Author Archives: NewsHound

Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr John Moore leaves Conservatives to join Liberal Democrats

By NewsHound | Wed 22nd May 2013 - 7:19 pm

The Liberal Democrat Group on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in Leicestershire is tonight welcoming a new member, Cllr John Moore, who has decided to leave the Conservative Group and join the Liberal Democrats.

Group leader Cllr Stuart Bray expressed his pleasure at Cllr Moore’s decision:

We are delighted to welcome John to the Lib Dem Group. I have worked with him over the past 6 years on Burbage Parish Council and latterly the Borough Council and have always found him a man of great integrity who cares passionately about Burbage

…

Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdown win the argument on Afghan interpreters

By NewsHound | Wed 22nd May 2013 - 8:00 am

The BBC reports:

Up to 600 Afghan interpreters who worked alongside British troops are to be given the right to live in the UK, government sources have confirmed.

The plan marks a climbdown from ministers who had decided they should not get the same UK resettlement rights as interpreters in the Iraq conflict.

Afghan interpreters who worked on the front line for a year or more will initially be offered a five-year visa.

This is something, as we reported 3 weeks ago, that Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdown have been arguing for.

Earlier this week, Paddy Ashdown said that it was Downing Street …

Posted in News | Tagged afghan interpreters, afghanistan, nick clegg and paddy ashdown | 8 Comments

LibLink…Paddy Ashdown: Let us not leave Afghanistan with this final gesture of betrayal and dishonour

By NewsHound | Tue 21st May 2013 - 2:29 pm

Paddy Ashdown has written a hard-hitting article for the Yorkshire Post in which he implores the Government to give Afghan interpreters who have helped UK troops the right to come to the UK.

The interpreters and their families live under threat from the Taliban:

These men are different from our troops in this sense: our troops can be sure that their families are home, secure and safe, in Britain, whereas they cannot.

Their families live, day in and day out, threatened by mortal threat from the Taliban in Afghan society.

Our troops come home every six or nine months, whereas they do not. They

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged afghanistan, interpreters, paddy ashdown and yorkshire post | 1 Comment

LibLink: Tim Bale – “The biggest effect of the Lib Dems holding their nerve has been to help the Conservatives lose theirs”

By NewsHound | Sun 19th May 2013 - 3:25 pm

Tim Bale is professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, an an historian of the Conservative party. And this week, to mark the third anniversary of the formation of the Coalition, he’s turned his attention to the Lib Dems.

The article begins by dissecting that ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ verb — compromise — to highlight the problems posed by the Coalition for both its parties: ‘Used actively, it’s a good thing – you want something; I want something different; we talk it over; we come to an arrangement; …

Posted in LibLink | Tagged coalition, Mark Pack, nick clegg, stephen tall and tim bale | 12 Comments

LibLink: Nick Thornsby – As a Liberal Democrat, I ask, “What are you, our Coalition partners, playing at?”

By NewsHound | Sat 18th May 2013 - 2:15 pm

LibDemVoice’s Nick Thornsby has been on recce behind enemy lines, writing for ConservativeHome on the past week’s Tory implosion over Europe:

It is clear to everyone looking in from the outside that if the Tory Party does not get over itself sharpish, historians will look back at this as the moment the party destined itself to spend another decade, or longer, on the opposition benches. …

As a Liberal Democrat who regrets the passing of the coalition’s early radicalism, and who had hoped that David Cameron and those around him could govern as modern, moderate, sensible Conservatives, this regression is disappointing.

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged ConservativeHome and nick thornsby | 8 Comments

Clegg on UK and EU relationship with Africa: “more trade, fairer tax and greater business transparency”

By NewsHound | Tue 14th May 2013 - 2:47 pm

Nick Clegg gave a speech at the Africa Jubilee Business Forum which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation for African Unity. Here are the highlights:

Political rights must go in tandem with economic growth

Everybody, of course, wants growth – the key decision is how you achieve it. More and more African countries face a choice between the economic models of authoritarian capitalism, on the one hand, and liberal democracy, on the other.

In countries like China, authoritarian capitalism argues the case for economic growth ahead of political freedoms. And it’s a seductive argument in view of surging growth

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged africa, eu, G8, international aid, nick clegg and trade | 2 Comments

Christine Jardine selected for Aberdeen Donside by-election

By NewsHound | Sat 11th May 2013 - 4:43 pm

Christine Jardine, a former Downing Street Special Adviser, has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Aberdeen Donside Scottish Parliament by-election caused by the death o SNP MSP Brian Adam last month. She is seen second on the right in the photograph, which also features Cllr Steve Delaney, Alison McInnes MSP, Scottish leader Willie Rennie MSP and Sir Malcolm Bruce MP.

The by-election will take place on June 20.

Liberal Democrat Voice readers will be familiar with her name because of occasional …

Posted in News | Tagged aberdeen donside by-election, christine jardine, sir malcolm bruce and willie rennie | 4 Comments

LibLink…Fiona Hall MEP: Lawson’s EU lunacy is a recipe for economic disaster

By NewsHound | Fri 10th May 2013 - 8:55 am

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament Fiona Hall has responded to former Chancellor Nigel Lawson’s call for Britain to leave the EU.

Writing in the Independent, she spelled out some of the economic consequences of such a move:

We are currently on the cusp of a game-changing trade deal between the EU and the US, which will bring billions of pounds to the British economy and create tens of thousands of jobs. The US has also made it quite clear that our ‘special relationship’ would cease to be special were the UK outside the EU. Major trade agreements with India and

…

Posted in Europe / International and LibLink | Tagged eu, fiona hall, nigel lawson and the independent | 29 Comments

LibLink: 160mph Vince Cable stands in for Jeremy Clarkson

By NewsHound | Mon 6th May 2013 - 6:55 pm

Yesterday’s Sunday Times carried a treat for those of us who are Liberal Democrats and petrolheads. Jeremy Clarkson being “away” is seen by some as a treat in itself, but his replacement for this week was our Vince Cable.

Vince took an £150,000 Aston Martin Rapide S for a test drive during which he reached 160 mph. His criticism was as follows:

The car was more capable and felt quicker than my favourite Aston — the DB9 — although I was disappointed that it didn’t have

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged aston martin, manufacturing, sunday times and vince cable | 8 Comments

Aberdeenshire councillor Fergus Hood leaves SNP and joins Liberal Democrats

By NewsHound | Mon 6th May 2013 - 2:30 pm

The Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council has been strengthened today as Cllr Fergus Hood, who represents the East Garioch ward, joined it from the SNP.

He is shown here being welcomed by his new colleagues ward colleague Cllr Nan Cullinane on the right and Group Leader Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes (with the beard) and Chair of the Social Work and Housing Committee Cllr Karen Clark on the left.

Martin Kitts-Hayes said:

I am delighted to welcome Cllr Hood to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Having worked closely with Fergus on the

…

Posted in News | Tagged aberdeenshire council, fergus hood, martin kitts-hayes, nan cullinane, Scotland and willie rennie | 4 Comments

LibLink: Mark Pack – Parliamentary predictions on the Queen’s Speech

By NewsHound | Sun 5th May 2013 - 11:35 am

Over at The House Magazine, Mark Pack (formerly of this parish) previews the upcoming Queen’s Speech — and applauds the fact that it may be rather thinner than we’ve grown used to:

Far too often ministers have confused volume of legislation sent through Parliament with being a good minister. It is an oh-so-tempting trap to fall into, as shown by some of the daft criticisms of the last Queen’s Speech – seeking to equate the Government’s seriousness about economic policies with the number of Bills on the subject.

Thankfully, however, at least the Liberal Democrat part of the Government is sticking to

…

Posted in LibLink and Parliament | Tagged Mark Pack, queen's speech 2013 and the house magazine | Leave a comment

LibLink…Lynne Featherstone writes on World Malaria Day

By NewsHound | Thu 25th April 2013 - 1:43 pm

Over at the Huffington Post, Lib Dem international development minister Lynne Featherstone has been talking about the importance of World Malaria Day.

Here’s an excerpt:

Malaria affects over half the world’s population, with a child dying every minute from the disease. In the worst-affected countries malaria has a devastating impact on health systems and economies. When faced with these stark facts it can often seem like there’s no hope.

But amongst the gloom there are genuine signs that we may finally be winning the battle against malaria. Across the world malaria is on the decline. Over the past decade governments, NGOs and multilaterals

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged international development, lynne featherstone and malaria | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg: “No Liberal Democrat Council will close a single library this year”

By NewsHound | Wed 24th April 2013 - 10:59 am

The Independent reports on Nick Clegg’s appearance on BBC Breakfast yesterday in which he talked about the local elections and the national situation. The Liberal Democrat leader contrasted the difference in approach between Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour councillors with respect to Council budgets:

The deputy prime minister criticised “extravagant” spending on the “wrong thing” by Labour and Conservative councils.

“Above all, what you shouldn’t do when money is scarce, is waste money on extravagant or unnecessary expenditure – so the Conservative leader of the Leicestershire county council who spent over £200,000 on a chauffeur, or the Cotswold conservatives who spent

…

Posted in News | Tagged independent, local elections 2013 and nick clegg | 18 Comments

Welsh LIberal Democrat councillor charged with causing an explosion

By NewsHound | Mon 22nd April 2013 - 1:41 pm

The BBC reports:

A councillor has been charged with causing an explosion after a series of blasts saw residents evacuated from homes in the north Wales town of Denbigh.

Liberal Democrat John Larsen, 46, from Lenten Pool, was arrested on Friday.

He is due to appear at Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court later on Monday.

Residents in Lenten Pool were evacuated from their homes on Friday night and again on Saturday after police and army explosive experts searched a house.

The incidents have been concentrated around the Lenten Pool area of Denbigh

North Wales Police said Mr Larsen, who represents the Central ward, was charged with causing

…

Posted in News | Tagged john larsen and Wales | 11 Comments

Vince Cable talks about helping regions

By NewsHound | Sat 20th April 2013 - 4:06 pm

From the Guardian:

The business secretary, Vince Cable, has highlighted the serious disparities between different parts of the country in economic performance and job prospects.

He was speaking at a conference designed to boost local enterprise partnerships, the government’s chosen vehicle for regional business growth.

Cable said: “There are worryingly high disparities between economic performance and employment prospects in different parts of the UK, and those areas that become highly dependent on the public sector face particularly difficult challenges.”

Liberal Democrat ministers have often talked of the need to ensure that all parts of the UK benefit …

Posted in News | Tagged economy, regional growth fund and vince cable | Leave a comment

Clegg and Farron say Liberal Democrats fairest in tough economic times

By NewsHound | Sat 20th April 2013 - 11:49 am

There was a double dose of senior Lib Demmery on yesterday’s World at One with Nick Clegg and Tim Farron both talking about the local elections. Firstly, Nick on the Liberal Democrats making fair decisions in challenging economic times:

Everybody knows money is tight and that local councillors have done and will continue to have to make savings. The question is who can be relied on to do it most fairly. You certainly can’t rely on either Conservative or Labour parties if you look at their local records. I think

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Posted in News | Tagged local elections, nick clegg, tim farron and world at one | 13 Comments

This week in Europe: 15-18 April

By NewsHound | Fri 19th April 2013 - 12:11 pm

Lib Dem MEP calls on EU Parliament to scrap planned budget hikes

On Tuesday, senior UK Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon called on the European Parliament to scrap planned budget increases ahead of the next series of votes on EU spending.

Mr Lyon, a vice chair of the EU Budget Committee, has tabled amendments that, if implemented, would see the one off costs of funding the European election absorbed within a real-terms budget freeze.

Commenting, he said:

At a time when

…

Posted in News | Tagged chris davies, common fisheries policy, eu budget, european parliament and george lyon | 1 Comment

Candidate news for those with disabilities

By NewsHound | Fri 19th April 2013 - 9:22 am

As some of our readers may already be aware, the Government has set up the Access to Elected Office Fund, as part of its Access to Elected Office Strategy, to help pay the disability-related costs that disabled people standing for elected office might face. The fund is open to all disabled people who wish to be selected as a candidate in an election, or who have already been selected and are standing in an election.

Candidates may apply for money from the fund to meet the costs of disability-related support needed to stand for elected office, e.g. costs related to …

Posted in News | Tagged diversity and government equalities office | 1 Comment

Cable: No room for complacency over getting more women on company boards

By NewsHound | Thu 18th April 2013 - 2:05 pm

The Guardian reports comments from Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable, following evidence that the proportion of female appointments to FTSE 100 and 250 companies has reduced:

The Liberal Democrat business secretary and former chief economist at Shell is also clear that slow progress isn’t an indication of disregard for the agenda, instead he explains that the overall trend shows culture and practices are changing.

Earlier this year however, Boardwatch, part of the Professional Boards Forum, found that while female appointments to non-executive director roles are increasing, executive board promotions remain low. Cable admits

…

Posted in News | Tagged vince cable | 6 Comments

Watford’s last Conservative Councillor moves to Liberal Democrats because of Conservatives’ “right wing drift”

By NewsHound | Thu 18th April 2013 - 10:49 am

From the Watford Observer:

Watford’s Conservative party has been extinguished at borough level after the last Tory councillor has defected to the ruling Liberal Democrat group.

Steve Johnson, who had been the leader of the Conservatives onWatford Borough Council until recently, announced this morning he was crossing the floor due to the national Tory party’s “right wing drift”.

In a statement the Leggatts representative said: “I have become increasingly disappointed by the right-wing drift of Conservative party rhetoric, particularly its attitude to welfare issues. I feel my views are more in tune with the Liberal Democrat part of the coalition, in

…

Posted in Local government and News | Tagged dorothy thornhill, steve johnson, watford and watford observer | 9 Comments

LibLink… Danny Alexander: Coalition tackling housing crisis

By NewsHound | Wed 17th April 2013 - 3:27 pm

Danny Alexander writes in today’s Scotsman about the benefit reduction which has become colloquially known as the Bedroom Tax.

He argues that the Coalition had to take action after Labour mismanagement and failure to build houses:

However, they may not know that Labour also left a legacy whereby hundreds of thousands of families in Scotland are waiting for a house that is big enough for their family to live in. The government has a responsibility to make sure that we change housing benefit rules in a careful, sensitive and managed way. But we also have a responsibility to those families.

Housing benefit is

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged bedroom tax, Danny Alexander and scotsman | 15 Comments

John Leech tables parliamentary motion about homophobic chants at football matches

By NewsHound | Wed 17th April 2013 - 10:15 am

Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, has tabled an Early Day Motion (number 1265) which calls for action to be taken against homophobic chanting at football matches, pointing out that if the chants were about someone’s race or skin colour, then they would be tackled.

His EDM says:

That this House welcomes the report from the Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club (BHASC), along with the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN), that details evidence and a log of the level of homophobic chanting at both home and away matches; recognises the extent of the problem when Brighton fans have been

…

Posted in News | Tagged early day motions, football, homophobia in sport and john leech | Leave a comment

Thatcher museum to be housed in former Liberal Democrat HQ?

By NewsHound | Mon 15th April 2013 - 12:55 pm

Way back in 1981, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, the SDP was formed and took up residence at 4 Cowley Street, just round the corner from the Houses of Parliament. That building became the home of the Liberal Democrats after the 1988 merger between the Liberals and Social Democrats.

Today’s Times carries a report which suggests that our former headquarters could house the proposed museum to Margaret Thatcher. However, if you read the article in full, it amounts to little more than a bit of gentle stirring by Conor Burns, the Conservative MP who is a strong proponent of the …

Posted in News | Tagged cowley street, margaret thatcher and the times | 10 Comments

LibLink… Nick Clegg…Human rights: we won’t be silent

By NewsHound | Mon 15th April 2013 - 10:55 am

Over at the Guardian’s Comment is Free, Nick Clegg marks the publication of the Foreign Office’s 2012 Human Rights and Democracy report with an article stating that promoting human rights has never been more important.

He writes that many countries choose authoritarian capitalism over liberal democracy and this represents the “most serious challenge to our values since the end of the Cold War,” especially as power transfers from west to east.

But, he says, younger populations and easily available technology make people more aware of their rights and less likely to accept authoritarian rule:

In the Middle East two-thirds of the population are

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged comment is free, human rights and nick clegg | 15 Comments

Liberal Democrat MEPs call for Committee of Inquiry on Cyprus

By NewsHound | Fri 12th April 2013 - 11:51 am

Senior UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles has called for a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry should the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) Hearing on 25 April not answer the many questions hanging over the Cyprus affair.

Bowles, who chairs the influential ECON Committee said:

We will have an ECON Committee hearing on 25 April with the Troika and Mr Dijsselbloem, President of the Eurogroup to get to the bottom of the Cyprus bailout affair. If we find the answers insufficient the Liberal Group in the European Parliament will call for the immediate setting up of a Committee of Inquiry

…

Posted in Europe / International | Tagged andrew duff, cyprus and sharon bowles | 2 Comments

LibLink: Danny Alexander – The rich are paying more in tax under the Coalition, than under Labour

By NewsHound | Sun 7th April 2013 - 11:15 am

Over at the Telegraph, Danny Alexander follows up his piece in last week’s Sun on Sunday defending the Coalition’s benefits and tax changes — Bedroom blockers and tax dodgers will pay — but this time in less tabloid terms:

… cleaning up the mess left by Labour involves difficult decisions everyday that impact on people’s lives up and down the country. Few more so than some of the changes to our tax and welfare system that have come in this week. The welfare changes this week are difficult, but right and necessary to ensure that people are always better off

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged Danny Alexander, tax cuts (Lib Dem) and welfare reform | 2 Comments

Don’t pay for free voter registration, warns elections watchdog

By NewsHound | Fri 5th April 2013 - 3:41 pm

The Electoral Commission, the UK elections watchdog, is urging people not to use a paid-for service to register to vote.

The independent elections watchdog has contacted ‘UK Electoral Roll’ after it was alerted to the company offering a £30-a-time ‘assisted service’ to complete customers’ electoral roll registrations.

The company also uses a £1.53 a minute premium rate number to take customer questions.

Alex Robertson, Director of Communications, said:

This service is clearly ripping people off. It is very simple to register to vote and we want to make sure no one

…

Posted in Election law and News | Tagged electoral commission | Leave a comment

This week in Europe: 1-4 April

By NewsHound | Fri 5th April 2013 - 11:48 am

European ‘Financial Transaction Tax’ will hit Londoners

A research report prepared for the City of London Corporation has estimated the cost of the proposed European Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) on UK government debt at £4 billion, with further costs for company debt.

Even though the UK is not taking part, bonds issued by our government and companies are traded in EU participating countries and will therefore be subject to the tax. This will raise government spending and the cost of capital and investment.

MEP …

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged financial transaction tax and sarah ludford | 2 Comments

Lyon: EU must justify spending increases

By NewsHound | Fri 29th March 2013 - 10:51 am

Commenting on the European Commission request for an additional 11.2 billion euros in an amending budget, senior Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon, Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee, said:

It is hard to understand how the Commission can justify this increase in the EU budget, long before bills from Member States are even through the door.

At this stage the Commission has no definite idea of what the final payment claims will be for EU projects and will not know until later in the autumn what size the bills from

…

Posted in News | Tagged eu budget and george lyon | 8 Comments

Op-eds

The need for a nationally relevant message (Mark Corner)
Chris Coghlan MP writes…SEND reform must put children with complex needs at the centre; not treat them as an afterthought (Chris Coghlan MP)
What a night! Democrats smash the midterms (Caron Lindsay)
Choosing a new leader in Wales: why the process matters (Steve Aicheler)
What can the Liberal Democrats learn from New Zealand’s Opportunity Party? (Daniel Duggan)

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Chris Coghlan: put children with complex needs at centre of SEND reforms

SNP Govt defeated on Lib Dem motion

Vince Cable writes: A budget of small things

Chadwick launches leadership bid

Author Archives: NewsHound

Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr John Moore leaves Conservatives to join Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdown win the argument on Afghan interpreters

LibLink…Paddy Ashdown: Let us not leave Afghanistan with this final gesture of betrayal and dishonour

LibLink: Tim Bale – “The biggest effect of the Lib Dems holding their nerve has been to help the Conservatives lose theirs”

LibLink: Nick Thornsby – As a Liberal Democrat, I ask, “What are you, our Coalition partners, playing at?”

Clegg on UK and EU relationship with Africa: “more trade, fairer tax and greater business transparency”

Political rights must go in tandem with economic growth

Christine Jardine selected for Aberdeen Donside by-election

LibLink…Fiona Hall MEP: Lawson’s EU lunacy is a recipe for economic disaster

LibLink: 160mph Vince Cable stands in for Jeremy Clarkson

Aberdeenshire councillor Fergus Hood leaves SNP and joins Liberal Democrats

LibLink: Mark Pack – Parliamentary predictions on the Queen’s Speech

LibLink…Lynne Featherstone writes on World Malaria Day

Nick Clegg: “No Liberal Democrat Council will close a single library this year”

Welsh LIberal Democrat councillor charged with causing an explosion

Vince Cable talks about helping regions

Clegg and Farron say Liberal Democrats fairest in tough economic times

This week in Europe: 15-18 April

Candidate news for those with disabilities

Cable: No room for complacency over getting more women on company boards

Watford’s last Conservative Councillor moves to Liberal Democrats because of Conservatives’ “right wing drift”

LibLink… Danny Alexander: Coalition tackling housing crisis

John Leech tables parliamentary motion about homophobic chants at football matches

Thatcher museum to be housed in former Liberal Democrat HQ?

LibLink… Nick Clegg…Human rights: we won’t be silent

Liberal Democrat MEPs call for Committee of Inquiry on Cyprus

LibLink: Danny Alexander – The rich are paying more in tax under the Coalition, than under Labour

Don’t pay for free voter registration, warns elections watchdog

This week in Europe: 1-4 April

Lyon: EU must justify spending increases

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