Letter: UK Observer (16 October 2022) – Labour’s London problem
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The New European: Letter – Why Former Remainers Should Focus on a Second Scottish Independence Referendum, Not a Second EU Referendum
In a short letter for The New European, I argue that the next challenge for former Remain supporters is to prepare for an inevitable second Scottish independence referendum, and not campaign for a second EU referendum.
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/what-next-for-those-who-oppose-brexit-6908946
How The Tell-All Political Memoir Became A Weapon.
In a Medium post, I explore how the political memoir became weaponized as a tool for revenge and reinvention.
https://tomparkinwrites.medium.com/weaponizing-the-tell-all-political-memoir-d0db0bffe8ac
Ecuador’s 2021 Election: What You Need To Know
In February, Ecuador will elect a new President and National Assembly.
In 4 minutes, here’s what you need to know about the candidates, parties, major issues & implications for the wider world.
https://tomparkinwrites.medium.com/ecuadors-2021-election-what-you-need-to-know-d44128d2ac02
Medium Post: Still Anti-Brexit? Look North To Scotland, Not Over The Channel
In my first Medium post, I argue that fellow former Remain supporters should not set about attempting to rejoin the bloc, but organise for the inevitable and more immediate second Scottish independence referendum.
Visiting Broomhill High Street
Last weekend, I visited Broomhill High Street to check up on changes made along the pavement. I was disappointed to see barriers left out and uneven surfaces, all for the most unimaginative alteration to the area.
There is a real concern amongst businesses here that these changes to parking will reduce customer numbers and make the area less accessible to visitors from other parts of the City or further afield. The council could have made space for a small market and still maintained the appropriate number of disabled parking spaces.
On Saturday, the Lib Dem team was out in force for an early morning litter pick in Crookes in a bid to keep our streets clean. We spoke to local residents on issues of housing, planning and street lighting.
TOM PARKIN: A Future For The Liberal Democrats
The questions I believe we should ask our leadership candidates in the 2020 race: More on narrative and electoral objectives and less on policy.
Tom Parkin is a Liberal Democrat activist and prospective candidate for Sheffield City Council. He is the editor of Liberal Base and blogs at tomparkin.org. He Tweets @tompjparkin.
As the Liberal Democrat leadership contest rolls on, it is clear both Ed Davey and Layla Moran are eager to shift our policy platform to a greener and more radical position.
Let’s be clear. The election of a new figurehead will not in itself boost our standing in the opinion polls. Nor is it a matter of identifying the perfect policy combination to regain the seats lost since 2015. The internal reforms needed are urgent, wide-ranging and long-standing. There is no quick fix and we mustn’t expect our fortunes to change overnight.
Here, I set out a three stage…
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GIANNI SARRA’s Senate Series: MAINE
Gianni Sarra is a PhD candidate at King’s College London. He is a recipient of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership studentship award and his doctoral research is on ‘The Dirty Rules Dilemma: Achieving Justice in Conditions of Corruption’.
One of the most important states in determining control of the Senate will be in Maine. Long-term Senator, Susan Collins, is the sole Republican left in New England’s congressional delegation. Though Maine leans towards the Democrats, Collins was able to win her previous elections in landslides thanks to a reputation as an independent-minded moderate.
The Trump era, however, has dealt a heavy blow to that reputation, and now polling shows Collins narrowly behind in her fight to get reelected in November. How good are her chances, and what was it exactly that caused her situation to become so perilous?
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Susan Collins has long…
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TOM PARKIN: ‘Becoming’ – Michelle Obama – Netflix Review
Tom Parkin is a Liberal Democrat activist from Sheffield and editor of Liberal Base. He runs a personal blog at tomparkin.org and can be found on Twitter @tompjparkin.
‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ This is certainly true of former First Lady Michelle Obama. For those seeking a reminder of life before the Trump administration, look no further. ‘Becoming’ on Netflix follows Obama’s autobiography of the same name, which in March 2019 sold over ten million copies.
But for those expecting this authorised work to be a job application for the 2020 Vice-Presidential nomination, you’re in for a dissapointment. The final cut comes across as a purposeful end to a former life. Obama herself declares the pre-presidential years…
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Tom Parkin 