Author Archives: Helen Duffett

Helen is the Liberal Democrats' Internal Communications Manager. As well as being part of the Lib Dem Voice team, she blogs at www.helenduffett.blogspot.com and is on Twitter as @helenduffett. Helen loves Underground trains and transport history.

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Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #259

By Helen Duffett | Published 5th February 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 259th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (29 January – 4 February, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | 1 Comment

LibLink: Simon Hughes MP – Students are not being put off university by tuition fees

By Helen Duffett | Published 31st January 2012 - 8:53 am

Simon Hughes MP writes at Comment is Free, following the publication of the latest UCAS figures.

He acknowledges the top-line 8% decline in applications and the mass protest that followed the original decision, but points out that applications from students in deprived areas have barely declined at all:

…a more objective analysis of the data shows a clearer picture. Although applications were down by a significant number, the total number of 18-year-olds in England this year is significantly down as well. If you adjust the figures to take account of changes in demographic, the application rate in England – which

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged comment is free, simon hughes, tuition fees, ucas | 2 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #258

By Helen Duffett | Published 29th January 2012 - 8:25 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 258th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (22nd-28th January, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

The LDV Friday Five: 27 January 2012

By Helen Duffett | Published 27th January 2012 - 5:00 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Diana Wallis MEP’s husband will not take over her seat

By Helen Duffett | Published 27th January 2012 - 9:42 am

The Yorkshire Post reports:

The husband of a Euro MP at the centre of a furious “nepotism” row has bowed to pressure and decided not to take over her Yorkshire seat when she quits next week.

Stewart Arnold, husband of Hull-based Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis, has informed officials he will not be taking over his wife’s post at the EU Parliament, despite being eligible to do so as the party’s second-choice candidate at the last Euro elections.

His announcement follows a week of mounting criticism at the possibility of a husband automatically taking over his wife’s seat. Fellow Lib Dem MEP

…

Posted in Europe / International, News | Tagged diana wallis, rebecca taylor, stewart arnold | 29 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #257

By Helen Duffett | Published 22nd January 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 257th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (15-21 January, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg on the Andrew Marr Show tomorrow

By Helen Duffett | Published 21st January 2012 - 7:37 pm

Nick Clegg will be the main guest on tomorrow’s Andrew Marr Show, in the third of Marr’s major party leader New Year’s interviews.

You can watch the show 9am tomorrow on BBC1 or live online at the BBC website. Or catch it afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

Posted in Lib Dem TV | Tagged andrew marr, nick clegg | 4 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 20 January 2012

By Helen Duffett | Published 20th January 2012 - 5:00 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Comeback Clegg – the Times’ reasons to be cheerful about the Lib Dems

By Helen Duffett | Published 17th January 2012 - 4:49 pm

There’s a great article in today’s Times [£] praising the Liberal Democrats and fancying the party’s prospects between now and 2015.

Rachel Sylvester writes that although the received wisdom says coalition government has ruined the Lib Dems’ chances, it’s too early to write them off:

The Liberal Democrats could end up doing a lot better than most people currently think.

She cites encouraging signs in the polls:

A huge number of people still have no idea how they are going to vote and although only 12 per cent say that they would support Mr Clegg’s party if there were an election

…

Posted in News | Tagged ed miliband, nick clegg, rachel sylvester, the times | 25 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #256

By Helen Duffett | Published 15th January 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 256th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (8-14 January, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

The LDV Friday Five: 13 January 2012

By Helen Duffett | Published 13th January 2012 - 5:00 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

Posted in Friday Five | 1 Comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #255

By Helen Duffett | Published 8th January 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 255th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (1-7 January, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

Sir Bob Russell MP: “I have spent my entire adult life fighting the establishment but clearly, I have failed.”

By Helen Duffett | Published 3rd January 2012 - 6:50 pm

Bob Russell MP, who who was first elected when Nick Clegg was only four years old, has received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list.

Sir Bob, who received the honour for his public service, has described the honour as “A matter of great personal importance and significance to me.”

The BBC reports:

The Liberal Democrat, who’s been involved in local politics for more than 40 years is among the region’s most outspoken MPs, particularly since the formation of the coalition.

This is a significant honour for a man who for decades has been one of the most colourful characters on

…

Posted in News | Tagged bob russell, nick clegg | 1 Comment

Richard Thomas is Welsh Lib Dems’ new Chief Executive

By Helen Duffett | Published 3rd January 2012 - 5:32 pm

Richard Thomas started today as the Chief Executive of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

The BBC reports:

The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ former head of communications has been appointed as the party’s chief executive.

Richard Thomas takes up the post as the Lib Dems get ready for local elections in all Welsh councils in May.

He takes over from Joanne Foster who now works for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

As well as his previous job with the party, he has worked for Lib Dem MPs and as a public affairs consultant.

Here’s how Richard shared the news on Twitter:

Today was my 1st day in new

…

Posted in Party policy and internal matters, Wales | Tagged jo foster, richard thomas | Leave a comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #254

By Helen Duffett | Published 1st January 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 254th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (25-31 December, 2011), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

Author Archives: Helen Duffett

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