Tag Archives: party policy and internal matters

Inquiries into Rennard allegations must be as public as possible

The party’s investigations into allegations against its members are traditionally internal, confidential affairs. There are good reasons for this, particularly as confidentiality can be necessary for people to be willing to given evidence and as the simple existence of an allegation can kill someone’s political career, even if the allegations are subsequently found to be groundless.

They are often so confidential, in fact, that the last time I was asked to provide evidence for an inquiry, I did not know what the precise allegations were, who was investigating them, who the range of people being investigated were, whether or not the …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged | 8 Comments

Opinion: The importance of party unity over the economy

There has been a rise in factionalism across the Liberal Democrats during their time in the Coalition Government – with the Liberal Left, Social Liberal Forum, Liberal Reform and other groups, all promoting their different perspectives. At Party Conference a left/right divide over economics and fiscal policy was very noticeable.

My thesis is that this divide is a serious one which is widening, not narrowing, and without measures to halt the fragmentation,

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged | 127 Comments

Opinion: Farewell to Lib Dem News

As a former Editor, I’m sad to see that Liberal Democrat News is now compiling its final issue.

The idea of a weekly newspaper began in 1947.There were numerous attempts to axe it. I fought off at least two, and it was only thanks to the likes of David Steel, John Pardoe, and the ALC, that the treasurer was persuaded otherwise in the 1970s. Then, the party was financially bust, despite Trevor Jones delivering a string of remarkable by-election successes that

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , , and | 6 Comments



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  • User AvatarPaul R 23rd May - 2:05pm
    @Julian - "Nobody knows that this is true." Actually, we do know this is true. All EU member states charge a common tariff on all...
  • User AvatarCharlie 23rd May - 2:02pm
    CP. Education will not heal all ills. But as employment continues to require better education skills in order to start training for a job ,...
  • User Avatarpaul barker 23rd May - 1:58pm
    The point about Labour is that they are as much a movement as a Party, held together by a vague attachment to "The Working Class"....
  • User Avatarmike cobley 23rd May - 1:49pm
    Such utter nonsense. This proposed trade treaty will lay Britain open to all manner of plunder and pillage by rapacious corporate interests the world over....
  • User AvatarCP 23rd May - 1:49pm
    And believing that Education will cure all ills and inequalities is a charmingly old fashioned, hopelessly optimistic conceit..
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