So Labour got a hiding in Henley.

And David Cameron has another acolyte elected .

 I do understand why people might want to get rid of Labour and / or Gordon Brown.  The Labour party has not prepared for the lean times we now face despite 10 years of record growth.  We are heading for a steep down turn and who was it who said “No more Boom and Bust!”…?

But I grew up under a Tory Government and I remember what they are really like.  Underneath that ‘Spray on’ compassion lurks the ‘Inner Tory.’  The shear ruthless malice of thatcher will be reborn in a Cameron Government… they will cut and savage the fabric of society again just as they did in the 1980’s…

So please think carefully for whom you cast your vote.  But you really shouldn’t need me to tell you that

The little blighters are at it again… relieving themselves in the street…

I am referring to Stroud’s perennial “Pigeon Problem” … The creatures in question lurk under the railway bridge and mess up the walkway.

I have had a few complaints about this issue.  Do not fear this Town Councillor is on the case! (Polite suggestions of what we can do with the Pigeon infestation are welcome…)

Lib Dems want to be upbeat and positive where possible

Nick Clegg has spoken on the subject of encouraging green businesses.  Rather than just taxing bad behaviour which pollutes our environment why not use the powers we have to make it attractive to ‘green’ the workspace.

I believe that the only way to ’save the planet’ (aka ’save our necks!) is to build a cross party/cross community consensus on tackling climatic change.  No one group can do it on their own.  No one party has all the answers…

All of us must be green.

But why?

As the world economy slides towards Recession there are many people in our society (let alone ‘the developing world’) that simply Can not afford to green… Or at least that is the perception.  We must turn the tables on this concept and make the environment an economic asset!

We must wean ourselves off Oil.  We need clean generation of electricity (Radwaste that can kill for thousands of years does not count!) we can use the science and technology and all the imagination of the human mind to overcome the current crisis.  We can do it… but we must be clear that ‘Being green’ isn’t about a ‘Lifestyle choice’ or a ‘fringe movement’ or just something practiced by a few ‘rather weird’ social groups…

I want to see Hydrogen combustion engines in our cars.  We can do that now.  Fuel Cells can follow.

I want to see a decentralised grid with each town or even smaller communities with local clean energy sources.

Yes to tidal, geothermal, wind (offshore, onshore and inland)…

Yes to solar (both photovoltaic cells, solar power stations and water heating)

 Yes to greater recycling, reuse and reduction in waste.

I don’t think this will happen without government intervention but also the power of the market needs to be brought into focus. No command economy will produce these necessary results… Don’t believe me?  Then look at California and tell me if ‘The Governator’ is achieving world leading results by ignoring the Market… I don’t think so.

So lets all be Green.  No matter what party or group you are from. 

Residents of Stroud have commented that it would be nice to have more places to sit while waiting for the Number 37 bus…

Just a quick note to say I’m on the case and currently investigating where additional seating could be sited. (Opposite the Pop up loo… hmm?)

 Keep the ideas flowing…

Are a chance in a life time?

I am talking about the Stroud Canal Project of course, and the answer to the question depends on who you talk too.

I am concerned that the project may be rushed through leaving key elements of the community ‘Out of the Loop’

Local Traders have voted with their feet and left the concordat (the partnership between the Chamber of Trade and the District, County and Town Councils) This is highly regrettable and I’m hoping everyone comes to their senses.

The Traders are not being consulted properly about the proposed traffic management (The Canal over the A46 will cause a certain amount of disruption.  How much know one really knows…) but lack of real consultation is pretty typical of the whole planning process…

What we need to do is to involve and explain more. (And listen to what people are actually saying!) If we don’t then the Canal will stay as an expensive failure and Stroud will be robbed of a fantastic opportunity for growth and regeneration.

So the Irish have voted no to the Treaty of Lisbon.

And already the European Commission President has tried to ignore the referendum result.

Shame on him…

 We live in the European Union not the Soviet Union

Don’t get me wrong on this.  I am a dedicated Pro-European.  I always have been and I always will be.  I believe that the benefits of economic and political integration far out-way any loss of that etherical concept called “national sovereignty”

But it is got to be a “Peoples Europe”… Not a entity run by and run for bureaucrats and jaded national politicians, but for the peoples of the continent to ensure peace, prosperity and security.

I am a Liberal Democrat but I also would say (and I don’t think this is party policy, just me)  Lets scrap the Treaties and set up a simple, democratic and effective arrangement. 

And let the people decide!

One thing I have always had is a vivid imagination.  I am an ‘Ideas person’…

Sometimes I think too much.

But I do value the ability to dream about and hope for a better, different future outcome.  I suppose that is why I am in politics. 

And I want to encourage everyone to live their dreams, as far as possible.

That is todays thought!

Antother Saturday, another Action Day!

I do enjoy talking to people and today I did some more of that.  I also stuffed leaflets through an inordinate number of doors… As did several of my colleagues.

I am happy to say Stroud Liberal Democrats are expanding. (And I’m not referring to the effects of the fantastic fun lunch some of us enjoyed!)  more members, more deliverers and more success!

We won an extra District Seat this year so I feel that although I didn’t win (I came a very good second in Rodborough) we are doing moderately well.  Lib Dems in Gloucestershire won the Brockworth County By-election. We are moving forward across the county.  Good.

But we need to stay in touch with the ordinary people who don’t (usually) consider campaigning on a sunny afternoon in early summer!  It these people that matter and it’s these individuals, and the communities they are part of, that ensure success or failure for ‘Politicos’ like us…

So keep in touch… We will be listening!

And so has Nick… Confused?

The Tory David Davis has resigned his seat to fight a by-election on the issue of the 42 Day dentention without charge issue. Well done that man! (never thought I’d praise a front bench conservative… but there you go.)

Nick Clegg has done the right thing.  The Liberal Democrats will not be contesting this particular by-election as we actually agree with the Tories on this one…

It goes back to the point I made a little while ago about working with people you agree with… 

Congratulations to Councillors Marjoram and Read for their work on helping to save Uplands Post Office.

I know they have both worked tirelessly for this so well done!

We voted unanimously on the Town Council to take this line of action.  It does cost the taxpayer £75,000 over 3 years but we considered it a price worth paying.

Just hope central government doesn’t try to wriggle out of the agreement…

As far as the other Post Offices I’m very sad to see them close.  Maybe one day (after a change of government) the network will actually expand again…

I was speaking with a good friend of mine today.  We were discussing my recent campaign for the District seat in Rodborough. During the build up and the election itself the Rodborough team had put out over 20 leaflets spanning the best part of 3 years.  We had used predominately recycled paper, but that didn’t stop certain supporters of the Green Party from complaining about waste…

 My question is would you support a movement that only appears on your doorstep a few weeks before polling day and has done nothing in the area in-between elections. On the other hand would you rather vote for a Party and a Candidate who had lived in the area for more than half of his life and had worn out 4 pairs of shoes, by knocking on doors, talking to people, doing casework for people and being there 24/7 all year round?

The Result was neither the myself (Lib Dem) or the Green candidate won Rodborough (The Greens came 3rd by the way) we let the Tories in. 

Vote Green go Blue…

Just watched a documentary on China. 

It gives me hope that despite all the evils of the Chinese Communist Party there is new concern for the impact of economic growth on the environment.

Actually not a new concern.  China has a lot of ancient traditions that call for harmony and respect for ‘Nature’

I know they build a coal power station every few days… or something like that!… but they can be part of the solution for climate change.  They have to be…

It strikes me that if we in the western world had a  similar ’single minded’ approach to tackling our worlds problems then we would be vastly better off than we are (In all kind of ways…)

I still hope for a democratic China.  Justice will out…   

That is what the Guardian is saying.

 I’m not sure about the scale of the rise but with Oil breaking through $139 a barrel its going to hurt us in our pockets…

And, I should add, the worst hit will be lower income groups such as the Elderly.

So what can we do?  The Government needs to protect the most vulnerable in society.  They also need to adopt a more coherent Energy Policy.  We can’t wait 10 to 15 years switching to Nuclear.  We need Renewables and we need to move from Petroleum over to a Hydrogen based Economy.

 It not just about C02 Emissions (That’s an important topic in itself) but also about economics, about fairness in society and also its about saving lives… How many will die form Fuel Poverty this Winter? 

Thanks to the people who have responded to our literature. 

 We do try to stay in touch and you will be hearing more from us.

 So far litter and the ‘possible’ reopening or Russell Street to 2 way traffic have been the main concerns for Stroud residents.  Let us know if you agree?

We will keep you informed of developments on these issues and I encourage you to raise any other approprate issue with me or the team that might be important to you.

So he has finally done it

Done get excited, its only the US Democrat Party nomination…!

But we are much further down the road to seeing the first African American President and shutting the door firmly on the Bush era.

I hope that Hilary gets the Vice Presidential ticket.  She is a a hard working champion of US Liberalism… (in broad sense)

Next stop November…!