Author Archives: Alex Foster

As we reported a few days ago, one of our MPs let his mouth get away with him in a recent Westminster Hall debate about hospices. Calling Ivan Lewis an a**hole seemed to be allowing the minister to get off lightly, at least as far as many of our commenters were concerned.

Now party leader Nick Clegg has weighed in and given his opinion, a piece in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Nick Clegg last night defended local MP Greg Mulholland who stormed out of a Commons debate after insulting a minister.

He said he was not expecting a

…

The Lib Dems have dropped us a line to say the contract for providing the Lib Dem’s printing and merchandising requirements is up for tender, as it is every four years.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to produce Alan Beith mugs, sticky labels, headed notepaper, rosettes, banners, flags and the like, as well as attending conferences and meetings across the nations to hawk your wares… you can find full details on the jobs page of the federal website.

And while you’re there, you’ll also see a few other situations are presently vacant, including head of regional media, the …

Party leader Nick Clegg got the 7:24am slot to defend the party’s position on Europe and flag up today’s launch of new health policy.

On Europe we’re sticking by our guns to say that the only real referendum that matters is in or out, and any vote on the constitution is a mere proxy for what’s really going on. Abstaining on the issue is not helping the Government beat the Tories, Clegg said. He’ll have a tough time convincing the London Standard’s readership (see the comments here). But see also the tough questions the Tories have failed …

Party leader Nick Clegg’s plan to appoint Greg Mulholland MP as  the official Lib Dem spokesman for Seniors has found favour with the Senior Citizens Party.

They stress that there are over 20 million people over fifty in Britain – some 43% of the voting population.

Mulholland (38) commented on his own appointment, saying, “I am delighted to be taking on this role. It is high time that Seniors were given a voice on the issues that matter to them, and I will work hard in this new role to make sure that they are heard.”

Early risers tomorrow will be treated to party leader Nick Clegg on the Andrew Marr Show at 9am on BBC1.

Here’s three stories from last week’s press you may have overlooked:

2007 – worst year ever for data protection

The Register carries a Lib Dem story on data protection – Nick Clegg points out that what with the Child Benefit CDs, learner driver records, patients’ NHS files and many other data failings, up to 37 million people have had their privacy compromised.

For the second year, the Lib Dem Group at the Local Government Association are seeking to promote the best Lib Dem council groups in the country, by inviting groups who have made a difference in the past year to send in details of their achievements.

They are particularly looking for groups with a track record or a flagship policy in

• Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
• Helping children and young people
• Supporting culture, leisure and regeneration
• Improving local housing
• Improving Transport
• Improving social care services

In addition, there are specific awards, including the Council Group of the Year, the Green Council Group of the Year, and the Backbencher of …

Ed Davey MP is joining the panel this week along with Malcolm Wicks, Michael Gove and Saira Khan.

Drop us a line if you’ve something to say.  You’re more likely to get a look in here than Any Answers!

With nuclear in the news today, readers might be interested in this statement from Steve Webb.

The Lib Dems also have an email list to keep people informed about our anti-nuclear campaigns.

And don’t forget our screensaver – available here.

Anyone out there who listens to Radio 4’s Any Questions on a Friday evening at 8pm?  We frequently have “open threads” for TV’s Question Time and we can easily run them for AQs too if there’s demand.

Tonight’s programme came from Chandler’s Ford.  Upmystreet.com tells us this is in Eastleigh Borough Council. Run by the Lib Dems.

It’s in the Romsey constituency.  Won by Lib Dem Sandra Gidley at the last General Election.

Actually, under boundary changes, it moves to the Winchester constituency next year.  Guess what, that’s represented by the Lib Dems too.

I’m sure experienced media-watchers can guess by now …

News reaches the Voice that Nick Clegg is to establish a new commission to look into social mobility in Britain.  He has secured expert help from Martin Narey, who chairs the End Child Poverty Coalition and is the Chief Exec of Barnados.