Author Archives: the founding editor

Harlow party ‘a joke’, laughs Tory blogger

PARLIAMENTARY hopeful Robert Halfon has reacted furiously after Harlow Conservatives were labelled “a joke” – by a senior Tory.

Mr Halfon branded Tottenham Conservatives chairman Justin Hinchcliffe a “complete idiot” for publishing the jibes on his Hunter and Shooter internet blog.

And that’s the Harlow Star calling him a senior Tory this time, not us…

Stop e-mailing me it – I don’t do polls. Not even today.

Last week, Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins wrote “This lamentable party” (that’s us he’s talking about there) “cannot even master the electoral system to which it has hitched its wagon. Surely it’s time to disband.”

Today Steve Webb MP penned a reply, which you can find here. “Decision-making needs to come out of Westminster and closer to the people”, is how the Guardian sums up his piece.

Steve is, as ever, keen to get member feedback – you can respond on his blog here.

Commentors from other parties who want to participate in a meaningful / vaguely intelligent discussion are welcome.  Commentors from other parties who couldn’t find their arse with a map will have their comments removed at the first available opportunity. Sorry folks, I gave you a really really long leash, but some of you got to the end of it.

(Lib Dems who can’t find their arse with a map are extremely rare, have many other positive qualities to compensate, and remain welcome).

Toby Philpott resigned as the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Folkestone & Hythe Constituency on Sunday.

Shepway Local Party Chair, Tim Prater, commented:

“Toby made a real contribution to our campaigning over the last few months. Just 10 days ago, the Liberal Democrats took control of Folkestone Town Council, and also form the largest opposition group on Shepway District Council.

“We accept his decision and understand how hard a choice it must have been to make. We wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Shepway Liberal Democrats are expecting to wait at least

…

Speaking at a North London fundraising event, Nick Clegg has called for the party to develop a “narrative” to accompany its policies.

Duncan Borrowman and Jonathan Fryer have more.

One would presume the two logical places to start are Ming Campbell’s first major conference speech, in which he called for the Liberal Democrats to create a country that is “free, fair, and green” and the preamble to the constitution.

How you turn that in to a narrative though, I can’t say. How does one recognise a narrative when you see it?

For the first time ever, Edinburgh council has a Liberal Democrat leader.

The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have formed a coalition to seize control of Edinburgh City Council, despite being at loggerheads over the return of trams. The move has stunned Labour, which has run Edinburgh for the last 23 years.

The red roses may be in full bloom at the City Chambers, but Labour’s relationship with the Lib Dems has officially withered.  Today the Liberal Democrat group leader sat down with her counterpart from the SNP and signed a coalition agreement.

More, including a video report, here.

Liberal Democrats
Embargo: Immediate, Thursday 10th May 2007

GOVERNMENT HAS BROKEN LAW TO BURY BAD NEWS ON ID CARDS – CLEGG

The Government was today accused of breaking the law in an attempt to bury bad news after waiting until the day of Tony Blair’s resignation to publish a report on ID cards that reveals the cost of the project has gone up by £640m since October

The Government had previously refused to publish the report despite the fact that it was breaking the law by doing so.

Section 37 of The Identity Cards Act says that a report on the costs of ID Cards …

Having earlier ruled out a coalition with the Labour, the Lib Dems have now also ruled out going in to government with the SNP.

The Scottish Lib Dems have ruled out doing a deal with Labour to prop up a Labour executive in Scotland.

Well done to everyone involved in the 2007 elections – now the polls have closed, we sit back and await the results. While we wait, tell us your experiences on the ground – whether you want to jump for joy at your great local campign, or bemoan an election campaign that went off the rails. The good and the bad, share your experience of the 2007 vote in the comments box below.

The makers of Channel 4 documentary the Great Global Warming Swindle, which handed a comfort blanket to all those people who wanted to kid themselves that Global Warming wasn’t really happening, are about to cash in on their propaganda prog by bringing out their programme – presumably including the graphs that had to be corrected after it was first broadcast – on DVD.

So I can’t think of a better time to flag up this document, produced by my former colleagues at the UK’s national science academy The Royal Society. It paints an accurate picture …

Best wishes to Peter Golden and Mark Morris, and any other Lib Dem London Marathon runners!

I’d just like to repeat this message that Lib Dem Voice needs someone to take over the running of it. There’s a great community of regular users here – anyone want to step up? If someone wants to do a trial run – see how they get on, with the option of giving it back at the end if they don’t like it, I’m happy to consider that.

If you’re a Lib Dem running in the London marathon, please get in touch either by e-mail to [email protected] or in the comments below, particularly if you have an online fundraising site which we can link to to help promote your chosen charity.

I am going to write a review of the GLA candidates’ websites. So far I know of six – if you know a candidate has a website, it would be helpful if you could e-mail me the address to [email protected] just so I don’t miss anyone! The website must contain something GLA selection specific in order to qualify.

Congratulations to Simon Hughes MP who has been unanimously reselected to fight North Southwark & Bermondsey, and a hat-tip to Will Howells for the info.

Apologies for being behind on selections, and e-mails in general. I will catch up soon!

Get the pigeon? Is it time to ditch Libby, the Lib Dem Bird of Liberty logo?

Yes!: 23% (54)
No!: 77% (179)

Total Votes : 233

There you go then, a clear minority in favour of ditching Libby. Only the yes vote can beat the no vote here. It’s a two-horse, no-bird race.

Oh all right then, keep the bird!