Author Archives: Lev Eakins

Lev Eakins

Opinion: “The Lib Dems will be crushed at the next election” – Busting the biggest lie in British politics

By Lev Eakins | Fri 5th October 2012 - 11:54 am

We’ve all seen poll after poll regularly showing a massive drop in support for our party since the general election – most have us on 8-12% (with the exception of ICM suggesting 14-15%). The president of YouGov claims 10% would reduce us from over 50 MPs to just 10 in 2015. Many of us (myself included) have accepted this as fact – it makes sense. It’s what the polls say. It’s true.

Except, it isn’t.

Last week I heard a new “Wisdom Index” ICM poll had us at 18% and I was stunned. Such levels of support have been unheard of …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , and | 82 Comments
Lev Eakins

Opinion: The government is in real trouble and needs a new chancellor

By Lev Eakins | Mon 21st May 2012 - 10:24 am

In the last two months, the government has been presented with four major problems:

1. The Economy – It’s not growing, despite good signs in manufacturing and a recent drop in unemployment, we’re back in recession and could even face another almighty shock if the Euro crisis deepens.

2. Ministers mucking things up – May, Hunt and Osborne have provided the government with a fatal combination of not getting the basics right (Abu Qatada and airport queues), the smell of sleaze (Murdoch) and the fallout from …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 24 Comments
Lev Eakins

Opinion: Depleted Uranium Weapons – a new area of Liberal Democrat policy?

By Lev Eakins | Tue 17th January 2012 - 11:50 am

After 40 years of increasing disquiet over depleted uranium (DU), the UK’s last operational DU tank munition – CHARM3 – is nearing the end of its shelf-life. DU weapons are chemically toxic and radioactive. Their use (especially in Iraq) generates a hazardous legacy that states recovering from conflict struggle to monitor and mitigate. CHARM3’s propellant charge expires in 2013 and the decision to renew or reject DU munitions may provide an opportunity for us in government.

Unlike the US and France, the UK has not upgraded its anti-tank ammunition in over a decade. This is due to the technical limitations …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 15 Comments
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