@rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social - the freshwater lagoon is always a particular joy.

On Tuesday I captured this especially excellent duck (Northern Shoveller):

Great Crested Grebe by Kasia Bukowska Visit our new-look Galleries to view and search images of thousands of bird species, and join our worldwide community of bird photographers

Great Crested Grebe by Kasia Bukowska - BirdGuides share.google/NFE5gTmelrSt...

This should definitely be included in any puteketeke updates @lastweektonight.com

We'd never put ourselves third on a bar chart.

A glorious beast on Wulfstan Way #cambridge at the weekend.

This ruling shows that proscribing Palestine Action was a grave misuse of terrorism laws.

Labour must accept its mistake, drop its appeal and stop wasting taxpayers' money on suppressing civil liberties.

Various taxes as a proportion of gross household income for nonpensioner households, by whole-population income vigintile, after housing costs: UK, 2023-24

Council Tax has become increasingly regressive.

It now takes nearly 5% of income from the poorest families but barely 1% from the richest. For many, it's become a grinding monthly obligation to rival the Poll Tax.

Perhaps we should cut Farage a bit of slack on this as the commute to Mar e Lago is a long one.
#Farage #Trump #Russia #ReformUK

Something compelled me to make this

Lib Dem source: “Just 45 more Tory defections until Ed becomes Leader of the Opposition.”

Two social media posts. The first is from Keir Starmer and reads: “The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime. I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.” Below it is a post from Ed Davey that reads: “This cop out isn’t good enough. Standing up for international law means condemning leaders when they break it, whether that’s Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump.”

The backs are beautifully illuminated in the golden hour atm; it'll be glorious for photos again at about 3pm tomorrow.

"If the US President is doing things that are against British values and against the British national interest someone has to point them out."

@eddavey.libdems.org.uk

Arthur Christmas.

This week, the govt wrote to Cambridge City Council, giving Labour the option to cancel May's local elections. I believe they should go ahead. Before 15th Jan, please write to the Labour Councillors here - democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.… & tell them democracy delayed is democracy denied.

Erasmus live updates: Scheme to return for UK students from 2027 British students will be able to spend a year studying at EU universities without paying extra fees, and vice versa for European students.

I'm delighted that the UK will be re-joining the Erasmus scheme. This is something the Lib Dems and I have long championed. Erasmus opens doors for young people from the UK and across Europe to share experiences, broaden horizons, and build lasting connections.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...

Danny treating a calf

Pandemics don’t start in hospitals. They often start in animals.

That’s why university vet schools matter so much for public health and pandemic preparedness.

I’ve written about the proposed closure of Cambridge Vet School and why it has national consequences.

open.substack.com/pub/dannycha...

A photo of Lib Dem MP's holding different placards that say: CUSTOM UNION NOW, FIX OUR TRADE WITH EUROPE AND CUT THE RED TAPE.

🚨 Today Al Pinkerton will introduce a 10-minute bill that calls for a UK-EU customs union.

It's time for Labour MP's to back our bill and help turbocharge our economy.

Labour Cambridge says it’s One Cambridge Fair for All. In deeds money talks. Shame on them @CambridgeLDs

“Lammy breaks ranks on Brexit. Rejoining the customs union would boost growth, says Deputy Prime Minister, days after Starmer ruled it out.”

Fortunately David Lammy you have the chance to vote for a customs union by backing our bill next week.

See you in the Aye lobby?

Aggregate Result of the 170 Council By-Elections (for 173 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:

RFM: 59 (+51)
LDM: 50 (+18)
CON: 18 (-20)
LAB: 14 (-40)
GRN: 14 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-5)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)

Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...

Max Wilkinson MP says: The Government must fix the asylum system, but stripping vulnerable people of their family heirlooms will not fix a system that is costing taxpayers £6 million every day in hotel bills. This policy goes against who we are - a nation that has long responded with compassion to those fleeing the worst atrocities imaginable. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the end of asylum hotels and to give asylum seekers the right to work, so that they can support themselves financially, integrate and pay tax. That is how we bring down the bill - not by state-endorsed robbery.

State-endorsed robbery is no way to fix the asylum system.

Rachel Reeves and the faster budget U-turn in history? YouTube video by Jamie from Accounts

Well... with my first attempt at a Youtube video, I've also had my first complete rewrite of a script after recording:

youtu.be/CxqwNNaTCCk

The Liberal Democrats are proud to have stopped Nigel Farage’s attempt to pull Britain out of the ECHR, a move that would have torn up people’s rights and abandoned Churchill’s legacy.

Yesterday, Cambridge's Labour MP abstained on Farage's Bill to leave the EHCR. The @libdems.org.uk stood up for human rights and decency. Cambridge deserves better than Labour.

Lib Dem MPs showed up in force today to vote down Farage's destructive bill to withdraw from the ECHR. No thanks, Nigel!

As so often, @laylamoran.bsky.social finds gracious, unifying words.

"I choose to believe that peace is possible. Everyone who went on a protest, wrote to their MP, cares about it, shouted at their TV - from whatever point of view - what were those deaths for, if not for a sustainable peace?" ~AA

The only thing my new camera appears to be good for:

Once again, it is the political satirists I feel sorry for.

Some ludicrous restrictions on public questions being proposed by the Combined Authority. Currently the deadline for public questions is 3 working days before a meeting; they want to change this to 7. Guess what the deadline for publishing the agenda is? shorturl.at/DQdrk (item 7)

This really shouldn't even need saying, let alone agitating for. It is a truism more than a proposition.