Embed from Getty Images If we believe in anything, it is the Harm Principle of John Stuart Mill. People should be at liberty, to make their own choices, unless they do harm, to others, or to themselves, if in ways that might harm others too. The bar for the deciding of what is a harm, […]
health
“Society has stopped improving”
That is the bleak message of Professor Sir Michael Marmot in his major new report on health inequality. Entitled ‘Health Equity in England: the Marmot Review 10 Years On’, it assesses lack of progress in the last decade, since his review in 2010 entitled ‘Fair Society, Healthy Lives’. He writes: Since 2010 life expectancy has […]
Santa Rennie delivers festive lump of coal to SNP
It wouldn’t be an election without Willie Rennie doing something eye-catching. And today, he took part in a Santa dash in Glasgow. Quick break in campaigning to run the Glasgow charity Santa Dash 🎅 pic.twitter.com/cMU0661CVV — Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) December 8, 2019 He placed the SNP firmly on the Naughty List for the decline […]
PREVIEW: Luisa Porritt MEP’s Brexit Reality film
London LIb Dem MEP Luisa Porritt has made a film about the reality of Brexit and how it affects the NHS. It’ll be out later this week. Here’s a preview: Boris Johnson is not serious about getting a deal with the EU. He is determined to take us out at any cost. To find out […]
Is there a scientific basis for the sugar levy?
Discussion of the sugar levy has focused on effectiveness and moral/political hazards. I want to focus on one problem that makes those redundant: Does it make scientific sense? Not obviously. A popular narrative: In the past, we thought obese people were that way because they lacked willpower and ate too much food, particularly fat, which […]
Sugar Tax is nothing more than a money spinning effort
I’ve recently lost a substantial amount of weight. That’s not a humblebrag, it’s going to be relevant, I promise. It’s taken the best part of 20 years to find something that works for me, and I’ll come back to that later. How our society discusses diet and weight was mostly to blame for why it’s […]
Judith Jolly writes: Lib Dem Brexit health win in the Lords
In the midst of all the Brexit chaos, I want to take a moment to reflect on a significant and unreported win for the Liberal Democrats against the Conservative Government. A few months ago, a Bill was introduced into Parliament which seemed fairly uncontroversial – it’s aim was to replicate our reciprocal healthcare arrangements with […]
29 November 2018 – today’s press releases (the 500 miles edition)
Later than usual this evening, as I’ve spent the evening at a Proclaimers concert, courtesy of my lovely wife… it wasn’t 500 miles away… PM leaving us in the dark on immigration Cable: May “running scared” of real opposition Lib Dems warn BBC that ‘Brexit debate’ may breach Ofcom code Government has let down victims […]
A Basis for a National Health and Well-Being Policy?
The Frome Model of Enhanced Care is a GP focussed, community serving and using way of creating, assessing and delivering comprehensive health and well-being skills, services and attitudes, in, with and for a community, at a low to negative net cost. Its administration is remarkably inclusive, heterarchical or flat. It is so attractive that it […]
Scottish Conference passes groundbreaking policy on ME
A year ago, Emma Walker hadn’t got round to joining the Liberal Democrats. She finally took the plunge in November 2017 and since then has made a massive impact. She’s launching a pioneering recruitment campaign (of which more in due course) and at last week’s Scottish Conference, she proposed her motion on ME. ME Action […]