tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348641682011-08-17T04:05:01.340+01:00Blogging about life, liberalism, and luton.Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.comBlogger2141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-88280260126138952432010-03-09T15:40:00.002Z2010-03-09T15:43:51.979Z

Process Guy is no more, but if you find yourself here, you may be interested to know that I have started another blog:Strange ThoughtsWhy not have a look?

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-47196253879109657482009-06-10T11:00:00.000+01:002009-06-10T11:01:09.734+01:00

You may or may not have noticed that things have been rather quiet on this blog lately. Well, it hasn't been because there hasn't been anything to write about!I have been very busy and have found it difficult to find the time to update it, even when inspiration has struck, or more accurately when something has wound me up. However, more recently it has been because a few weeks ago I made the

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-10404900287964691962009-03-31T19:11:00.005+01:002009-03-31T19:24:04.973+01:00

There are media reports today that Gordon Brown has prepared some goodie bags for the world leaders attending the G20 summit. Apparently this is an attempt to "showcase British creativity".Hang on a minute? Why on earth are world leaders getting goodie bags?Surely it can't be some kind of inducement to ensure a high turn out? Do the presidents and prime ministers of the world make decisions on

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-42073577921956809372009-03-27T11:23:00.000Z2009-03-27T11:23:02.985Z

I live in Luton and work in London.Like many thousands of others I do a regular commute each morning to get to the office and one each evening to get home. Because I have the benefit of living close to the rail station and the relatively good service provided by the Thameslink line I can be at most central London locations within an hour or hour and a half of leaving my home. This comes with a

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-75507303623371344742009-03-26T17:41:00.003Z2009-03-26T17:58:06.777Z

I've a number of things that I've been wanting to write about here for the last few days, and some for the last few weeks, but I'm finding it difficult to fit it in. Usual story.But I have got time to say a very well deserved congratulations to Alix Mortimer for being shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. She says she is "dumbfounded, and a bit shuffly" about it. There really is no need. As she goes

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-38507726215370743552009-03-25T09:14:00.003Z2009-03-25T09:29:07.281Z

The lead story in the Luton News this morning is reactions to the welcome life sentence given to the murderer of PC Jon Henry who was stabbed to death in Luton town centre while on duty in June 2007.The murderer, Tennyson Obih, is a paranoid schizoprhenic.It is a reminder that so often at the centre of the most shocking and senseless of violent crimes is someone who suffers from a severe mental

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-66461182993117143602009-03-19T14:02:00.001Z2009-03-19T14:03:58.374Z

No.Oh. You want more? then go read this.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-34863676397910274222009-03-17T13:30:00.000Z2009-03-17T13:30:00.382Z

The Government have closed its grant programme for solar energy.Part of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants for solar photovoltaic projects on public buildings. This has been so successful that the allocated share of the £50m for these projects has been used up. So what does the government do? Invest more money into the programme so that they can build on its success? No. It closes

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-88118390451743688652009-03-12T18:28:00.002Z2009-03-12T18:28:00.259Z

Well I've got to Thursday and I am still writing up the weekend's events at Conference. Time to knock it on the head.I broadly agree with what James Graham has written over at Comment is Free about the political impact. No need to say much more. I was impressed with the Leader's speech. Not only with the content itself but with the implications it has for the message and strategy of the Party.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-50733898065488392072009-03-12T14:05:00.000Z2009-03-12T14:05:00.190Z

I thought Nick Clegg's speech to the Liberal Democrat spring conference on Saturday was one of the best leader's speeches I have heard for many years. I thought it was a speech of gravity, of great political intelligence, one that has altered my view of Nick and his leadership, and has strengthened my optimism for the future. My companion (as they say in restaurant reviews) was less impressed. He

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-36678284865040297702009-03-12T10:07:00.000Z2009-03-12T10:07:00.183Z

The row we never hadFor me theme of the weekend turned out to be the impact of Obama and the lessons to be learnt from the US election campaign. For many conference representatives however it would have been the policy moves we were making on education. If I felt these debates seemed overshadowed by other issues that is probably because of 'the row we never had'.Until the Federal Policy Committee

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-66483866042793541162009-03-11T10:17:00.000Z2009-03-11T10:17:00.167Z

Howard Dean got a standing ovation from the Liberal Democrat conference on Saturday morning. Yet it seemed to me that it was President Obama that the audience were in large part applauding. The 'Obama Effect' was a major theme of the 2009 Spring Conference and the sense of relief amongst Lib Dems that George Bush is no longer in the White House was most clearly felt during Dean's speech.I was

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-9806787583636165222009-03-08T21:39:00.003Z2009-03-08T21:46:04.579Z

This blogging during conference thing doesn't seem to work. I got halfway through my Howard Dean post when the battery gave up. I couldn't find a power socket. Then I got swept up in the conference whirlwind. Ho hum.But I am now home and will write up the happenings of Harrogate over the next few days.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-19157821426400192802009-03-07T12:16:00.000Z2009-03-07T12:16:00.966Z

I've had a hectic few weeks - busy with one thing or another - so haven't been able to follow up on some of my recent posts - building on my arguments - as I had planned. But here I am in Harrogate for the Liberal Democrat spring conference with a whole weekend to concentrate on things liberal.Harrogate is one of my favourite conference venues. I love its poshness and gentility. Its yorkshire

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-73656926791898474852009-02-24T00:15:00.004Z2009-03-11T10:26:27.169Z

There has been a lot of reaction to the "Blues Under the Bed" editorial in the latest issue of Liberator Magazine. Part of Liberator's mission is to stir things up from time to time and it seems they have certainly succeeded in some quarters with this.Scarred as they undoubtedly are by the internal party battles of the 1990's, I often think the Liberator collective display a degree of paranoia

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-48963478826739865842009-02-23T00:15:00.000Z2009-02-23T00:15:00.290Z

I have blogged before about the Natural History Museums exhibition on Charles Darwin, the impact it had on me, and how it managed to spark off in my head a number of ideas. Amongst these were some about the role of collaboration and mentoring.For some reason I had always pictured Darwin as an aloof and solitary figure. The lone genius conducting experiments in his isolated country garden. Going

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-29586991803066675222009-02-22T00:15:00.000Z2009-02-22T00:15:00.905Z

Are debates between Liberal Democrat bloggers generating more heat than light?One of the great things about being a Lib Dem is that we are prepared to debate ideas. Yet lately I have been frequently questioning just how useful many of those debates are. So many sentences written, so many opinions offered, so few conclusions reached. One of the most frustrating things about many of these debates

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-2651624415108083852009-02-21T13:14:00.002Z2009-02-21T13:17:36.577Z

I have been enjoying all the attention in the media and other places that Charles Darwin has been getting because of his 200th birthday this year. Darwin has always been one of those figures from history that I have looked back at and admired. Yet, I didn't expect to suddenly feel a direct personal connection with the man in the way that I did the other week.Several weeks ago, being in London for

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-2263564494742919862009-02-20T00:25:00.003Z2009-02-20T00:29:36.641Z

James Graham has very kindly said that this blog is "criminally overlooked" in a bloggers' interview. Thank you, James. I suppose this means I really ought to write something.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-65052357319364507542009-02-05T23:15:00.000Z2009-02-05T23:15:08.866Z

We often forget, or sometimes do not realise, the impact that other people can have on our lives. The way the actions of someone you dimly remember or barely notice at the time can profoundly shape the story of your life.I was reminded of this today by reading in my local paper, The Luton News, of the death of my former junior school headteacher. Trevor Herbert, who died aged 85, taught at

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-85890106428545073702009-01-19T19:17:00.000Z2009-01-19T19:17:53.148Z

On Saturday I joined around 300 fellow Liberal Democrats at the LSE for what has now become the annual one day policy conference. This year the day was titled "Creating a Progressive Society" and focused on economic issues, social mobility, and poverty.I was impressed by the venue. The LSE's New Academic Building is a stylish and well thought out piece of architecture. I imagine it works really

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-77588816693082498322009-01-19T19:08:00.001Z2009-01-19T19:09:00.576Z

The second of the two main sessions, chaired by Lynne Featherstone MP, looked at the issue of social mobility. This was picking up on the report from the Liberal Democrat inspired Independent Social Mobility Commission that was published this month. It was also a chance to respond to the Government's New Opportunities White Paper.Martin NareyThe first speaker was Martin Narey, the Chief Executive

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-6251052210408462892009-01-19T18:14:00.000Z2009-01-19T18:14:56.968Z

This is my fourth post about the Liberal Democrats one day policy conference Creating a Progressive Society held at the LSE on Saturday.The second of the break out sessions I attended was the one organised by the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party on "The European dimension". Jonathan Fryer has already blogged about this and gives a good flavour of the session. I came away with two

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-45942696897945268572009-01-19T13:24:00.001Z2009-01-19T13:28:05.844Z

This is my third post about the Liberal Democrats one day policy conference Creating a Progressive Society held at the LSE on Saturday.The first of the two break out sessions I attended was "Reinventing the State: Who are the UK's poorest? How do we best help them?". This session, organised by the Reinventing the State group, was chaired by Duncan Brack and looked at the question "Who are the

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-83094315417898899132009-01-19T11:40:00.000Z2009-01-19T11:42:52.565Z

This is my second post about the Liberal Democrats one day policy conference Creating a Progressive Society held at the LSE on Saturday.The first of the two main sessions, following on nicely from the Leader's speech, looked at where the Liberal Democrats currently stood, both in policy terms and politically, in reference to the main theme of the conference. It was chaired by Sarah Teather MP.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-87345596272357694182009-01-15T00:40:00.000Z2009-01-15T00:41:27.870Z

A little while ago I expressed some concern about Susan Kramer MP's plans to attend a particular London event. To add a bit of balance I am reporting on a different event that she has attended. One that I heartily approve of.Last week we heard that Susan had stood down from the Shadow Cabinet to "take up a new role leading the party's campaign against the expansion of Heathrow Airport". Not a

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-62571435008987466932009-01-12T09:35:00.001Z2009-01-12T09:35:00.342Z

I am grateful to Costigan Quist for pointing me towards the results of an annual nationwide survey of secondary school children published by Ofsted. This paints a healthily balanced picture of children's lives. Looking at the statistics for Luton's children, and comparing these with the national average, is instructive.I got a positive impression of many aspects of the children's lives. Luton

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-68065280019977091702009-01-11T22:25:00.003Z2009-01-11T22:38:42.058Z

In my time as a councillor I have had some success in using my influence to get Luton Borough Council to take climate change seriously. But I am still frustrated at how poorly it is addressing the issue. While there are examples of good practice in places, there are far too few councils, and far too few councillors, providing the level of leadership we need.So the IDeA, the local government

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-31653612273139707332009-01-09T22:35:00.002Z2009-01-14T23:36:43.628Z

In the various bits of coverage I've seen of yesterday's Liberal Democrat reshuffle there is one particular element that hasn't received much comment. The press didn't really talk about this appointment, although the handy round up from Liberal Democrat Voice shows just how confused the press was about the whole thing, and the various comments from members focused on other issues. Which suggests

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-87354272093346167032009-01-09T12:35:00.001Z2009-01-14T23:37:11.716Z

I spent a lot of last year banging on about issues of internal party organisation within the Liberal Democrats on this blog and elsewhere. So much so that I decided that I ought to put my money where my mouth was and stand for election to the Federal Executive. So I did.In the ballot of conference representatives I managed to secure 23 first preferences and receive some transfers of other

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-60365781888643070992009-01-09T09:15:00.000Z2009-01-09T09:15:00.187Z

A version of one of my tracks of the year in my 2008 Mixtape Top Ten, Little Boots' "Stuck on Repeat", is this week's free song on iTunes. Go download it now.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-6963453891649842922009-01-08T19:45:00.001Z2009-01-08T19:45:01.017Z

If you are trying to get a handle on what the Obama Presidency might look like then the BBC have two radio documentaries available on their iPlayer that you might find useful:Obama: Professor President looks at Obama's academic background and what it may mean for his style of government. Available until 13/01/09.Profile: Rahm Emanuel looks at Obama's Chief of Staff. Available until10/01/09.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-57131324595761014832009-01-08T17:30:00.001Z2009-01-08T17:30:00.689Z

Looking back at the statistics for this blog for 2008 I can see two, not particularly surprising, trends. Visitors tend to come to the site either in peaks of interest driven by my posts appearing on Lib Dem Blogs and Liberal Democrat Voice or as part of a constant background traffic generated by Google.According to Google Analytics the 5 most popular posts viewed on my blog over 2008 were:John

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-26202999549774217532009-01-08T13:10:00.001Z2009-01-08T13:11:29.154Z

I haven't yet written up a review of 2008 and being already eight days into 2009 it feels like I should be looking forward and not back. However, sticking to politics and not the personal, 2008 has for me been largely about four themes;The first was watching Nick Clegg's first year as leader of the Liberal Democrats. While I am frustrated that the Party is not doing better, I don't really blame

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-52320697386442298292009-01-04T00:01:00.001Z2009-01-14T23:37:30.091Z

Following it as I do from several stops up the St Pancras to Bedford line I obviously miss out on a lot of the ins and outs of London politics, but I do know this, there is very little doubt that Ken Livingstone wants to be Mayor of London again.As early as July he made it clear that he is serious about running in 2012.However, he has a number of obstacles, aside from Boris and the London

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-7434831919369369972009-01-02T17:15:00.000Z2009-01-02T17:15:00.202Z

I've now started thinking properly about the year ahead and my most immediate thoughts are 4 blogging related resolutions:To post more regularly and decisively. (We'll see how this one goes - although I seem to be doing all right today!)To keep a prominent fellow Lib Dem blogger out of trouble.To get another prominent fellow Lib Dem blogger in to more trouble.To get a fellow Lib Dem who doesn't,

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-8971151213942275042009-01-02T16:11:00.001Z2009-01-02T16:11:00.776Z

In the last but one Liberal Democrat News of 2008 Jenny Tonge had written an article detailing the then status of the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza. This resulted in a, rather predictable, response in the last 19th December issue of the paper. The Chair of the Lib Dem Friends of Israel, Cllr Monroe Palmer, had an "another view" article and a letter writer from Kensington & Chelsea Lib

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-49266922704579440442009-01-02T11:45:00.000Z2009-01-02T11:46:20.499Z

The BBC website has a profile of Jo Swinson MP today.In it she complains about being pigeon-holed because of her age to a journalist who...er...pigeon-holes her because of her age.I mean how patronising is this;"Surely it must be a little tiresome having so much to do when other people of the same age are out enjoying themselves?"Yes, because of course the only thing any 28 year old is interested

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-36035116519100801312009-01-02T11:25:00.003Z2009-01-02T11:29:29.533Z

It is the second day of 2009 and I realising that I haven't yet done any of my usual reflecting on the past year and planning for the new one. So in the meantime here is Nick Clegg:Oh, and happy new year everyone!

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-41720097016084621032008-12-31T16:32:00.002Z2008-12-31T16:40:12.486Z

Back in 2004 I started what has become an end of year ritual of putting together a best of the year mixtape. This has evolved into quite an effort. Choosing the right tracks for what ends up at around three CDs worth of music and then sorting them into a hopefully musically coherent order using iTunes and, this year for the first time, some DJ mixing software usually ends up taking more time than

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-83879211884016494522008-12-19T13:07:00.005Z2008-12-19T13:16:16.687Z

One of the current political issues I've been thinking a bit about lately is the political accountability of the police. So I was interested in this article by Martin Kettle and I agree with his conclusions. This may be because the author seems to be partially inspired by "a Liberal Democrat from Haringey" whom he quotes but doesn't name.Who is this Haringey Lib Dem? No idea. But well done for

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-3941835546659892922008-12-18T16:53:00.004Z2008-12-18T17:04:30.900Z

Reading across the blogs this year it was noticeable that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had become a times a rather unlikely hate figure amongst some Liberal Democrats. I don't have much to do with Archbishops or organised religion in general, and I would disagree fundamentally with many of the teachings of the Church of England, but I did think this was somewhat unfair.I won't

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-2015724139382537372008-12-11T12:03:00.002Z2008-12-11T12:13:05.805Z

I've been enjoying the issues of Total Politics magazine that I am being regularly sent. It is good to read a publication that takes a positive approach to politics, that understands that it something done by real people and mostly for good reasons, and is concerned to write intelligently about it.Some of the highlights of the latest issue (Issue 6) for me have been learning about Nick Clegg's

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-37831646960618211432008-12-10T10:47:00.002Z2008-12-10T10:54:30.139Z

This blog is called Process Guy for a reason. Here is Simon Hughes in Monday's House of Commons debate on the Damian Green affair:"However, you, Mr. Speaker, above all, are the guardian of processes and procedures, which safeguard people’s rights and liberties. Whether it is the European convention on human rights, which some people support, or the traditional rights and liberties, they are

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-48927301462051151502008-12-06T22:06:00.000Z2008-12-06T22:07:03.741Z

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg MP speaks at the Climate Change March in Westminster on 6th December 2008.This video was taken on my mobile phone, hence the quality. I missed the first minute or so of the speech.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-54467682323556844192008-12-06T19:35:00.003Z2008-12-06T20:06:10.748Z

I spent most of today in London for the National Climate March. A pleasant wander through central London with few thousand other people. This was followed by a rally in Parliament Square which included a good speech from Nick Clegg.It was a good atmosphere. I enjoyed listening to the drumming of the various bands. Although several of the Lib Dems I was with spent a lot of their time checking

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-33655006832622335852008-11-29T17:56:00.001Z2008-11-29T17:56:38.316Z

I seem to be surrounded by references to the Civil War at the moment. I had a look at some of the key documents the other day. This afternoon's rather lovely Saturday Play on Radio 4 was about the flight of the future Charles II to France.Then there is this about the the arrest of Damian Green from Michael White on the Guardian's Politics Blog:"Michael Howard, who clearly gave up history for

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-51643756535385457242008-11-25T15:00:00.001Z2008-11-25T15:00:02.264Z

The theme for the LGA conference for independent councillors last month gave rise to a very clear, but somewhat unkind, thought.Maggie Sullivan, head of the LGA’s Independent group, said: “A constant complaint is ‘how can I have more influence?’, so we decided to make it this year’s theme.”Could I suggest joining a political party might help?

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-25443906524947538372008-11-25T12:18:00.001Z2008-11-25T12:18:06.573Z

Last Friday saw me visiting Taking Liberties the latest exhibition put on by the British Library.The exhibition is stuffed full of some of the most important documents of British history. It is full of reminders of how our liberties, our democratic society, came about through struggle and sacrifice across the generations. It begins with a copy of the Magna Carta and an exploration of the rule of

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-2478016073739437782008-11-24T21:40:00.000Z2008-11-24T22:07:04.895Z

I posted a while ago about the proposition to switch to the use of STV for elections in the city of Cincinnati. Unfortunately for US electoral reformers they didn't succeed.Make My Vote Count has the details.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-73306445048995332892008-11-13T10:49:00.003Z2008-11-13T11:02:45.515Z

Time to break another extended blog silence with some trivia. Mark Pack, through an intriguing Facebook status, pointed me to Total Politics's Daily Politico looking at Lib Dem MP Norman Baker.I liked this. Lot's of interesting facts about cool dude Norman, including that he collects jukeboxes. I confess that scene in Casablanca always gets me blubbing too. Also thought this was very astute;"The

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-7264006342175119782008-10-27T11:05:00.000Z2008-10-27T11:05:29.062Z

I've been following the progress of the campaign by the Chagos Islanders to be allowed to return home to their islands having been thrown off them by the British Government 40 years ago.They had won a legal ruling from the High Court in 2000 that they could return to the islands, although not to Diego Garcia the site of the US military base. The Government then in 2004 used royal prerogative to

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-74136664815075521672008-10-26T23:31:00.002Z2008-10-26T23:36:58.954Z

I thought I'd note the death of ultra-Thatcherite former Tory MP David Evans last week.He was the MP for Welwyn Hatfield in the late 80's and early 90's but Luton people will remember him as the controversial chairman of Luton Town Football Club. Do LTFC have anything other than controversial chairmen?One of the more, er, colourful figures of politics during the Thatcher period he was an almost

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-17862803987299013822008-10-24T18:05:00.000+01:002008-10-24T18:05:47.574+01:00

Last May I was rather rude about First Capital Connect but time for a bit of praise.This morning I had though my door a mailing from them designed to alert me to the changes happening to their services as a result of the major refurbishment programme that the Thameslink line will be undergoing. This is a good and necessary publicity campaign as the changes are going to impact on the journeys of

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-81140148626990738542008-10-19T08:54:00.002+01:002008-10-19T09:21:51.955+01:00

I am a huge fan of TV history programmes and most TV historians. There is some particularly good stuff on at the moment which I thought I would highlight.Simon Schama's 'The American Future: A History' has been brilliant so far. The first episode dealt with America's evolving relationship with its land and resources and how uneasy it is with the idea that these can limit its growth and power. I

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-90006524806735197972008-10-17T10:15:00.001+01:002008-10-17T10:16:10.978+01:00

I am really really lucky. Nasty politicians have been denying me my democratic rights. But now thanks to ITV's Tonight programme I've had my chance to vote on Europe. Hurrah!Trevor McDonald, in his wisdom, has chosen parts of Luton to take part in a 'referendum' on the Lisbon Treaty. I was even sent a "ballot paper", an image of which you can see below.So what was this "referendum campaign" like

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-14427493855907791462008-10-16T13:54:00.002+01:002008-10-17T10:22:05.943+01:00

My friend and Islington councillor Laura Willoughby is swimming the channel this autumn. Or more accurately she is swimming the distance of the Channel by visiting every council swimming pool in London. She's doing this in aid of the spinal injury charity Aspire.She is, impressively, already about half way through having swum in more than 50 of London's pools. She also has a rather nice website:

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-20683422386231292552008-10-15T19:18:00.001+01:002008-10-15T19:19:38.164+01:00

That's of the Liberal Democrats not of the USA, obviously.Well the ballot paper has arrived and its a good moment to sum up my feelings about this, actually rather important, internal election.It is no secret that I have declared for Baroness Ros Scott and will be voting for her number 1. I gave my reasons here a few weeks ago but they can summed up by comment made by "John" to a post on Liberal

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-33762328583753110632008-10-13T00:40:00.001+01:002008-10-13T00:40:55.552+01:00

My Process Guy blog has been going for just over two years now. For most of that time it has had roughly the same design. So I thought it was about time that I gave it a new look.I've kept the same basic template but refreshed it with some new graphics. I've also adjusted some of the widgets in the right hand column and added the new LibDig widget to the bottom of my posts.I've also refreshed my

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-52968961822921207242008-09-29T23:35:00.004+01:002009-01-08T13:26:31.122Z

Over the last few weeks an awful lot of energy and angst has been consumed by the debate within the Liberal Democrats over the new position towards tax cuts. Yet while that debate was being held in our bubble in Bournemouth the economic storm has been swirling around outside. While the votes were being counted the global financial crisis was washing away the ground from underneath us.I was struck

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-19999277331575628202008-09-25T21:23:00.002+01:002008-11-24T22:07:20.533Z

The Electoral Reform Society alerts me to the news that one of the issues at stake in November's US election is a ballot on the proposition to switch to the use of STV for elections in the city of Cincinnati.Apparently many cities in the US historically used some form of PR but, in a backlash against the civil rights movement, vested interests got most of these places to turn to first past the

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-28405036721470727902008-09-22T13:55:00.001+01:002008-09-22T13:55:45.692+01:00

"Of course, we have a separation of State and Church......But in the people's soul they're together."Vladimir Putin January 2004One of the least well received speeches at the Liberal Democrat conference last week was one in the security debate made by a representative named Adrian Whyatt. Never having met him I hope Adrian won't mind if I say that it was a very bad speech. It didn't seem to have

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-62098759361585141702008-09-19T08:45:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.564+01:00

Those who are interested in the Party organisation issues that I have been discussing on this blog might want to have a look at the debate conference had on the Bones Commission report.You can watch it on the BBC iPlayerIf anyone is particularly interested to see my contribution to the debate (oh the vanity!) it is about 21 minutes in.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-67231920744747718382008-09-18T23:45:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.105+01:00

Here is my final report back on "what I did in Bournemouth".TuesdayI spent most of Tuesday chatting to people around the conference centre and blogging. The result of which was 8 posts in a single day. Massively more than I have managed before.I did get in the main hall for some business. However, this was the report of the Federal Executive and the debate on the annual membership subscription.

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-76508201949629929012008-09-18T23:15:00.002+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.106+01:00

My new phrase of the conference week is cognitive polyphasia, the ability to hold conflicting ideas about the same thing at the same time.This phrase was used in both the fringe events (reports here and here) that I went to that had public opinion data from IPSOS Mori that showed how people held mutually incompatible views about critical issues. It is particularly apparent when people believe

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-48870307174443057592008-09-18T22:33:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.106+01:00

I'm continuing to catch up with blogging the events of this weeks conference and have reached the main event - the great debate on tax.Hang on? Why was the debate titled 'Make it Happen' in the agenda and what is all this other stuff in the motion? The fact is that this was supposed to be the debate on the new vision document, a chance to talk about an attempt at the Liberal Democrat narrative,

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-70470385959312061102008-09-18T16:15:00.001+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.108+01:00

On Monday lunchtime I attended a fascinating fringe looking at the concept of "happiness" and its applicability to the political process.Julia Clark, IPSOS MoriChaired by David Boyle, the fringe began with Julia Clark from IPSOS Mori outlining the conclusions they had gathered on this topic from their public opinion research. She pointed to how the concept of happiness is moving up the public

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-57677432271698318392008-09-16T18:35:00.002+01:002008-09-16T18:35:00.547+01:00

I have blogged a fair bit about the role of the President of the Liberal Democrats and I do have a particular stance on what the job should be about. So it isn't surprising that I haven't taken an interest in the campaign for the election of a new President to take over from Simon Hughes MP.My original intention was to remain neutral, publicly at least, until the last minute so that I could use

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-45622283929437998772008-09-16T18:05:00.000+01:002008-09-16T18:05:00.657+01:00

I am going to be rather critical of Lembit Opik MP later, but because it is not personal, I happen to like Lembit, I thought I'd “big him up” a bit first. Praising Caesar before burying him if you like.Lembit is often criticised within the Party, mainly over his celebrity profile. An awful lot of that criticism is unfair. He is one of the few Liberal Democrats, lets face it one of the few

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-91835262888800572852008-09-16T17:35:00.002+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.565+01:00

Having gone on about the Bones Report so much on this blog I wasn't going to miss the conference session on the topic. It was a consultation session and not a full debate so there was no vote. But it was an opportunity for members to raise concerns and issues with the report authors.For an early morning session the hall was busy and apparently quite a few people put in cards to speak. The tone of

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-35795042951771443592008-09-16T17:05:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.109+01:00

I was up and in the hall early on Monday morning for the consultative session on party reform, the debate on the Bones Commission report. I was pleased to be called to speak in one of the intervention slots. I will report on this in a separate post.Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP's speech was a masterly example of speech writing and delivery. Vince really has developed into a brilliant political

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-77784141316631831322008-09-16T16:35:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:27.803+01:00

It has come to my attention here in Bournemouth that there have been examples of discrimination by members of the Liberal Democrats that I have found quite shocking. Despite our avowed commitment to equality and non-discrimination it appears that some Liberal Democrats continue to hold views and attitudes that can only be described as prejudice.I have heard evidence that blonde-ism is alive and

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-79307137595509292362008-09-16T14:35:00.002+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.110+01:00

Radio 4's World at One programme ran a fringe on Sunday evening looking at the attitudes of those who vote for the Liberal Democrats and the consequences of these for the Party.Chaired by Martha Kearney the fringe was presented with data on voter attitudes from Ipsos MORI. Then Chief Executive of the RSA and former New Labour insider Mathew Taylor and Chris Huhne MP discussed the findings.The

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-48497232516283285222008-09-16T13:50:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.110+01:00

Sunday started slowly and with a screw up. I wanted to see the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott MSP, give his speech, but because I mixed up the time I missed it. Something to catch up with online.At lunchtime I was being an uber-geek. Sitting in for the AGM of Liberal Democrats Online. This was a really positive meeting but one which made what some would think of as a

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-61792534622221876452008-09-16T11:20:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.111+01:00

Well I've managed better than last time with a burst of activity on Saturday, but I am struggling to find the time to blog properly. But it is Tuesday morning and I have decided to miss the delights of the transport debate and catch up.So thinking back to what seems like an age ago but was only Saturday evening and the well attended East of England reception. I rather got the impression that a

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-66127462567837766912008-09-13T18:18:00.001+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.111+01:00

This was I thought a very good quality debate that ranged widely across issues that impact on international security. The motion was moved by our foreign affairs spokesperson Ed Davey MP and summated by the very impressive Dr Julie Smith. Speakers raised concerns about role that Europe plays in our security and our role in Europe, the problems of an aggressive Russia, and the importance of energy

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-75333561801935597402008-09-13T17:45:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:22:06.112+01:00

Here I am in Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrat Conference hoping to do a better job of blogging during the week than I did last time.I've taken a rather relaxed approach so far. Having been later in the bar last night than I had intend this morning was rather slow and mainly concerned with a bit of shopping. A pleasant wander around the town in the sunshine. However, I've spent this afternoon

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-25001086191098340332008-09-10T20:44:00.003+01:002008-09-10T20:46:33.760+01:00

I wrote the post, Olly Kendall gets it wrong, last Tuesday mainly because his discussion of the "radicalism-versus-responsibility agenda" pushed a number of my buttons about how I believe the Liberal Democrats need to go about their business. My, slightly more aggressive in tone than I had intended, choice of title seems to have propelled it into this weeks LDV Golden Dozen.My argument was that

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-2320164454107594262008-09-09T00:10:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.566+01:00

I am back to bother you with my thoughts on the report of the Bones Commission. I now want to tackle what has proven to be the most controversial aspect of the report. The creation of the Chief Officers Group or COG.The difference between management and governanceIn looking at the COG and assessing whether it will work as a useful reform to the organisation of the Liberal Democrats and be of

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-682661881818261172008-09-06T00:40:00.001+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.566+01:00

The ideas and recommendations for changes to how the Liberal Democrats are organised and run contained in the Bones report are clearly built around the aim of achieving greater electoral success at Westminster. The remit of the Bones Commission was to develop and recommend changes to the Liberal Democrats in order to achieve what the report calls "the MP goal". This is the target of winning 200

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-63074623411898079802008-09-05T22:54:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.567+01:00

I've now got to the end of reading the full report of the Bones Commission. Doing so has confirmed my view that the "executive summary" was not really an executive summary. Fortunately seeing the full text has not significantly altered my view of the Commission's findings, so I won't have to do too much revising of my articles. It is a better report in full though. I am more positive about it

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-12968950458938061462008-09-05T20:42:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.568+01:00

I spent quite a lot of time on Wednesday writing up my thoughts on the recommendations in the executive summary of the Bones Report for a series of articles to go up on this blog. No sooner had I finished however than I discovered, via this, that the full report was now available for Party members.While of course the release of the full report is welcome - it is about time - at that particular

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-17714804738069788562008-09-03T00:56:00.001+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.568+01:00

Having given my initial reaction to the Bones Report and highlighted some of the juicy bits - it is now time to have a look at the detail of the report.I say "report" (and will use that term throughout this article), but we should keep reminding ourselves that what we have is not the full report but an executive summary of the full report. However, it is worth reading in full. Those of you who

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-27850836084131155342008-09-02T17:40:00.000+01:002008-09-02T17:40:00.746+01:00

Olly Kendall is a former deputy of press and briefings for Lib Dem MP Charles Kennedy and writes for Comment is free. He is a man.Olly Grender is a former Director of Communications for the Liberal Democrats and appears regularly on Newsnight. She is a woman.I do hope that helps. ;-)

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-21063512095478731252008-09-02T14:10:00.002+01:002008-09-10T20:51:08.452+01:00

I haven't seen anyone else comment on this article, 'The Lib Dems: trying to do too much?', by former Charles Kennedy staffer Olly Kendall from Comment is free on Sunday. So I will.Kendall argues that given current circumstances Nick Clegg and the Party have a difficult task ahead in balancing being seen as a radical voice on civil liberties with the need to appear serious and credible in terms

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-52522073413664240842008-08-24T16:07:00.000+01:002008-08-24T16:07:16.053+01:00

Despite spending too much time reading blogs than I probably should I still really don't read enough of them to have an accurate picture of who should win the different categories in the Liberal Democrat Voice Blog of the Year Awards.In my view James Graham remains the must read blogger, Alix Mortimer writes with a style that is a joy to read, and from time to time Alex Wilcock hits a nail on the

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-36659855082178259162008-08-22T17:10:00.000+01:002008-08-22T17:12:23.454+01:00

I am in no way expecting to have anything much to do with the Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards other than turning up to the awards ceremony during conference. However I thought I would have a go at Alex's Tons More Fun meme.So here are what I think were the best bits on Process Guy over the last 12 months:I'm a voter, not a supporterMy most popular post over the past year was a plea for

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-78258283605732000782008-08-22T12:25:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.569+01:00

Over recent weeks there has been some fuss about the failure of the Liberal Democrat high command to publish the Bones Report on party reform. Yet I've notice that since the executive summary has been published it has all gone a bit quiet. On the blogs I have only seen one post of unqualified support and then this morning this. It only goes to show that people are far more interested in real or

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-43324165400745789262008-08-18T16:08:00.001+01:002008-08-18T16:08:47.545+01:00

While some detect hubris and over-confidence in the remarks made by David Cameron that are quoted from a new book about him, what struck me was how ordinary they make him seem.I don't mean that in a good way.While I am convinced that Cameron will win the next election, I am also pretty well convinced that he is not actually up to the job. What he has been good at of course is PR. Making

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-19969444911398515502008-08-14T17:32:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:27:41.682+01:00

I've been catching up on a few things today and have finally got around to watching this lecture on public service broadcasting by Stephen Fry from May.It is a blatant piece of BBC propaganda timed to influence Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting, but it is none the worse for that. And as I am on a bit of a 'big up' the BBC thing today I urge you to have a look at it.Fry is both a BBC

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-49174451918141383822008-08-14T14:05:00.000+01:002008-10-12T22:27:41.683+01:00

No posts for a week or so partly through laziness, but also because I've been distracted, more than I was expecting to be, by the Olympics. There have been some amazing, and sometimes moving, performances so far. But the one that has stayed in my mind has not been by an athlete, it has been the work of BBC presenter Clare Balding.You will recognise her as the face of the BBC's horse-racing

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-14234706685706849162008-08-01T15:50:00.000+01:002008-08-01T15:51:48.766+01:00

I like entertaining writing on politics and sometimes that is best done by people other than the usual political commentators, so I really enjoyed "Raise the dread flag" by Jesse Armstrong. This bit particularly;"...Gordon Brown is a wounded beast. Almost all you can hear when the prime minister speaks in public is a low wookie-moan of pain and regret."

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-65520372505810142422008-08-01T13:50:00.000+01:002008-08-01T13:53:13.677+01:00

Slogans and titles are tricky things. Does the title of the Liberal Democrats new policy and consultation document, 'Make it Happen', work? I'm not sure. They could have gone a bit more Trekkie and tried out 'Make it So'. But if the title is a bit dodgy, what of the contents?Not wanting to rush to judgement I have now read it for the second time and mulled it over and reached the conclusion that

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-29525046857693595252008-07-25T13:15:00.002+01:002008-10-12T22:24:17.569+01:00

On the 26th May 1995 Bill Gates issued a memo to Microsoft executives. This memo, which has become famous as the "Internet Tidal Wave" memo, set out how this hugely successful company had made a major mistake. This mistake was the failure to recognise how important the Internet was. The memo went on to identified Netscape, with their Netscape Navigator web browser, as a major competitor to

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-51436170174341294942008-07-15T22:01:00.002+01:002008-07-15T22:05:53.061+01:00

I stopped into the Liberal Democrat History Group's meeting at the NLC on Monday evening after work. The topic for discussion was the 77-78 Lib-Lab Pact with David Steel, Tom McNally, and Michael Steed as the speakers and Geoff Tordoff chairing.As is often the case with these things the meeting was half analysis and half anecdote. Lord Tordoff's impression of Clement Freud being a particular

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-77169272499349434072008-07-15T21:43:00.002+01:002008-07-15T21:49:33.554+01:00

I've had a rather extended absence from this blog. No posts in the whole of June. No excuse really, just busy. Apologies for those who would have expected to have heard from me over the last few weeks. Been somewhat buried. But I'm now back.What's happened since my last post? Well rather a lot and it's too late to catch up on that now.Although they have fixed that display screen at Blackfriars

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-39707792638984014392008-05-30T11:10:00.003+01:002008-10-24T18:06:08.856+01:00

I regularly use the Bedford to London line for commuting to work and other things. In fact, it is probably fair to say that my life probably wouldn't work without it.In general the train service is a good one. Well, as good as things get in this country given the chronic lack of investment in our transport infrastructure. Yes it can be tiring and frustrating and when things go wrong they really

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-70385693789177469962008-05-29T11:50:00.002+01:002008-10-12T22:27:41.683+01:00

I rather enjoyed Julie Walters portrayal of famous 'anti-filth' campaigner Mary Whitehouse in last nights BBC 2 TV drama "Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story".I thought the drama was cleverly constructed. It was a sympathetic portrayal of Whitehouse. Her principled convictions, determination, and personal sacrifice was highlighted and we got a clear sense of her motivation to protect a middle

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-23752667833856314472008-05-23T17:00:00.001+01:002008-05-30T11:08:07.426+01:00

This post* is my reaction to the Crewe and Nantwich by-election and my current thoughts on the general political situation.What does the result of the Crewe and Nantwich by-election mean for the Liberal Democrats? Well according to leading Lib Dem bloggers the answer is "not a lot" (James Graham) or "not a whole lot" (Stephen Tall). So take your pick. Looking forward James is optimistic, although

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864168.post-36810317842556030752008-05-15T11:50:00.001+01:002008-05-15T11:53:16.627+01:00

'Process Guy' has been rather quiet of late. This is not because there has been any shortage of things to write about. Far from it. I've been getting exercised at varying levels of intensity about a wide range of topics. Yet, while not exactly writers block, a number of things have been getting in the way. In part it has been a curious mixture of when I have had the inclination to put together a

Process Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16316978952197731545noreply@blogger.com0