Tag Archives: Michael Moore

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 15th May 2013 - 8:55 am

Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a regular column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Vince Cable’s visit to the Borders

Over the past weekend, Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, visited the Borders to speak at our local Lib Dem annual dinner and meet with businessmen and women from across the area.

On Saturday, we spent the morning at John Seed’s farm near Duns looking at the work he is doing, with his family, to diversify the farm and transform the way it generates and uses energy. It is hugely impressive to see the scale of what they have achieved through biomass and other initiatives. (Photo shows John Seed, Vince, his wife Rachel Smith, Mike Moore and Steve Jones)

Next, Vince and I met with a small group of Borders businessmen and women to discuss the challenges and opportunities that diversified farm businesses are currently facing. From issues such as bank lending to red tape, each member of the group raised their particular concerns and it was certainly a productive discussion. It was good to have the chance to show off some of our finest farms businesses and I will continue to work with Vince beyond this visit to get the best deal for Borders businesses.

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged vince cable and Westminster Notes | 2 Comments

Beyond Royal Assent: implementing the Scotland Act

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st May 2013 - 3:30 pm

Last year, against the odds, Michael Moore successfully piloted the Scotland Act through Parliament. This gives the Scottish Government, from 2015, some pretty major new powers, including more accountability for setting its own revenue. They will also have borrowing powers. The powers include:

a Scottish rate of income tax
borrowing powers for Scottish ministers
the power to create new devolved taxes
enabling the replacement of UK Stamp Duty land tax and UK landfill tax with new Scottish equivalents

The Scotland Office recently published its first annual report detailing the progress in implementing these powers. It gives quite a good insight into the practical process …

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Posted in News | Also tagged Scotland and scotland act | 4 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 1st May 2013 - 10:28 am

Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a regular column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Better Together

Last week the UK Government published its second Scotland Analysis paper, this time analysing the currency options for an independent Scotland. It set out four main currency choices: firstly, negotiating a formal sterling currency union with the continuing UK; secondly, adopting the pound without the formal consent of the continuing UK; thirdly, joining the euro area; or fourthly introducing an independent Scottish currency.

The paper sets out that all of these options would not be as …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

LibLink: Michael Moore – Scotland is stronger within the United Kingdom

By The Voice | Wed 10th April 2013 - 4:31 pm

Michael Moore has been sharing his thoughts on the referendum on the US version of Huffington Post. He writes:

Scotland is facing an historic decision in 2014: whether to remain as part of the United Kingdom or to leave and go it alone. Scotland’s nationalist First Minister Alex Salmond is in America this week and will seek to persuade Americans that Scots want independence, that it is our destiny and that U.S. relations with Scotland will only improve should it happen. On all counts, I believe that this analysis is flawed.

…

With

…

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Posted in LibLink | Also tagged Scotland and scottish independence | 4 Comments

Scotland’s Day of Destiny clashes with 2014 Federal Conference

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 21st March 2013 - 5:55 pm

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond announced today that the Independence Referendum would be held on 18th September 2014. Three and a half years of preparation and campaigning will come to an end and Scotland will decide whether its future lies within the UK or out of it. At the moment, the polls are looking pretty good for staying in the Union, but that is no cause for complacency. Every vote will have to be fought for across the whole country. It will be a very different sort of campaign.

You would think, wouldn’t you, that when you were deciding on …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged liberal democrat conference, Scotland and Scottish independence referendum | 22 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 20th March 2013 - 9:51 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Green Deal

Despite the fact that we are now well into March, it seems that there is no let up in the cold snowy weather and I know that at this time energy bills remain a major concern to my constituents. To help people reduce these bills and cut down their energy use, the Government has taken action and introduced a scheme called the Green Deal. This enables people to improve the energy efficiency of their …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged brazil, green deal, press regulation, trade and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 6th March 2013 - 8:55 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Fairtrade fortnight

Fairtrade fortnight is now drawing to a close and it has been a great couple of weeks of raising awareness of the brand across the UK to inspire more people to buy Fairtrade. The theme of the fortnight was ‘Go Further’ to encourage people to try new Fairtrade products. I know that many Borderers already buy Fairtrade coffee, tea and bananas, but there are now so many more products available that are definitely worth …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged fairtrade, fishing, michael moore mp, veterans and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 27th February 2013 - 8:55 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Local television

Last week was an important one for local news coverage in the Borders as the broadcasting regulator OFCOM asked for views on its proposals to change the way local television news is provided here.

After years of shared news with Tyne Tees, they are now looking at options to return things close to the way they were in 2009. That would mean more coverage of the south of Scotland and particularly our part of it …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged broadcasting, environment, unemployment, Westminster Notes and wind farms | Leave a comment

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 20th February 2013 - 1:55 pm

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Scotland analysis

As the debate surrounding Scottish independence gets underway, the UK Government published its first in a series of ‘Scotland analysis’ papers last week to look at the legal implications of Scottish independence. The paper set out that, according to experts, a ‘Yes’ vote would make Scotland the ‘successor’ state and the rest of the UK the ‘continuing’ state. This rejects the First Minister’s idea that Scotland and the UK would both be regarded as …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged Westminster Notes | 3 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 13th February 2013 - 8:55 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Fisheries vote

Last week was crunch time in the European Parliament as MEPs voted in favour of ambitious proposals to reform the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). There has been much concern among local fishermen in Berwickshire about the reform of the CFP because the current system has damaged many local businesses. The measures passed last week are certainly a welcome step in the right direction because they will help end the terrible practice of discards and …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 6th February 2013 - 10:15 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

Green Deal

In my constituency I know that energy prices are a key concern for local people. It has been one of the UK Government’s top priorities to help tackle this issue by improving the energy efficiency of people’s homes, reducing the confusing number of tariffs available and making it easier for people to switch. The Green Deal, launched last week, will help with the first part by enabling people to insulate their homes or install …

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged green deal, Scotland, Scottish independence referendum, unemployment and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Electoral Commission advises SNP to change Independence Referendum question

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 30th January 2013 - 1:30 pm

The Electoral Commission has published its advice on both the question for next year’s referendum on whether Scotland should leave the UK and spending limits. Both sides of the debate have been quick to accept the recommendations, which means that most of the issues on process should now be resolved.

This means that Scots will be asked next Autumn to answer:

Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No

This is different from the SNP Government’s proposed question:

Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?

And also from the rather cumbersome question drawn up by a panel set up by the parties who …

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Posted in News | Also tagged electoral commission, scottish independence, Scottish independence referendum and willie rennie | 7 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 23rd January 2013 - 8:48 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition.

State pension

In my column last week I touched upon the Government’s plans, announced by Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb, to introduce a single tier State Pension of £144 in 2017. The new pension will mean

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Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Also tagged Scotland, state pension and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Michael Moore MP: “We can’t have the Scottish Government fast forwarding through the difficult bits”

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 17th January 2013 - 2:55 pm

Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore told an audience in Edinburgh today that the SNP must stop talking about the process, must stop trying to get the UK Government to negotiate the terms under which Scotland could separate from the UK and get on with setting out their case.

We cannot have the Scottish Government fast forwarding through all the difficult bits to their longed for ending where they clinch a referendum victory.

People want to know what independence would mean for them, their families, and their communities.

Planning the summits and designing the constitutional apparatus is like framing and

…

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Posted in News | Also tagged alex salmond, Scotland, Scottish independence referendum and snp | 2 Comments

LibLink… Michael Moore MP: Uncertainty of independence can’t be wished away

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 16th January 2013 - 2:52 pm

Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland wrote in this weekend’s Scotland on Sunday about the next steps as Scotland approaches the referendum on independence which will take place in the Autumn of 2014.

Now that the relevant Section 30 Order, giving the Scottish Parliament the power to hold that referendum is clearing its way through Parliament, the focus turns to the issues rather than the process:

But we need the “great debate” to flush out all the issues. Over the next few weeks and months, the UK Government will start publishing a series of papers that look at Scotland’s position in

…

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Posted in LibLink | Also tagged scotland on sunday | 2 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 16th January 2013 - 9:25 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here is the latest edition.

State Pension

One of the Lib Dem’s top priorities since forming the Coalition Government has been to reform the State Pension and ensure that people can expect a fair and decent level of support when they retire. This is why we introduced the pensions ‘triple lock’ so that every year pensions would rise by either inflation, 2.5% or earnings and end the paltry 75p rises we saw under Labour. As a result of this triple lock, …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged Westminster Notes | 1 Comment

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 9th January 2013 - 8:56 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s edition.

Happy New Year!

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2013. With 2012 now at an end, there is no doubt that it was a pretty special year with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic games providing great entertainment and a sense of pride for the whole country. While 2013 may have less to offer in terms of international sporting events and royal celebrations, I’m …

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Party members vote Vince Cable Lib Dem Minister of the Year (again)

By Stephen Tall | Thu 27th December 2012 - 8:05 pm

Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 500 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

Vince, Ed and Michael: the Lib Dems’ top trio in government

LDV asked: In your opinion, which Lib Dem government minister has had the best year?

This question allowed an unprompted, free-text response, which c.450 of our respondents rose to. And here’s what you told us:

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Also tagged ed davey, featured and vince cable | 9 Comments

A year in the life of…..the Scottish independence referendum

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 19th December 2012 - 2:30 pm

I thought it might be a bit amusing to trawl through the Lib Dem Voice archives and have a look at how certain stories have developed during 2012.

This time last year, it looked like it was all going wrong for the Scotland Bill that Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore was piloting through Parliament. On top of that, confusion reigned over the forthcoming referendum on independence with the Scottish and Westminster Governments seemingly on a collision …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged a year in the life of, better together, graeme cowie, katy gordon, nicola sturgeon, paul edie, Scottish independence referendum and willie rennie | 5 Comments

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Thu 13th December 2012 - 4:37 pm

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s version.

Autumn statement

The Chancellor gave his Autumn Statement last week which outlined the decisions the Government is taking to boost growth, cut taxes for those on low incomes and ensure the richest pay their

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Posted in News | Also tagged Autumn Statement 2012 and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 5th December 2012 - 10:22 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s edition.

St Andrew’s Day

Last week, as Secretary of State for Scotland, I gave the inaugural speech in the annual St Andrew’s Day Address which is being established this year at the Scotland Office in London. This annual Address will see individuals in business, education, politics, media, charities and the arts speaking to an audience in London …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged leveson, st andrew's day and Westminster Notes | 2 Comments

Michael Moore MP: Green investment bank good for Scotland and whole UK

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 28th November 2012 - 7:31 pm

Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore has tonight emailed Liberal Democrat members to mark the launch of the Green Investment Bank. Three of the five Liberal Democrat Cabinet ministers were in Edinburgh today for the occasion: Mike, Vince Cable and Ed Davey.

The email said:

Earlier today I joined Vince Cable and Ed Davey in Edinburgh to give the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) its official launch.

The triumvirate of Ministers underlines that this is a Liberal Democrat-led initiative that will stimulate renewable energy innovation in

…

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Posted in News | Also tagged ed davey, green investment bank, internal communications and vince cable | 2 Comments

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 28th November 2012 - 11:37 am

Every week Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s edition.

David Steel book launch

Last week I attended the launch of the latest biography of David Steel in Westminster, this one written by David Torrance. At the event I was pleased to be able to thank David publicly for the support and inspiration he has been to me over the years.

The book, to which I contributed the foreword (but otherwise none of the writing or research!) is certainly a testament to all David has achieved in his political career and, as his successor as Borders MP, I owe him a significant debt of gratitude. This new biography reflects on what I believe to be one of the most important and diverse political careers of recent times and I would encourage everyone to get a copy and give it a read!

Grocery Code Adjudicator

In my constituency, farming is an extremely important industry and as local MP I have been campaigning for fair prices for our farmers in a market which, for too long, has been balanced in favour of big supermarkets. This is why last week I welcomed further progress on the Government’s Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill which received its Second Reading in the House of Commons.

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged broadband, david steel and grocery code adjudicator | Leave a comment

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 21st November 2012 - 12:30 pm

Every week, Michael Moore MP, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s the latest edition in which he is too modest, however, to draw attention to the fact that he won Best Scot at Westminster in the Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year awards,

Post Offices

In recent months a number of my constituents have written to me

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged featured, Jo Swinson, parental leave, post offices and Westminster Notes | 1 Comment

Liberal Democrat Michael Moore named “Best Scot at Westminster”

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 20th November 2012 - 4:37 pm

It’s been a good few weeks for Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore. First of all, he was described as Westminster’s answer to James Bond by John Rentoul in the Independent for his role in bringing about the Edinburgh Agreement which set the process for Scotland’s independence referendum. Rentoul said:

Salmond has been underestimated before, although support for independence in opinion polls has rarely exceeded one third of the electorate. But he may have met his match in Moore, as skilful in judging the politics of Whitehall as he is the mood of Scotland. It may be that, after the referendum, Moore will be counted the most successful Liberal Democrat in the Cabinet, and, even, the man who saved the United Kingdom.

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Posted in News | Also tagged awards, herald and james bond | Leave a comment

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 14th November 2012 - 9:55 am

Every week Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s edition.

Mobile phone coverage

Mobile phone service ‘not spots’ across my constituency remain a huge frustration for local people and have a serious knock-on effect for businesses and Borderers going about their daily lives. As local MP, I have been working for many years to tackle this issue and I have welcomed the UK Government’s commitment, through the Mobile Infrastructure Project, to invest £150million to improve mobile phone signal in rural areas and on key transport routes.

Last week I …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged mobile phone coverage, remembrance sunday and Westminster Notes | 1 Comment

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 7th November 2012 - 8:58 am

Every week Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s this week’s edition.

Borders Businesses

As the new GDP figures point in the right direction and a return to growth, I am working with local business here in the Borders to ensure they receive the support and advice they need to grow and create jobs for local people. At the moment I am conducting a Business Survey to assist me in this work and I want to encourage any business in Berwickshire which has not yet received one of these surveys to contact …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged business and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment

What they say about Michael Moore…

By Mark Pack | Sun 4th November 2012 - 5:50 pm

Full story: Meet Westminster’s answer to James Bond.

Posted in Scotland | Also tagged alex salmond | Leave a comment

A snapshot of Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 31st October 2012 - 7:47 pm

Scottish Liberal Democrats met for a busy annual Autumn conference in Dunfermline last Saturday. The day started with the most delicious sliced sausage ever. Subjects debated by members (all of whom have a vote), include reverse vending machines, honest lets, cuts to student funding, affordable childcare and the Home Rule Commission chaired by Sir Menzies Campbell. Charles Kennedy also took part in that debate.

There were keynote speeches from Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore, new Business and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson and leader Willie Rennie. Danny Alexander did a question and answer session on the Mid Term Review and …

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Posted in News | Also tagged donald gorrie, Jo Swinson, Ming Campbell, nikki thomson, Scottish liberal democrat conference and willie rennie | Leave a comment

Michael Moore’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore MP | Wed 31st October 2012 - 4:28 pm

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland writes a column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here is this week’s edition.

Eyemouth Renewables

I have been working with Eyemouth Harbour Trust and other local stakeholders over recent years to ensure our local economy benefits from the planned offshore wind development in the Firth

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Posted in News | Also tagged Scotland, Scottish liberal democrat conference and Westminster Notes | Leave a comment