Mark Valladares
@honladymark.bsky.social
Your friendly neighbourhood liberal bureaucrat. Chair of Creeting St Peter Parish Council in Suffolk’s Gipping Valley, Monday Editor at @libdemvoice.org, reader of constitutions and standing orders…
I’m a big fan of trains… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/thin...
Thinking about trains again...
Professional training takes me to Croydon in a few weeks time which means navigating our official travel provider's website. And clearly, it...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:48 AM
I’m a big fan of trains… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/thin...
Ten years ago, I felt like my own tamagotchi. Now, perhaps I’m getting more comfortable with the idea of technology as an efficiency tool… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/does...
Does technology offer a solution to my lack of focus?
Ten years ago, I got myself a Fitbit and started walking 10,000 steps each day. And, apart from a brief, food poisoning induced, hiatus in F...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Ten years ago, I felt like my own tamagotchi. Now, perhaps I’m getting more comfortable with the idea of technology as an efficiency tool… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/does...
Responsible financial management isn’t perhaps that challenging for a micro-Parish Council. But prudence remains my watchword… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/cree...
Creeting St Peter: another year of financial prudence
In my capacity as finance portfolio holder for my beloved Parish Council, over the years I’ve been preparing what I tend to think of as caut...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Responsible financial management isn’t perhaps that challenging for a micro-Parish Council. But prudence remains my watchword… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/cree...
I’ve been exploring the historic part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-...
All aboard the Mattapan Trolley!
Those of you who know me modestly well will know that I am an aficionado of public transport, or transit as I guess I should call it when ac...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I’ve been exploring the historic part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-...
In an unexpected turn of events, I’ve had rather a lot of exposure to Disney princesses of late… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/adve...
Adventures with Elsa (other princesses are available)
One of the unexpected side effects of being a grandparent of a five-year-old girl is exposure to the full array of Disney princesses. And ye...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:59 AM
In an unexpected turn of events, I’ve had rather a lot of exposure to Disney princesses of late… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/adve...
Just checked to see if my X account is dead and hugely reassured to know that it is. X was increasingly a sewer when I left, and whilst I’m astonished that it could get worse, I guess that I shouldn’t be.
As ever, just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.
As ever, just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.
January 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Just checked to see if my X account is dead and hugely reassured to know that it is. X was increasingly a sewer when I left, and whilst I’m astonished that it could get worse, I guess that I shouldn’t be.
As ever, just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.
As ever, just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.
In a world where your choice of media can speak volumes, I’ve taken the cheap option… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/ther...
There are mixed feelings about this bargain…
When I gave up on The Times a few years ago, I reinvested those freed-up funds into some proper journalism - the Economist and the Washingto...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
In a world where your choice of media can speak volumes, I’ve taken the cheap option… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/ther...
Happy New Year, everyone! New Year resolutions are for people with far greater persistence than I have, so I offer my thoughts on what will happen to me next year… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/2026...
2026 — a year of transition…
So, the fireworks have gone off, and a new year has begun. I gave up making public announcements of resolutions made a long time ago - why b...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Happy New Year, everyone! New Year resolutions are for people with far greater persistence than I have, so I offer my thoughts on what will happen to me next year… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2026/01/2026...
If a Party has tribes, what if you aren’t really a member of one?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-da...
A dawning realisation that I don’t really fit, but that’s fine
Occasionally, someone revisits the idea that the Liberal Democrats consist of a number of tribes, and writes (usually quite thoughtfully) ab...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:54 PM
If a Party has tribes, what if you aren’t really a member of one?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-da...
It’s 30 November, and my foreign Christmas cards are written and ready to be posted. And why does that matter?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-sh...
A short history of correspondence with my family…
When I was (much) younger, messages to my family were sent on something that looked like this, an aerogramme. They were designed to be light...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
It’s 30 November, and my foreign Christmas cards are written and ready to be posted. And why does that matter?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-sh...
Someone has been murdered, but could I work out who by?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pl...
A pleasant dinner, interrupted by someone being murdered…
I’m always open to the idea of a good meal, and when Ros suggested dinner at the Suffolk Food Hall, I warmly welcomed the notion. There was ...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Someone has been murdered, but could I work out who by?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pl...
Just spent a fascinating hour listening to @dustshoveller.bsky.social describe the events of the day Parliament burned down in 1834.
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Just spent a fascinating hour listening to @dustshoveller.bsky.social describe the events of the day Parliament burned down in 1834.
It’s a murky sort of a day, but I’m in Colchester for the East of England @libdems.org.uk Regional Conference, where @joshbabarinde.bsky.social is making what I think is his first speech as President-elect.
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
It’s a murky sort of a day, but I’m in Colchester for the East of England @libdems.org.uk Regional Conference, where @joshbabarinde.bsky.social is making what I think is his first speech as President-elect.
Reposted by Mark Valladares
📢 We have published our report, ‘Is Working from Home Working?’
We found that hybrid working has the potential to be the "best of both worlds", but only if it is well managed.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
We found that hybrid working has the potential to be the "best of both worlds", but only if it is well managed.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
November 13, 2025 at 8:48 AM
📢 We have published our report, ‘Is Working from Home Working?’
We found that hybrid working has the potential to be the "best of both worlds", but only if it is well managed.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
We found that hybrid working has the potential to be the "best of both worlds", but only if it is well managed.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...
Right, internal elections ballots cast, and a few surprises there. I’ve tried to encourage a few newcomers, support women and reward achievement. The Presidential and Vice-Presidential ones were the hardest though.
November 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Right, internal elections ballots cast, and a few surprises there. I’ve tried to encourage a few newcomers, support women and reward achievement. The Presidential and Vice-Presidential ones were the hardest though.
So, I still have to cast my votes in the various Liberal Democrat internal elections. At least I have a nice setting to ponder my choices…
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 AM
So, I still have to cast my votes in the various Liberal Democrat internal elections. At least I have a nice setting to ponder my choices…
Live from Ipswich, a mobile fish and chip van…
October 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Live from Ipswich, a mobile fish and chip van…
I’m on a train again so naturally, I’ve been thinking… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/10/look...
Looking at a polar bear, exit stage right…
To London, for dinner with Ros and a visit to my parents. And that means a trip on newly-nationalised Greater Anglia, with its fairly new, q...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I’m on a train again so naturally, I’ve been thinking… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/10/look...
I’ve been for a walk in East Bergholt…
October 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I’ve been for a walk in East Bergholt…
I’ve been re-elected, gloriously or otherwise. One down, two to go?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...
The road to power starts with a single step
I have, mostly by dint of being too polite to say no, risen a surprisingly long way in the genteel world of Town and Parish Councils. I repr...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I’ve been re-elected, gloriously or otherwise. One down, two to go?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...
Am I any closer to deciding how I might vote for the Party’s Presidency and Vice-Presidency?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...
The field for President and Vice-President is set - some more thoughts…
So, with nominations closed, Babarinde vs Bray and Collins vs Hussain are the two contests at the top of the “bill”. Time, so think, to star...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Am I any closer to deciding how I might vote for the Party’s Presidency and Vice-Presidency?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...
History tends to repeat itself, so why wouldn’t Labour have another go at ID cards?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/id-c...
ID cards: so remind me, what did you vote Labour for, exactly?
Mandatory ID cards are the latest idea to come out of the Labour brains trust, something so vital that it wasn’t actually in the manifesto t...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
September 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
History tends to repeat itself, so why wouldn’t Labour have another go at ID cards?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/id-c...
Three years on Federal Council are coming towards an end so, even though I’m not running for re-election, here is a report back… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/fede...
Federal Council: not letting the door hit me on the way out...
Three years ago, when I ran for a place on the inaugural Federal Council, my aims were to: Establish the Federal Council as an effective scr...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Three years on Federal Council are coming towards an end so, even though I’m not running for re-election, here is a report back… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/fede...
My @libdemvoice.org colleague, @caronmlindsay.bsky.social, speaks for many of us in this post…
Some thoughts on Mandelson, political violence and racists in London by @caronmlindsay.bsky.social www.libdemvoice.org/carons-catch...
Caron’s catch-up – a worrying week
There has been much this week to worry us. Israel continues to shock and horrify, not jut in Gaza, worrying escalations of the Ukraine conflict in Ukraine itself and Poland make that whole situation m...
www.libdemvoice.org
September 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
My @libdemvoice.org colleague, @caronmlindsay.bsky.social, speaks for many of us in this post…
It’s official, I’m not running… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/this...
This is not a manifesto...
It's that time of year when a young man's fancy turns towards getting the nominations required to run for a Federal Committee. And in each P...
liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com
September 13, 2025 at 10:47 AM
It’s official, I’m not running… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/this...