16:49:00.000+01:00

Liberal Democrat Voice

Rob Fenwick a Liberal Democrat activist and supporter who was the Liberal Democrat’s Internet Campaigns Officer during the last general election has set up Liberal Democrat Voice as place for Liberal Democrat activists and members to talk and discuss

Anyone can submit a piece to appear on the blog, and entries are actively welcomed.

There is also a private conversation space on the forum. The forum is intended for Liberal Democrat party members only, and you set the agenda. The forum is not edited, though moderators will be on hand to mediate in any difficulties.

Liberal Democrat Voice is not an “official” blog so I imagine that from time to time there maybe things on Liberal Democrat Voice which party officials rather you didn’t see or read.

2006-09-06T22:10:00.000+01:00

Taking Power

Today, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Liberal Democrat Peer Lord (Paul) Tyler, launched Taking Power, an online conference to look at the way in which Britain is run.

The project aims to re-engage people with the political process, the conference takes forward the work of the Power Inquiry which reported earlier this year and came down in favour of a fundamental change in the way that Britain is governed.

The Taking Power conference is being led by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord (Paul) Tyler and is a cross party event with former government ministers Michael Meacher MP and George Young MP also involved.

The conference is not only aimed at those who over the coming month will be enjoying the highlights of the political conference season in Brighton, Manchester and Bournemouth, but at the many people who have an interest in how this country is run and feel that this needs to change.

I would urge all readers to go to the Taking Power website and have a look at the issues that are being discussed. There will be a great number of topics that will be discussed

You can find the Taking Power website at www.takingpower.org

2006-08-30T21:33:00.000+01:00

countries I have (and want to) visit

These are the countries I have visited so far

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

These are the countries I wish to visit before I die

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

2006-08-29T08:40:00.000+01:00

Forty Years on

As many of you will know forty years ago yesterday on August 28th, 1963, after meeting with President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd estimated at 250,000.

"I Have A Dream"

Sometime ago now I read Give Me Ten Seconds by John Sergeant and in a chapter titled "I Have A Dream" John Sergeant recalls how he felt as stood listening when Martin Luther King, Jr delivered the speech. John Sergeant recall's his feeling when Martin Luther King, Jr delivered the last paragraph "When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!".

After reading the speech again yesterday I realised that since the sixties we have come a considerable distance on fighting discrimination in many countries including our very own United Kingdom.

However unfortunately people are still being discriminated against and the fight against discrimination must go on. We must continue to fight to ensure that our children have the chance to grow up in a society where everyone is treated equally no matter what their gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, membership of the traveller community, HIV status or political affiliation. So the fight against discrimination and injustice must go
on!

2006-08-28T14:35:00.000+01:00

You Are 46% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side.
Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

2006-08-24T20:53:00.000+01:00

Compulsory voting: A solution to low turnout or just papering over the cracks?

The second publication in the Hansard Society’s Democracy Series will be launched at a debate on Thursday September 14. Democracy and Voting examines the case for compulsory voting in the UK. Chris Ballinger and Ben Rogers (contributors to the pamphlet) will be debating the pros and cons at a Hansard Society public meeting in Oxford. The meeting will be chaired by Dr David Butler.

The Democracy Series is a major project from the Hansard Society focusing on fundamental concerns about the future of democracy at home and abroad. The Democracy Series draws together contributions from a range of experts and actively encourages people from all sections of society to voice their opinions via a moderated online debate at www.democracyseries.org.uk

Democracy and Voting by Dr Chris Ballinger with commentaries by Dr Ken Ritchie, Professor Helen Margetts and Dr Ben Rogers raises questions about whether compulsory voting would encourage civic engagement or mask underlying alienation from the political system. These issues will be debated on the Democracy Series website (www.democracyseries.org.uk) where the pamphlets can be downloaded free. Anyone with an interest in these vital issues and the way in which our democracy might adapt in the future is encouraged to join the debate.

For further information and to book your place at the launch debate in Oxford on September 14, contact hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk

2006-08-20T22:55:00.000+01:00

AN INTERVIEW WITH...

The Liberal Democrats will be carrying out a series of interviews with leading Liberal Democrats which will be published on http://www.libdems.org.uk/ .

The second interview, which has been published, is with the party's Trade and Industry spokesman and chair of the Campaigns and Communications Committee, Ed Davey MP.

People can also send in their questions about the Tax Commission or comments to Ed Davey.

Interview with Ed Davey MP

2006-08-12T16:51:00.000+01:00

Work/Life balance for Councillors

I have just been reading Councillor Karen Hamilton's blog and in her latest post she discusses the Work/Life balance for Councillors. Councillor Karen Hamilton is one of nineteen councillors from the hundred and twenty in Birmingham who is a councillor that manages to hold down a full time job as well.

While Councillors serving on Birmingham city Council are amongst the best paid/reimbursed in the country it is very unfortunate that some of the best cant do more for the council because the pay they receive as councillor is not enough. Just looking at the list of Liberal Democrat Councillors in Birmingham I can think of at least five councillors who unfortunately due to their full-time work cant do more to serve the council or the people of Birmingham.

In her post Councillor Hamilton says "There is so much I want to do and I often have to miss meetings as they are during the daytime. Then there is the mountain of paperwork. You have to really enjoy the work and be committed to public service in order to be a successful councillor" I think we have to seriously consider how we can reduce the amount of bureaucracy anyone dealing with any public body in UK has to put up we also have to consider ways in which we can help people who are elected to public bodies financially so that it is easier for them to give up their fulltime jobs in order to carry out public service.

A lot of people who could be great councillors or cabinet members in the UK are not doing this because the money on offer is just not good enough and I hear a lot people complain about how so many councillors are retired people well given the amount of time that is taken up with attending council meetings, doing casework and campaigning its no surprise that most councillors are people who have retired. Most young people who are still trying to trying to get their careers off the mark and settling down or have a young family will just find it too difficult to do some of what is required of councillors. In UK if we want the best of what society has to offer to be our elected representatives then we must also look at giving our elected representatives something similar to what the best of industry has to offer.

2006-08-10T22:37:00.000+01:00

Holiday Destinations

Today I have been doing some thinking about where I want to go on my holidays in the future I think I have narrowed my list down to 2008 Saudi Arabia, 2009 Malawi & South Africa, 2010 India, 2011 United States of America, 2012 Australia, 2013 Israel/Palestine, 2014 Jordan, 2015 Egypt, 2016 New Zealand, 2017 Russia, 2018 Japan and 2019 Morocco.

Not sure how many of those countries I'll actually get round to traveling to but I would like to visit all those countries at some point in my life even if it’s not in that order.

2006-08-09T21:32:00.000+01:00

The Student Panel tuition fees survey

The Student Panel recently asked 1009 members of The Student Panel what they thought of the £3,000 tuition fees that are being introduced for new students from this year. Not surprisingly, most of them thought it was a bit steep.

You can read the report at:

http://www.opinionpanel.co.uk/clientUpload/pdf/Tuitionfees.pdf