Author Archives: Paul Walter

Paul Walter

Five party leaders at the funeral of Jeremy Thorpe

By Paul Walter | Mon 22nd December 2014 - 9:54 am

Paddy Ashdown, Nick Clegg, David Steel, Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell attend the funeral of former Liberal Party party leader Jeremy Thorpe at Saint Margaret’s Church on December 17, 2014 in Westminster. The eagle-eyed will also spot Tim Farron on the right.

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Paul Walter

Time to lambast the economic stupidity of Tory posturing on immigration

By Paul Walter | Sun 21st December 2014 - 9:30 am

 

The main headline in today’s Sunday Times (£) is something of a milestone. (Helpfully, the Murdoch empire make most of the story available on Sky News without a paywall).

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Posted in News and Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 26 Comments
Paul Walter

Poll: Young people appear more tolerant, open and happy with modern Britain

By Paul Walter | Wed 10th December 2014 - 3:35 pm

A recent survey by YouGov, for Business for New Europe, indicates that teenagers have markedly more positive views towards Europe and the free movement of labour than adults. This should encourage those who appreciate the economic advantages of an outward-facing UK. It could also fuel calls for 16 and 17 year-olds to be included in any forthcoming referendum on the EU.

The poll, based on the views of young people aged between 14 and 17 years old, showed:

  • If there was a referendum, approximately twice as many of those aged 14 to 17 would vote to stay in the EU (45%) as leave (23%).
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Paul Walter

Video – Kirsty Williams bonus

By Paul Walter | Wed 10th December 2014 - 2:15 pm

As a follow on to our earlier post, this was the video played last night at Cardiff City hall just before Kirsty Williams received her award as Welsh Assembly Member of the year. It’s worth watching. Kirsty can certainly “kick arse”.

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Paul Walter

PMQs: Nick Clegg comes back from Cornwall

By Paul Walter | Wed 10th December 2014 - 12:45 pm

clegg on leveson 2I stopped doing PMQ write-ups some time ago. They were getting so repetitive and mind-numbingly pointless that I was losing the will to live.

Today’s exchange between Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman was typical of the genre. Harriet Harman made some very good prepared points, and Nick Clegg blasted away on Labour’s record and mentioned some good bits from this government’s record. There was a lot huing and crying and then everyone went to lunch.

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Posted in PMQs | Tagged , and | 36 Comments
Paul Walter

Kirsty Williams named Welsh assembly member of the year

By Paul Walter | Wed 10th December 2014 - 10:15 am

rally kirsty williams 1Many congratulations to Kirsty Williams, who has been named AM of the Year as part of the Welsh Political awards. The award, given to Kirsty last night at Cardiff City Hall, was “for exercising her political skills to enable the First Minister to achieve his budget, but also allow the Lib Dems to claim significant policy gains in the areas of health and education.”

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Paul Walter

Jeremy Thorpe – a life in videos

By Paul Walter | Sun 7th December 2014 - 1:54 pm

As a companion to my earlier picture post, here are some videos embedded from YouTube featuring Jeremy Thorpe.

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Posted in Obituaries | Tagged and | 8 Comments
Paul Walter

Jeremy Thorpe – a life in pictures

By Paul Walter | Sat 6th December 2014 - 9:54 am

There are a host of fantastic photographs of Jeremy Thorpe in the archives. He had a real sense of showmanship to which photographers responded. Here are a few images which reflect his life.

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Posted in Obituaries | Tagged , and | 19 Comments
Paul Walter

Desperately seeking Nigel

By Paul Walter | Sun 30th November 2014 - 10:54 am

Nigel Farage seems to be everywhere these days (except for turning up to propose his own motion). But, curiously, there is one fairly crucial place he isn’t.

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Paul Walter

In 2015, if the Lib Dems hold on to as many seats as latest polling suggests, should we thank NO2AV?

By Paul Walter | Sat 29th November 2014 - 10:54 am

liberal democrat tory conservative logosEarlier in the week, Stephen Tall covered the latest Ashcroft poll of Lib Dem held seats, which was encouraging. Over on Political Betting, our old friend Mike Smithson offers this intriguing thought:

If the LDs hold on to as many seats as the latest polling suggests then Clegg should thank NO2AV.

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Posted in General Election | Tagged and | 92 Comments
Paul Walter

Christmas is coming, draw tickets need to be sent back!

By Paul Walter | Fri 28th November 2014 - 1:54 pm

Vince Cable and Father ChristmasThe Liberal Democrat Christmas Draw is a much-loved and lucrative fund-raising institution for the party. From their organising nexus in Surrey, the Christmas Draw elves work hard all year to round up great prizes and send out ticket books by the sleigh load.

The top prize this year is a holiday voucher for £2000! There are 39 other wonderful prizes, such as half a case of champagne, which the elves will endeavour to get to winners before Christmas.

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Paul Walter

Israeli government proposes law defining nation-state of Jewish people

By Paul Walter | Wed 26th November 2014 - 3:54 pm

Israel Jews Wall Photo by Premasager Rose
The Guardian reported this on Sunday:

A controversial bill that officially defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people has been approved by cabinet despite warnings that the move risks undermining the country’s democratic character.

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Paul Walter

Gulags in the UK? – “no” says Simon Hughes

By Paul Walter | Wed 26th November 2014 - 12:45 pm

On Monday, Theresa May introduced some new counter-terrorism measures to Parliament.

Let’s take two specifics which were mentioned:

Requiring ISPs to retain and disclose user IP address details

May announced:

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 5 Comments
Paul Walter

Independent inquiry to probe handling of allegations against Councillor Alex Folkes

By Paul Walter | Wed 26th November 2014 - 10:54 am

On Sunday, LDV’s Stephen Tall raised serious questions about the handling, by Cornwall Council, of allegations against Councillor Alex Folkes. Now BBC Cornwall reports a new development:

An independent inquiry will examine a council’s handling of allegations that one of its members was a “risk” to children, the BBC understands.

Cornwall Council warned schools and clubs in Alex Folkes’ Launceston ward not to allow him near children.

Mr Folkes has denied any wrongdoing and said he was cleared by police in 2006 after his credit card was cloned.

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Posted in News | 2 Comments
Paul Walter

Open season on Facebook is unfair

By Paul Walter | Wed 26th November 2014 - 9:54 am

Does Sir Malcolm Rifkind actually understand the internet? As chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee he has pointed the finger at an un-named internet giant, later revealed to be Facebook, for failing to report a threat by Lee Rigby’s killers.

There seems to be an assumption, in the coverage of this, that Facebook actually knew about the threat.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 20 Comments
Paul Walter

Should Liberal Democrat Voice put up a post if and when a blogger leaves the party?

By Paul Walter | Sun 23rd November 2014 - 12:54 pm

charlotte henryIn a spasm of madness a few weeks ago, from their conclavial confinement, the Liberal Democrat Voice team saw fit to emit a puff of white smoke in favour of myself, concerning the vexed matter of who would be Wednesday Editor of this august and elegantly barnacle-clad ship of the cyber-seas.

In the course of my duties last Wednesday, my not-very sophisticated news gathering antennae became aware of the news that Charlotte Henry had left the party. Newsmoggie kindly published a post concerning that. An interesting comments debate ensued under said post and it was one of our most popular offerings for this week.

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Posted in Humour and Site news | 45 Comments
Paul Walter

Opinion: Is the First World War a reasonable subject for a supermarket advert?

By Paul Walter | Wed 19th November 2014 - 1:54 pm

Tyne Cot cemetery Ypres First World War by fdecomiteThis Christmas is the 100th anniversary of the so-called “Christmas truce” in 1914 when some First World War troops gathered in “No man’s land” on the battlefields of the Western Front to greet each other and share gifts. It is therefore, perhaps, understandable that Sainsbury’s have collaborated with the British Legion, historians and a leading film-maker to produce a beautiful 3’41” video featuring the truce, which is being used to present shorter TV adverts.

And yet, it is difficult not to feel somewhat uneasy as this advert is repeated many times on our screens.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 14 Comments
Paul Walter

Should we have a day off to vote?

By Paul Walter | Fri 14th November 2014 - 4:54 pm

your vote matters lib dem leafletEarlier this year, I was planning a call with a colleague in South Africa when he said: “I can’t do it on that day. It’s Voting Day.” I didn’t realize that South Africans have a public holiday to vote. Perhaps that would be a good idea in the UK – some MPs are thinking that way.

PoliticsHome reports:

A report by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee is inviting responses from the public to further suggestions including introducing compulsory voting, online voting and lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.

The MPs point out that almost 16 million eligible voters chose not to cast a vote at the last general election, warning this is “not an acceptable state of affairs for a modern democracy”.

And they call for elections to be held on a specially designated public holiday or at weekends to try and stem the tide of voter apathy.

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Posted in News | Tagged | 53 Comments
Paul Walter

++BREAKING NEWS: Judy Murray’s Strictly success is due to a Scot Nats plot

By Paul Walter | Wed 12th November 2014 - 2:54 pm

I have a confession to make. I buy the Daily Express nearly everyday. There. I said it. Believe it or not, I get it to do a nine letter puzzle on page 43 in the presence of a nonagenarian relative who has done the same quiz each day for decades. Nonetheless, it gives me a forced insight into the right-wing press. So, here’s a summary of what they normally say:

DAILY EXPRESS

EAT A TOMATO AND TAKE AN ASPIRIN EVERYDAY AND YOU WILL LIVE TO BE A HUNDRED
(If your stomach survives the aspirin onslaught).

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Posted in Humour | Tagged and | 3 Comments
Paul Walter

Let yourself go on the 303

By Paul Walter | Wed 12th November 2014 - 1:54 pm

A303 photo by κύριαsityThe A303 is quite a legend amongst roads. It must be one of the few British roads that has its own song (which includes the words of the title of this post) and had a television programme devoted to its history.

But it has also been a recurring feature in the parliamentary career of David Heath MP.

When the Prime Minister addressed the CBI annual conference yesterday, he made reference to the A303 when talking about a need to ‘improve some of the most important arteries in our country’. Responding, David Heath said:

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Paul Walter

LibLink: Vince Cable on why we need the EU and immigrants

By Paul Walter | Wed 12th November 2014 - 9:54 am

Vince Cable Social Liberal Forum conference Jul 19 2014 Photo by Paul WalterWriting in the Mail to coincide with Remembrance Sunday, Vince Cable made a heartfelt plea for tolerance of a united Europe and immigration, citing personal experience:

I am astounded when people say they have never been allowed to talk about immigration and that politicians ignore it. I remember it differently: a continued, sometimes angry, political debate going back to the 1950s. There was not an immigration issue as such. Until the late 1990s, net immigration was negative. More people left than arrived. But those leaving were white and most arriving were black or Asian.

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Posted in LibLink | Tagged and | 20 Comments
Paul Walter

‘Drones could be used to deliver Focus leaflets’ – peer

By Paul Walter | Thu 6th November 2014 - 12:54 pm

FocusIn a House of Lords debate on drones this week, Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Lee of Trafford said:

It may even be possible to develop a delivery system that delivers Focus leaflets which I would have thought would be very much appreciated by these benches.

That could eventually provide material for a Glee song…

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Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged and | 11 Comments
Paul Walter

Information on party committee candidates

By Paul Walter | Wed 5th November 2014 - 4:54 pm

libby on the wall3Calderdale Liberal Democrats punch above their weight when it comes to enhancing the internal democratic processes of the party.

Leading up to our conferences, we see Calderdale Lib Dems positively gushing forth with amendments to motions. They even offer to help other local parties with amendments if needed.

Local party chair Jennie Rigg is now helping party democracy in an extra way. Where she can contact them, Jennie is putting a series of questions to each candidate in the Liberal Democrat committee elections.

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged | 9 Comments
Paul Walter

Champagne corks popping at party HQ?

By Paul Walter | Wed 5th November 2014 - 12:54 pm

Champagne cork popping photo by Brent SchneemanTim Farron was on Radio Four’s Today yesterday morning. He was talking about Norman Baker’s resignation. In passing, when interviewer John Humphrys mentioned the party potentially losing lots of MPs at the next election, Tim mentioned that the Lib Dems went up by three percentage points in this week’s Lord Ashcroft poll.

When Humphrys said he would mention that this was just one optimistic poll for the party amidst many pessimistic polls, Tim joked that “at party HQ they might not hear you above the sound of champagne corks popping”.

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Posted in Polls | Tagged , and | 15 Comments
Paul Walter

US Mid-term elections: Republicans sweep all before them

By Paul Walter | Wed 5th November 2014 - 5:58 am

Stars and stripes, US flag - Some rights reserved by :: Wendy ::
At about 04:30 our time, ABC News projected that the Republicans would win the US Senate in the Mid-term elections. They did so as they called Iowa and North Carolina for the “Grand Old Party”. In virtually every race, where the Democrats had a slight chance, they lost. Nate Silver reckoned, as ABC News made their declaration, that the Republicans could finish with as many as 55 Senate seats.

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Posted in LDVUSA and News | Tagged | 12 Comments
Paul Walter

Thank you, Glasgow

By Paul Walter | Mon 13th October 2014 - 2:45 pm

As well as making us welcome for the conference itself, Glasgow again provided a fine place to stroll and explore. Here are a few snapshots of this wonderful city, snatched in between LibDem meetings. Scroll down to view.

york street_tm crop

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Posted in News | Tagged and | 6 Comments
Paul Walter

Mental health – an issue whose time came at Glasgow

By Paul Walter | Thu 9th October 2014 - 8:54 am

Nick clegg and norman lamb at scottish action mental health photo by dave radcliffe from the liberal democrats flickr streamBased on my circumambulation of the Glasgow conference corridors, there were three highlights concerning mental health:

1. Oxford West and Abingdon conference representative, Matthew Sumption made his maiden speech in the pre-manifesto debate. He’s currently taking time out from university study. But, my goodness me, what a brave young man he is. He basically stood up and said that he is undergoing treatment for mental illness.

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , , and | 5 Comments
Paul Walter

Disco as you’ve never seen it before….

By Paul Walter | Sun 5th October 2014 - 4:43 pm

Disco 2014Last night, saw the Liberal Democrat Disco, organised at conference by Cambridge local party to raise funds for its general election campaign.

It was a great night with a packed hall featuring the “Battle of the LibDem deejays”.

Alistair Carmichael was cheered the loudest, thus winning the accolade of “deejay of the night”. His set included Lulu’s “Shout” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”. He finished on a serious note, explaining that we had passed over midnight into the Sabbath. Coming from the islands of Scotland (where they are very serious about these things), Alistair felt there should be one song of religious observance. He therefore played “YMCA”.

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Paul Walter

Liberal Democrat voice awards 2014 – the results

By Paul Walter | Sun 5th October 2014 - 3:24 pm

Ldv awards 2014We surpassed ourselves at our annual awards last night. Every year there is some typically Liberal Democrat random “feature” of the ceremony. Last night’s event was no exception.

It’s a very long story involving great preparation and, then, the intervention of fate in the shape of a locked hotel room, several mobile phones on voicemail, mad dashes around the conference complex, rolled up old newspapers and a large shopping bag.

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Paul Walter

Nick Clegg arrives at conference

By Paul Walter | Sat 4th October 2014 - 1:54 pm

Nick Clegg Glasgow conference by Paul Walter 2014

My photo here shows Nick Clegg arriving at the conference in Glasgow at noon today. He chats briefly with the four Presidential candidates, from left to right: Sal Brinton, Linda Jack, Liz Lynne and Daisy Cooper. The four candidates were hot foot from the first Presidential hustings of the conference, which was packed.

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