Tag Archives: political scrapbook

Stephen Tall

Bloggers unite to oppose “botched late-night drafting” that proposes new press/web regulation

By Stephen Tall | Sun 24th March 2013 - 12:30 pm

I’m one of 17 signatories (on behalf of LibDemVoice) to a letter published in Saturday’s Guardian, reproduced below, which opposes the “fundamental threat” of the draft legislation approved this week by MPs of all parties which would regulate blogs and other small independent news websites.

It’s not often you’ll see us, ConservativeHome, LabourList, Guido Fawkes, Liberal Conspiracy and Political Scrapbook agree on something. But what we term the “botched late-night drafting process and complete lack of consultation” has, for once, brought us together. And, as the letter notes, perhaps even more remarkably got Tom Watson and Rupert Murdoch agreeing, too.

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Stephen Tall

* Warning: this story contains feigned outrage

By Stephen Tall | Sat 14th January 2012 - 6:25 pm

One of the more absurd stories I’ve seen this week is from Aintree in Liverpool. It’s a bite-size exemplum of local politicians slavish desire of media attention — and of the news media’s slack-jawed credulity when presented with a too-easy headline. Especially one that allows them to print the word ‘NUTTERS’.

You can read the Liverpool Echo’s story here: Aintree woman’s fury over Liberal Democrat nutters leaflet ‘slur’.

Sounds quite bad, doesn’t it? And then you read on, and discover the facts are:

  • The Lib Dem leaflet delivery team in Aintree is called ‘Nutters’, has been for years. Those who

…

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Mark Pack

Lib Dem lawyers attack legal aid plans

By Mark Pack | Sun 18th September 2011 - 9:25 am

Political Scrapbook this weekend has an open letter from Alistair Webster, the chair of the Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association, attacking plans for legal aid:

If the true aim is to leave a skeleton and third rate public legal system, the government should make that clear and we can judge it accordingly … I, for one, do not wish to be ashamed of the Party which I have supported since its foundation. This Bill is dire.

It’s a rather odd letter in some ways – both in its over-the-top rhetoric that is far more likely to put up the backs of the …

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  • David Murray
    In the above, it should have said $100 billion EACH YEAR from 2009....
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    Alan Jeffs, I don't have an exhaustive, but out of the following countries: Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, Senegal, Tanzania...
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    Interesting idea. It would though effectively amount to loans, which would therefore place developing countries even more in debt - and there are still ongoing...