Author Archives: Helen Duffett

Helen Duffett

LibLink | Shirley Williams: After all the arguments, where next for the NHS?

By Helen Duffett | Thu 16th June 2011 - 11:22 am

Shirley Williams writes in the Times today of her strong support for Future Forum’s recommendations for NHS reform, and suggests that listening exercises may be the way forward for future policy-setting:

Like many others, I was sceptical about the listening exercise. It seemed to me a way for the Government to win time so that it could rethink its proposals for NHS reform in the light of great scepticism from medical organisations, distinguished think-tanks, health service managers and staff, and, not least, doctors.

My concerns were not justified. The Future Forum, chaired by Professor Steve Field, himself for many

…

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Helen Duffett

What has the DPM done for us?

By Helen Duffett | Wed 15th June 2011 - 3:37 pm

Lib Dem blogger Matthew Gibson has blogged Nick Clegg’s achievements as DPM over the past year, as viewed by the mainstream media.

Matthew’s been monitoring the papers for months, noting all the positive stories about the Deputy PM and Lib Dem leader.

He splits these up by the common themes that have emerged: leadership, competence, being principled and standing his ground.

Here’s a taster:

Competence

The Independent praise Nick Clegg’s simple and direct language in his speech at Conference concluding ‘Clegg knows what he is doing – quite unusual for a leader of a party’ (see here).

The Daily Telegraph believe

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , and | 2 Comments
Helen Duffett

Jo Swinson MP urges applications for Speaker’s internships scheme

By Helen Duffett | Tue 14th June 2011 - 3:55 pm

Jo Swinson MP has joined a cross-party group of MPs to launch an internship scheme which will open Parliament’s doors to young people of all backgrounds.

Jo launched the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements Scheme last week, along with Labour and Conservative MPs Hazel Blears and Eric Ollerenshaw.

In a bid to make Parliament more inclusive and open, the scheme hopes to attract 12 young people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, who’ll be given the opportunity to complete a paid internship in Parliament. They will begin their placements after conference season this autumn.

Jo said:

I am delighted this scheme has now been launched and

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Helen Duffett

Nick Clegg celebrates Bob Russell’s big break

By Helen Duffett | Tue 14th June 2011 - 1:58 pm

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Helen Duffett

Nick Clegg’s speech on NHS reforms: “We’ve listened, we’ve learned”

By Helen Duffett | Tue 14th June 2011 - 12:15 pm

Nick Clegg has given a speech today at a joint press conference with David Cameron and Andrew Lansley, on NHS reform and the results of the listening exercise.

This comes on the morning that a Telegraph leader declared:

The Lib Dem conference changed everything. Grass roots activists made it clear to Nick Clegg that they would not accept the wider involvement of the private sector championed by Mr Lansley or what they considered to be his undue emphasis on competition. Ever since, the reforms have been in trouble and the three-month “pause” ordered by Mr Cameron sealed their fate. The NHS

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Posted in News and Speeches | Tagged , , , and | 5 Comments
Helen Duffett

Chris Rennard profiled in Total Politics: “Think about the swings and roundabouts over the years”

By Helen Duffett | Mon 13th June 2011 - 6:48 pm

Over at Total Politics Iain Dale interviews former Lib Dem Chief Executive Lord Rennard about his views on the local elections, The AV referendum and Coalition government.

Here’s a flavour:

Bernard Jenkin said you could imagine a Lib Dem enclave within the Conservative Party at some point. It’s happened before, hasn’t it? Do you think that that’s at all possible or likely?

I think that’s just trouble-making by someone who is very anti-coalition. I don’t think in the 21st century things will go back to the way they were in the 1920s or 1930s.

Don’t you think this time it just feels a

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Helen Duffett

Liberal Democrats confirm new central campaigns teams

By Helen Duffett | Mon 13th June 2011 - 11:40 am

A further announcement as part of the reorganisation of the Liberal Democrats’ central campaigns staff.

From HQ Chief of Staff, Tim Snowball:

I am very pleased to announce that as of 17 June 2011 the full make up of the new central Campaigns Teams, working under Director of Elections and Skills, Hilary Stephenson, will be as follows:

Campaign Development Team

Key Objectives: to research, test and deliver cutting edge campaign techniques and to maximise uptake through a well planned and coordinated training and support system.

  • Jake Holland (Head of Unit)
  • Austin Rathe
  • Tim Pollard

Ground Communications Team

Key Objectives: to develop effective messages, visualisation and artwork for

…

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Helen Duffett

LDV doesn’t do statporn, but if we did (May 2011)

By Helen Duffett | Sun 12th June 2011 - 4:53 pm

… We’d say a big thank you to the 56,674 ‘absolute unique visitors’* who read Liberal Democrat Voice in May.

This brings our absolute unique visitor readership for the last year to date (1 June 2010 – 31 May 2011) to 531,005, 5.8% more than the equivalent figure for 2009-10 of 501,773.

The 5 top-read stories during the month were:

  1. Opinion: However unfair it is, Chris Huhne should step down (105 comments) by Simon McGrath
  2. Chris Huhne’s election expenses: once again, nothing to see here, move along (60 comments) by Mark Pack
  3. Black Friday for Lib Dems: it’s worse than we thought

…

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Helen Duffett

LibLink | Vince Cable: We agree to differ on restoring economy

By Helen Duffett | Sat 11th June 2011 - 3:21 pm

Business Secretary Vince Cable writes today at the Financial Times on the Coalition Government’s approach to deficit reduction, in response to the International Monetary Fund’s endorsement.

He explores the reasons for the financial crisis and its legacy, and suggests,

The only sensible macro-economic policy stance is a tight fiscal policy combined with a loose monetary one: Plan A.

He concludes:

Co-operation between the coalition partners remains vital for the good of the economy. While there is much common ground there are differences of emphasis. Liberal Democrats prioritise radical banking reform, progressive taxation and the green economy. Conservatives set greater store by corporate tax

…

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Helen Duffett

Council by-election results: 9 June 2011

By Helen Duffett | Sat 11th June 2011 - 11:16 am

There were five council by-elections this week: four of them resulted in holds, while the Lib Dems lost Chelmsford Central to the Conservatives.

From ALDC:

Highland UA, Tain and Easter Ross
The votes below are the First Preference votes. An Independent was elected at the fourth stage.
Ind 1204 (37.6; +1.3)
SNP 1037 (32.4; +20.4)
Ind 547 (17.6; +6.4)
LD Antony Gardner 318 (9.9; -6.2)
Ind 97 (3.0; -14.3)

Turnout 36.4%
Ind hold
Percentage change is since May 2007.
http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/highlandcouncilelections/byelection-ward8/ward8-results.htm

Essex CC, Chelmsford Central
Con 1496 (43.6; +10.0)
LD Graham Howard John Pooley 1323 (38.6; -5.9)
Lab 610 (17.8; +10.1)

Majority 173
Turnout 29%
Con gain from LD
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Kensington and Chelsea

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Posted in Council by-elections | 5 Comments
Helen Duffett

Liberal Democrats receive Queen’s Birthday Honours

By Helen Duffett | Sat 11th June 2011 - 7:53 am

Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, has received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2011.

He’s listed under Knights Bachelor – Knighthoods:

Graham Robert WATSON, MEP. For public and political services.

Congratulations, Sir Graham!

Also:

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Helen Duffett

Outstanding service to the Lib Dems 2011: your nominations, please

By Helen Duffett | Thu 9th June 2011 - 6:55 pm

The Liberal Democrats are seeking nominations for their three party awards, to be presented at September’s Autumn Conference.

One award will be given to a party member who has been elected to public office; one to a member who has never been elected; one to a political assistant working for a Liberal Democrat Council Group.

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | 4 Comments
Helen Duffett

LibLink | Nick Harvey: Forget a cyber Maginot line

By Helen Duffett | Wed 8th June 2011 - 2:54 pm

Nick Harvey, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, writes over at Comment is Free about potential threats to digital networks, and calls for a global consensus on cyberspace security:

Threats do not just come from malicious viruses or organised criminals stealing people’s identity or money. Digital networks are now at the heart of our transport, power and communications systems, and our economy as a whole. This reliance brings the capacity for warfare to cyberspace. The consequences of a well-planned, well-executed attack against our digital infrastructure could be catastrophic. In this way, a single networked laptop might be as effective

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Helen Duffett

Inverclyde Parliamentary by-election set for June 30th

By Helen Duffett | Wed 8th June 2011 - 11:54 am

The BBC reports:

The Inverclyde Westminster by-election is expected to take place on 30 June, after Labour moved the writ in the Commons allowing it to take place.

It follows the death last month of sitting Labour MP David Cairns, from pancreatitis, at the age of 44.

Labour has a majority of 14,416 in Inverclyde, but holds the Scottish Parliament seat of Greenock and Inverclyde by 511 votes.

The party previously said a 30 June date was “unlikely”.

Labour had said last week it was keen to avoid having a by-election during the school holidays and indicated its preference for a “long lead-in time”,

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Posted in News and Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged and | 10 Comments
Helen Duffett

Liberal Youth elects new Executive Committee

By Helen Duffett | Sat 4th June 2011 - 3:53 pm

This week Liberal Youth elected its Executive Committee for 2011-2012.

The new Executive Committee is as follows:

Chair: Tom Wood
Vice Chair: Charlotte Henry
Financial Officer: Chris Jenkinson
Campaigns Officer: Cath Smith and Chris Ward
Communications Officer: Bobby Dean
Events Officer: Thomas Hemsley
International Officer: Sam Fisk and Harriet Ainscough
Policy Officer: Sarah Harding
Non-Portfolio Officers: Robson Brown and Aidan Flood
England Convenor: Harry Matthews

The following have been elected for the Regions:

Regional Chairs:

  • North East: Hannah Claytor
  • North West: Neil Darby
  • East Midlands: Keiran Harley
  • West Midlands: Rory Roberson
  • South East: Jon Bates
  • South West: Dave Cope
  • Scottish

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged | 8 Comments
Helen Duffett

Autumn conference 17-21 September 2011: registration now open

By Helen Duffett | Wed 1st June 2011 - 12:55 pm

It’s time to start thinking about Conference again; at Lib Dem Voice we’re already putting together an exciting fringe programme for Birmingham, including the famous Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards.

More details to follow soon, but meanwhile, make sure you register early for the best rates and a hassle-free application process.

Today’s email from the Conference Team:

Registration for Autumn Conference is now open. If you haven’t already booked your place, we’re offering fantastic early bird rates until Friday 10 June. Click here to register and for further details on prices and deadlines.

New this year

Whether you want to

…

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Posted in Conference | Tagged | 18 Comments
Helen Duffett

LibLink | Lynne Featherstone: “Cross-departmental nagging is my strong point”

By Helen Duffett | Mon 30th May 2011 - 1:43 pm

The June issue of Total Politics has a profile of Lynne Featherstone MP in which interviewer Ben Duckworth looks at how Lynne thinks as a minister and how she is regarded.

Here’s a flavour:

On ministerial visits, she will arrive to discover that people have confused her with her Conservative colleague Maria Miller: “I go somewhere and someone thinks I’m the disabilities minister. I’m taking a look at how that can be communicated better.” This does seem to be down to her vague title, as Featherstone admits. “People think, because my nomenclature is minister for equalities, I cover race, discrimination, age

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dems appoint three senior Campaigns heads

By Helen Duffett | Sat 28th May 2011 - 5:51 pm

The party’s reorganisation of its Federal campaign team continues, with the appointment of three senior campaigns posts.

Jake Holland, Shaun Roberts and Victoria Marsom are to head the three new central teams, reporting to Hilary Stephenson as Director of Elections and Skills.

From a Cowley Street memo:

Head of Campaign Development – Jake Holland
Key Objectives: to research, test and deliver cutting edge campaign techniques and to maximise uptake through a well planned and coordinated training and support system.

Head of Ground Communications – Shaun Roberts
Key Objectives: to develop effective messages, visualisation and artwork for ground communications, to fully participate in the party’s

…

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged , , and | 15 Comments
Helen Duffett

Collette Dunkley appointed as Liberal Democrats’ Marketing Director

By Helen Duffett | Thu 26th May 2011 - 1:49 pm

Collette Dunkley is to join the Liberal Democrats next week as Director of Marketing, reporting to Chief Executive Chris Fox.

Collette, who was born in Liverpool, has led marketing and communications in global organisations including General Motors and Vodafone. She has also lectured on these subjects in various universities, advised many large organisations and is an expert and commentator on increasing engagement with women.

The new Marketing Department at Cowley St will bring together internal and external communications. These will include development of our messages and the ways we deliver them, as well as collecting vital feedback. Collette will undertake an …

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Posted in News and Party policy and internal matters | Tagged and | 11 Comments
Helen Duffett

Nick Clegg’s speech on NHS reform

By Helen Duffett | Thu 26th May 2011 - 11:51 am

Putting Patients at the Heart of the NHS
Photo also available on Flickr

Nick Clegg spoke this morning at University College London Hospital on reform of the National Health Service. The text in full:

We are now in the final stages of the Government’s listening exercise on proposals to reform the NHS.

An unusual thing for government to do: pausing legislation because we didn’t get all of the substance right. Accepting that we now need to make changes – in some cases, significant ones.

…

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Posted in News and Speeches | Tagged and | 21 Comments
Helen Duffett

LibLink | Sarah Teather: Q&A on special needs provision

By Helen Duffett | Tue 24th May 2011 - 4:15 pm

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather recently took part in an interview followed by a readers’ Question and Answer session for the Guardian about special needs provision:

Sarah Teather, the children’s minister, comes across as genuinely passionate about helping children with special needs. So much so that at one point in the interview, she got quite cross. The health service is failing some of our most vulnerable children, she said. The chance of a child receiving speech and language therapy is “between low and nil”, while the wait for a wheelchair can be “really long”, she said.

On free schools and academies helping …

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Helen Duffett

Nick Clegg’s speech on the green economy

By Helen Duffett | Mon 23rd May 2011 - 2:00 pm

The Green Investment Bank
Photo also available on Flickr.

Nick Clegg gave a speech today on climate change and the green economy, giving more detail on how the Coalition will meet its ambition to be the greenest government ever. (It’s good to see another Lib Dem policy being enacted too.) Nick’s proud that the Liberal Democrats have long been seen by green groups and the general public as the most committed of the main three parties on environmental issues.

In his speech at Climate Change Capital in London, he detailed the workings of the world’s first Green Investment Bank, which aims to close the gap between venture capital and the green economy, provide the finance for low carbon infrastructure and lay the foundation for long-term, balanced growth:

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Helen Duffett

Revealed: The Liberal Democrats’ new HQ

By Helen Duffett | Sat 21st May 2011 - 9:35 pm

Great George Street SW1

The Liberal Democrats plan to relocate this summer to a new headquarters in Westminster, close to Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament.

The party has chosen newly-refurbished offices on the second floor at 8-10 Great George Street, opposite the Treasury.

Party staff can look forward to a modern, open-plan office on one floor, in contrast to the current Cowley Street offices – which are arranged over five floors, in an array of dolls’-house type compartments.

At around 7000 square feet, the floor area is …

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Helen Duffett

Legal expert says Lib Dem Welsh AMs’ election is void

By Helen Duffett | Thu 19th May 2011 - 2:55 pm

The former chief legal adviser to the Welsh Assembly, Winston Roddick QC, has said that two Assembly Members who have been disqualified cannot be simply reinstated.

When elected, John Dixon and Aled Roberts were members of public bodies to which AMs cannot belong. They have now resigned, respectively, from the Care Council for Wales and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales and it had been hoped that their reinstatement would be a technicality. However, the Lib Dem motion to reinstate the two was withdrawn last night when Labour refused to support it.

The BBC reports:

Mr Roddick, who was the

…

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Posted in Election law and News | Tagged , , and | 12 Comments
Helen Duffett

LibLink | Alan Beith: “Road safety is not an optional extra”

By Helen Duffett | Wed 18th May 2011 - 2:54 pm

Sir Alan Beith MP, who is presenting the Road Safety Bill to the House of Commons today, has a piece over at ePolitix urging the Government to do all it can to reduce the number of road deaths – because of their social, emotional and financial cost:

I want to see better protection for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, along with better support for HGV drivers who face being involved in fatal accidents because of blind spots on their vehicles. A family in my constituency approached me for help after the death of their much loved daughter and

…

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Helen Duffett

Two Lib Dem Welsh Assembly Members step down on technicality

By Helen Duffett | Wed 18th May 2011 - 1:41 pm

The BBC reports:

Liberal Democrats John Dixon and Aled Roberts have had to step down as it emerged they were members of organisations the law does not allow AMs to be part of.

They have resigned respectively from the Care Council for Wales and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales.

The pair expect to be readmitted to the assembly following a vote on Wednesday.

Under the National Assembly Disqualification Order 2011, AMs are not permitted to be members of certain organisations to avoid conflicts of interest.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:

“Two assembly members had positions with outside bodies which technically disqualified them

…

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Posted in News and Wales | Tagged , and | 7 Comments
Helen Duffett

Video: Lynne Featherstone on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

By Helen Duffett | Tue 17th May 2011 - 1:21 pm

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Helen Duffett

Nick Clegg’s speech – “One year on: The Coalition and Liberal Politics”

By Helen Duffett | Wed 11th May 2011 - 10:15 am


This morning, Nick Clegg gave a speech to party members to mark the first anniversary of the Coalition Government.

In the light of the past year, and of last week’s election results, Nick set out to answer what these mean for the Liberal Democrats – both as a party and in government.

Nick described the Liberal Democrat economic agenda in government as one of “short-term repair and long-term reform,” while promising “a strong liberal identity in a strong coalition government”, “muscular liberalism”, and “a louder Liberal Democrat Voice” .

Nick said that having created a strong, stable government and set out credible plans to reduce the deficit, it was time to “make the Liberal Democrat imprint and influence on government more visible.”

Now read on:

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Helen Duffett

Liberal Democrat candidate dies on polling day

By Helen Duffett | Fri 6th May 2011 - 10:18 am

The Newcastle Journal has the sad news:

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Westerhope, Neil Hamilton, died this afternoon after spending the day campaigning.

Police were called to his house after no-one could contact him. Mr Hamilton, thought to be in his early 60s, was a junior cricket coach.

Under council rules, if a candidate dies during an election, and before all votes are cast, the election is null and void and a by-election must be held.

Our condolences to Mr Hamilton’s family, and to the local party in Newcastle.

Posted in Council by-elections, Election law and News | Tagged and | 3 Comments
Helen Duffett

Don’t use AV to vote in today’s AV referendum

By Helen Duffett | Thu 5th May 2011 - 6:09 pm

A quick note about the correct way to complete your ballot paper in the referendum today.

The Electoral Commission states:

You show your choice by putting a cross (X) in the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ box on your ballot paper.

Put a cross in only one box or your vote will not be counted.

Obviously, this referendum is not being conducted under the Alternative Vote system, but I’ve heard some reports of people wanting to emphasise their awareness of AV by actually using it to vote today. Thinking a little self-reference won’t go amiss, some have suggested voting in order of preference, with a 1 for Yes and a 2 for No.

Don’t do it!

Papers bearing a vote for both answers will be rejected:

Electoral Commission guidance for invalid ballot papers

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Posted in Election law and News | Tagged and | 1 Comment
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