Category Archives: News

Lib Dem members launch group opposed to the coalition

By Nick Thornsby | Published 9th February 2012 - 1:51 pm

The Guadian reports:

The first Liberal Democrat group openly opposed to the coalition is to be launched at the party’s spring conference in Gateshead next month with a warning that the coalition has been a political disaster for the party, as well as a denial of its radical roots.

Launching a website on Wednesday, the group Liberal Left said it hoped to become a rallying point for members opposed to the coalition and those who see the party as a centre-left organisation seeking common cause with Labour, Greens and others on the centre left.

One

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Tagged Liberal Left, linda jack, richard grayson | 5 Comments

Clegg signals new approach to individual voter registration in evidence to Parliamentary committee

By Nick Thornsby | Published 9th February 2012 - 11:28 am

Last wednesday saw Nick Clegg return for his annual appearance before the House of Lords Constitution Committee. As one might expect, a whole range of political reform and constitutional issues were covered in the 90 minute evidence session.

One interesting answer by the deputy prime minister which caught my attention was on the topic of individual voter registration. Asked by Liberal Democrat peer Lord (Chris) Rennard whether there would be changes to the government approach as set out in the earlier white paper when we see legislation on the issue soon, Clegg had the following to say:

The short answer is ‘yes’….We

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Tagged chris rennard, constitutional reform, electoral registration, political and constitutional reform committee | 5 Comments

How the Guardian makes the news, then reports the news

By Mark Pack | Published 8th February 2012 - 7:58 pm

A nimble two-step from The Guardian:

1. Polly Toynbee sends tweet encouraging all and sundry to take part in an open-access online poll being run by the BMJ.

2. The Guardian reports result of said BMJ poll.

Then only thing missing, alas, is:

3. The Guardian then realises that reporting a voodoo poll which its own staff have been encouraging people to take part on is low grade self-referential journalism and pulls poll report.

Hat tip: Anthony Wells

Tagged journalism, polly toynbee, the guardian | Leave a comment

Lembit does an impression of the Angel of the North

By Caron Lindsay | Published 8th February 2012 - 4:25 pm

Seriously, he does.

And he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, either, as he said to Sky News yesterday.

Thing is, as we all watch the uncomfortably inappropriate close ups, his dad dancing and numerous other cringeworthy snippets, we are compelled to listen to what is actually quite a good song by the Good Suns. A very clever marketing ploy, I think.

Enjoy, or whatever. Just don’t charge the Voice for any post traumatic stress counselling you might need.

Tagged humour, lembit opik | 3 Comments

Glasgow Labour councillor banned from public office over rape comments

By Mark Pack | Published 8th February 2012 - 7:25 am

Early last year I briefly reported on the shocking comments about the alleged rape of a child made by one of its Glasgow councillors, William O’Rourke.

The case has now finally worked its way through the system and he has been banned from holding public office:

A Glasgow Labour councillor has been banned from holding office over alleged comments he made about a case involving the alleged rape of a nine year old.

William O’Rourke, who represented the Greater Pollok ward, was suspended from the party last March after he allegedly suggested that the young victim may have been a willing

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Also posted in Opposition watch | Tagged glasgow city council, william o'rourke | 8 Comments

US Presidential election – hold onto your hats!

By Paul Walter | Published 7th February 2012 - 3:54 pm

The 2012 US Presidential race is certainly going to be interesting. That’s for sure. There is no end of permutations, twists and turns ahead which will make very entertaining viewing for us over this side of the pond.

Every time you make a statement about the election, there are caveats and “but ifs” which follow.

It’s tempting to say that Obama is sunk because of the US economy. However, there are strong signs now of a solid recovery. Last week’s job news was very positive and polls are showing a thawing of anti-Obama feeling.

You could also say that…

Tagged barack obama, Mitt Romney, usa | 2 Comments

Ed Davey’s approach to green issues: they make for better growth

By Mark Pack | Published 6th February 2012 - 6:13 pm

Ed Davey’s choice of words when presenting a political case is always worth close attention as he is a man very interested in the details and nuances of political messaging. (He was for a while under Ming Campbell’s leadership in charge of refashioning the party’s messaging.)

So what to make of his initial description of his role in charge at the Department of Environment and Climate Change? He said,

Tagged chris huhne, ed davey | 4 Comments

£1.5 billion needed to sort out Labour’s PFI mess

By NewsHound | Published 6th February 2012 - 1:54 pm

The Guardian reports:

Seven hospital trusts struggling with crippling private finance initiative debts are to receive £1.5bn in emergency funding from the government to help them avoid cutting patient services to pay their bills.

The Department of Health is making the £1.5bn available – in grants, not loans – to the seven hospital trusts in England with some of the heaviest PFI debts through a “stability” fund. Trusts will be able to use the money to meet PFI repayments, rather than their usual budgets, as long as they meet four conditions set out by the department.

The move will help trusts such

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Tagged andrew lansley, NHS, pfi | 1 Comment

Farron on Davey: An outstanding environmentalist

By Paul Walter | Published 6th February 2012 - 8:54 am

In case you missed it, Tim Farron’s interview on yesterday’s Andrew Marr Show is here in full on BBC iPlayer (starting at 35:43) or here in a shorter clip.

Standing, well wrapped up, in snowy Cumbria, Tim is in typically robust form. He pays tribute to Chris Huhne and says he “wants and expects” him to be back in government soon. He says that the LibDems are concentrating on being “collegiate not destructive” in coalition by ‘behaving like grown-ups’. He pays warm tribute to Ed Davey’s environmentalist credentials and covers a wide range of policy issues.

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Tagged chris huhne, tim farron | 5 Comments

In other news… the Lib Dems and Alan Turing, Robbie Williams, Todmorden, the royal yacht, perjury and Cornish council tax

By Stephen Tall | Published 5th February 2012 - 5:25 pm

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past week…

John Leech tables Commons motion calling for Alan Turing pardon (BBC)

Manchester Withington’s John Leech submitted the Early Day Motion and said people should sign an online petition protesting against Turing’s conviction. The gay computer pioneer was convicted for gross indecency in 1952, when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK. Mr Leech said his persecution “by the state for being gay is a scandal that shouldn’t be allowed to stand”. Alan Turing worked as part of the team which cracked the Enigma

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5 Comments

The fallout from Chris Huhne’s resignation

By Mark Pack | Published 4th February 2012 - 6:10 pm

I’ve been busy with the media yesterday and today giving my take on Chris Huhne’s resignation, so here are the two main highlights if you missed them:

The Lib Dem Voice survey results I mention are covered in the piece Which four Liberal Democrat ministers have most improved their standings in 2011? and for more on why I rate Ed Davey’s record see Community Buying: a welcome move from Ed Davey (an approach very relevant to his new post) and Ed Davey: someone getting the messaging right.

Helped by having known for a long time …

Tagged chris huhne, diversity, ed davey, gender balance, jenny willott, jo swinson, nick clegg | 2 Comments

Nick Clegg on being Nick Clegg in The House magazine

By Prateek Buch | Published 3rd February 2012 - 3:00 pm

Deputy Prime Minister gave a wide-ranging interview to The House magazine, in which he discusses how it’s right for the two coalition parties to differentiate themselves once a stable government was formed:

In the run-up to the general election, you may remember, the tabloids were screaming, saying that if there was a hung Parliament locusts would descend from the sky and the sun would be blotted out, you know… so we needed for those first few months to show the most important thing of all, which is this is a government that works, and actually works rather well.

Of course,

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Also posted in Parliament | Tagged coalition, lords reform, nick clegg | 1 Comment

New Lib Dem appointments to government

By Prateek Buch | Published 3rd February 2012 - 1:39 pm

According to the No. 10 website, Ed Davey MP will replace Chris Huhne as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with Norman Lamb to replace Davey in his role at the Department for Business.

Completing the changes, Jenny Willott becomes an Assisstant Government Whip, and Jo Swinson replaces Norman Lamb as Nick Clegg’s PPS.

Congratulations to those Lib Dem MPs taking up new positions in government.

Tagged chris huhne, ed davey, jenny willott, jo swinson, norman lamb | 6 Comments

Lib Dem achievements, communicating peers and election timetables

By Mark Pack | Published 3rd February 2012 - 12:50 pm

A trio of resources for your weekend’s delectation:

Electoral timetable for May’s elections: I’ve recently updated my May 2012 election timetable post with extra details

Tagged Online politics, twitter | 1 Comment

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