Author Archives: Stephen Tall

Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall. He writes a fortnightly column for ConservativeHome and 'The Underdog' column for Total Politics magazine. He edited the 2013 publication, The Coalition and Beyond: Liberal Reforms for the Decade Ahead, and is a Research Associate for the liberal think-tank CentreForum. He was awarded the inaugural Lib Dem ‘Blogger of the Year’ prize in 2006, was a councillor for eight years in Oxford, including a year as Deputy Lord Mayor, and appears frequently in the media in person, in print and online. Stephen combines his political interests with his professional life as Development Director for the Education Endowment Foundation, though writes here in a personal capacity.
Stephen Tall

Lib Dem donation figures in full (Q3, 2011)

By Stephen Tall | Wed 30th November 2011 - 12:57 pm

The Electoral Commission has this past week published the latest donation and borrowing figures for the political parties, showing that the Lib Dems raised £1,199,623 between July and September this year.

(At the foot of this post is the full breakdown of donations (excluding public funds) received by quarter since 2005, and annually between 2001 and 2004.)

By comparison, the party raised £571,715 in the third quarter of 2006 (the equivalent stage of the parliamentary cycle), suggesting a far more sustainable level of fundraising success is now being achieved; although the party has been hit very hard since its move …

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dem Bloggers’ Christmas stocking fillers… Part III

By Stephen Tall | Sat 26th November 2011 - 4:45 pm

What presents are you looking forward to giving or receiving this year? That’s the question LDV posed to a group of Lib Dem bloggers. All this week we’re revealing what they told us, with link-throughs to Amazon for your shopping convenience (and ‘cos the referral fees help support LibDemVoice: so get clicking and ordering). Part I is available here, and Part II here. In part three, our third trio of bloggers – Paul Walter, Jennie Rigg, and Richard Flowers – give us the low-down on their Xmas faves…

Paul Walter

iPad 2 (or any other tablet)
It allows a

…

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Stephen Tall

LDVideo: Jeremy Browne’s pledge to Sam Fox: I’ll raise issue of tiger farms with Chinese government

By Stephen Tall | Thu 24th November 2011 - 7:45 am

As the BBC reports:

The former model and singer Sam Fox challenged foreign office minster Jeremy Browne on the Daily Politics about tiger farms in China which she wants to see closed. Mr Browne told her that he would raise the matter with the Chinese. Fewer than 3,500 tigers remain in the wild around the world.

You can watch the exchange below:

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dem Bloggers’ Christmas stocking fillers… Part II

By Stephen Tall | Wed 23rd November 2011 - 7:45 pm

What presents are you looking forward to giving or receiving this year? That’s the question LDV posed to a group of Lib Dem bloggers. All this week we’re revealing what they told us, with link-throughs to Amazon for your shopping convenience (and ‘cos the referral fees help support LibDemVoice: so get clicking and ordering). Part I is available here. In part two, our second trio of bloggers – Caron Lindsay, Andrew Hickey and Mark Valladares – give us the low-down on their Xmas faves…

Caron Lindsay

Elisabeth Sladen: The Autobiography
There’s always been an affinity between Lib Dems and Doctor

…

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dems back High Pay Commission’s proposals to curb excessive executive salaries

By Stephen Tall | Wed 23rd November 2011 - 8:15 am

The High Pay Commission, an independent inquiry into top pay in the private sector, published its final report yesterday. Here’s how The Guardian reports its key conclusions:

The commission sets out 12 recommendations to tackle high pay. The main reforms include:

• Greater transparency in the calculation of executive pay to end the “closed shop” on pay decisions. At present, many people do not understand until it is too late how a vast salary – often composed of as many as seven different elements – is worked out.
• Putting employees on remuneration committees, a move included in the government’s own

…

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Stephen Tall

Clegg and Farron on party funding: yes to action now, no to more taxpayer contributions

By Stephen Tall | Wed 23rd November 2011 - 6:20 am

Sir Christopher Kelly’s report for Parliament’s Committee on Standards in Public Life was published yesterday, Political Party Finance – Ending the big donor culture: you can read it and the evidence considered by the inquiry here.

Here are the main proposals:

  • A cap of £10,000-a-year on donations from any individual or organisation — including trade unions — to any political party with at least two MPs or two representatives at the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies. Trade union affiliation fees could be counted as a collection of small individual payments, but only if members are required to

    • …

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    Stephen Tall

    Lib Dem Bloggers’ Christmas stocking fillers… Part I

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 21st November 2011 - 6:55 pm

    What presents are you looking forward to giving or receiving this year? That’s the question LDV posed to a group of Lib Dem bloggers. All this week we’re revealing what they told us, with link-throughs to Amazon for your shopping convenience (and ‘cos the referral fees help support LibDemVoice: so get clicking and ordering). In part one, our first trio of bloggers – Nick Thornsby, Linda Jack and Duncan Stott – give us the low-down on their Xmas faves…

    Nick Thornsby

    1) Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
    Everything written by Hitchens (or Hitch as he’s known to his friends) is a joy

    …

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    Stephen Tall

    Southwark Lib Dems, Ministry of Sound, Oakmayne, and the BBC: the story continues…

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 21st November 2011 - 12:55 pm

    A couple of weeks ago I reported here on the controversy surrounding a planning application in Southwark, objected to by the Ministry of Sound, a donor to the local Lib Dems.

    The BBC’s coverage of the story felt partial, fixated on alleging ‘no smoke without fire’ political sleaze, failing to question whether they were being played by property developers looking to overturn a decision they didn’t like.

    The Corporation has now returned to the story: Lib Dems warned over Ministry of Sound donations. (Ironically the article’s by Ed Davey. I assume not that one.)

    This is the over-hyped headline …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 4 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Spain turns to the right – but are the voters rejecting ‘the left’ or incumbents?

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 21st November 2011 - 8:00 am

    As the polls had predicted, Spain has a new government: Rajoy’s right-wing Partido Popular (PP) defeated Zapatero’s left-of-centre Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE). The only surprise was the large margin of victory, 16%, the worst defeat for Spain’s socialists in their electoral history.

    So yet another right-wing government takes power in a European nation. On the face of it, it seems almost perverse that at a time when confidence in the deregulated capitalist system associated with the right is at its lowest ebb that those parties which champion it are winning elections. As I noted here on LibDemVoice back in …

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    Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged , , , , , and | 9 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    LDV Caption Competition | Jeremy Browne “it’s not always this black-and-white” Edition

    By Stephen Tall | Sun 20th November 2011 - 5:45 pm

    There’s no prize at stake – just the opportunity to prove you’re wittier than any other LDV reader…


    (Hat-tip to ChinaDaily.com.)

    Here’s Lib Dem foreign minister Jeremy Browne enjoying a bite to eat with one of two pandas on their way from Bifengxia Yaan Panda Base in China to Edinburgh Zoo. What do you think might be being said or thought by those pictured?

    And the winner of our last caption comp is…

    Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, John Hemming “you’ll have had your tea” Edition.

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    Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged and | 30 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    And in other Lib Dem news…

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 19th November 2011 - 6:35 pm

    A quick round-up of four Lib Dem stories not otherwise covered here on Lib Dem Voice this week…

    Lib Dem revolt on solar subsidies crackdown…

    The Guardian splashes on how ‘Liberal Democrat councillors and MPs are preparing to revolt over the coalition government’s crackdown on solar subsidies, as a growing number have been greeted with stiff opposition from outraged householders and companies fearing swingeing job cuts.’ Lucy Care wrote about this topic here on LDV earlier this month.

    Rochdale Lib Dem defects to Tories…

    The Manchester Evening News reports: ‘Coun Jean Ashworth, who represents Smallbridge and Firgrove, resigned as a Lib …

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    Posted in News | 3 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Clegg orders fresh review of extradition laws headed by Ming

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 19th November 2011 - 4:15 pm

    It’s two-and-a-half years since Nick Clegg as Lib Dem leader publicly stood up on behalf of Gary McKinnon, a computer hacker wanted to by the US authorities under controversial extradition laws:

    The Americans are hell-bent on extradition and making an example of him. He was told if he sat back, pleaded guilty and said nothing about his extradition, he could end up doing a shorter sentence in a British prison. But because he exercised his basic right to challenge his extradition, he’s now classed as a terrorist. … No fewer than three Labour home secretaries have played their part in

    …

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    Stephen Tall

    LDVideo: Nick Clegg – “It is time we knew whether the Labour party can think for itself.”

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 19th November 2011 - 2:25 pm

    Lib Dem Voice contributor Paul Walter noted here Nick Clegg’s strong response in this week’s Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions to the Labour party’s aim of protecting its cosy financial relationship with the trade unions — but for those who missed it here’s that exchange in full:

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    Posted in Parliament and YouTube | Tagged , , and | 10 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    In praise of Duwayne Brooks

    By Stephen Tall | Fri 18th November 2011 - 7:05 am

    Many Lib Dems will know Duwayne Brooks as a dedicated Lib Dem, a councillor in Lewisham and the party’s lead member on the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Group. To most of the public, though, he is better known as the best friend of Stephen Lawrence, whose murder was the subject of the Macpherson report into London’s Metropolitan Police.

    And it is that night on 22 April 1993 which Duwayne has once again been forced to re-live this week, as was widely reported in the media yesterday. …

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    Stephen Tall

    Clegg: the Coalition’s priorities must be “jobs and growth, jobs and growth”

    By Stephen Tall | Thu 17th November 2011 - 8:10 am

    The intertwined topics of the economy and Europe has continued to dominate the political scene this week. But as Europhobic Tories continue to froth at the thought of England’s the UK’s retreat from its neighbours, Nick Clegg has maintained a decidedly mainstream approach, and attempted to shift the focus back from constitutional niceties to economic reality. Here’s how The Guardian reports Nick’s words:

    Nick Clegg has clashed with David Cameron over Europe as he warned that only “populists, chauvinists and demagogues” would gain from protracted negotiations on treaty change. The Liberal Democrat deputy hit out the day after Cameron used

    …

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    Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged and | 18 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    LDVideo: King trumped by Baroness

    By Stephen Tall | Thu 17th November 2011 - 7:20 am

    For those who’ve not yet seen it, here for your enjoyment is Baroness Trumpington’s candidly digital response to her Tory colleague Lord King’s accidentally ungallant reference to “the survivors of World War II started to look pretty old”:


    (Also available to watch on the BBC site here.)

    ‘Who is Baroness Trumpington?’, you ask. The Telegraph fills us in:

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    Posted in YouTube | Tagged and | 2 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    How best to boost growth? Coalition debate sees Tories argue for supply-side reforms, Lib Dems pushing for new ‘pension infrastructure fund’

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 15th November 2011 - 7:35 am

    As the OECD forecasts a sharp slowdown in global growth, the Coalition is re-examining old and new ideas to boost the economy here in the UK. And, judging by this report in The Guardian, the likely approach illustrates the impact of Lib Dem thinking within government…

    The Coalition choice: Tory supply-side reforms OR…

    One area that has been looked at to boost growth is supply-side reforms to free up the labour market, such as those championed by Conservative adviser Adrian Beecroft. The ‘Beecroft Report’ has urged radical reform, most controversially advocating the government to stimulate private industry to hire workers …

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    Stephen Tall

    And in other news…

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 12th November 2011 - 7:10 pm

    A quick round-up of four Lib Dem stories not otherwise covered here on Lib Dem Voice this week…

  • Lorely Burt MP has welcomed the announcement by Jaguar Land Rover that it will create 1,000 new jobs in her Solihull constituency: “This is exactly the sort of private sector growth that the Coalition are looking for and have been supporting through schemes such as the Regional Growth Fund.” Full story here.
  • The party has seen three separate defections this week…
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    Stephen Tall

    Southwark Lib Dems face questions over Ministry of Sound donations: 3 important points to consider

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 8th November 2011 - 1:30 pm

    Southwark Lib Dem councillors and local MP Simon Hughes have been in the spotlight the past 24 hours following their decisio to oppose a planning application objected to by the Ministry of Sound, a prominent donor to the party. BBC News reports:

    Political donations to the Liberal Democrats from a nightclub chain totalling almost £80,000 went undeclared as its councillors discussed a tower block development opposed by the firm, BBC London has learned.

    The Ministry of Sound, in Elephant and Castle, south London, was fighting to prevent developer Oakmayne building a residential tower block nearby. The club feared noise complaints from

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    “We need to up our game.” As a Liberal Democrat, I endorse this message.

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 7th November 2011 - 7:55 am

    The Independent this weekend carried a brief article reporting that Nick Clegg’s aides are urging the party’s ministers to be more ‘out and proud’ of the Lib Dems’ successes:

    Nick Clegg’s ministers have been told to go on TV and declare proudly “I’m a Liberal Democrat” in an effort to improve the party’s poll ratings. Party strategists are demanding better “messaging” from politicians. It includes using the phrase “as a Liberal Democrat …” at every opportunity, and regularly uttering the word “coalition”, which research finds is popular with voters.

    Aides to the Deputy Prime Minister fear too many low-profile Lib Dems

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged and | 25 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Laws advises Clegg: oppose Tories’ “arbitrary and vindictive” benefits cuts

    By Stephen Tall | Sun 6th November 2011 - 1:10 pm

    The Financial Times this weekend reported what it labelled ‘one of the fiercest and most fascinating political battles of the year’ — a battle which looks set to pitch David Laws and Nick Clegg against George Osborne and the Labour leadership.

    The issue concerns the amount by which the Coalition should increase benefits: based on September’s inflation figure, this should be 5.2%. The Tories are pushing for a below-inflation settlement, but Mr Laws — co-editor of The Orange Book, and firmly identified as an economic liberal — is urging the Lib Dems to reject such a move:

    Mr Laws, considered

    …

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    Stephen Tall

    LDV Caption Competition | John Hemming “you’ll have had your tea” Edition

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 5th November 2011 - 11:05 am

    There’s no prize at stake – just the opportunity to prove you’re wittier than any other LDV reader…


    (Hat-tip to international development action group Tea Time for Change.)

    Here’s Lib Dem MP for Birmingham Yardley John Hemming enjoying a cuppa a in a good cause. What do you think might be being said or thought by those pictured?

    And the winner of our last caption comp is…

    Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, Liam Fox “was he pushed?” Edition.

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    Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged | 6 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Willie Rennie apologises for ‘unintentional offence’ of Lib Dems’ Alex Salmond cartoon

    By Stephen Tall | Thu 3rd November 2011 - 7:15 am

    Some embarrassment for Willie Rennie, MSP and leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, this week following the publication by party staff of a cartoon satirising First Minister Alex Salmond’s hailing of the similarities between Scotland and Qatar:

    The Stv website takes up the story:

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    Posted in Scotland | Tagged , , and | 16 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Should councils be able to cap the number of second and holiday homes in their area?

    By Stephen Tall | Wed 2nd November 2011 - 8:55 am

    Earlier this week, the Lib Dems’ Communities and Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell wrote here on LibDemVoice about the Coalition’s measures to increase councils’ powers to cut tax relief to those with second homes:

    … our plans to allow local authorities to charge an Empty Homes Premium – up to an extra 50% of council tax – on any property that has been vacant for two years or more. Crucially, we are retaining the exemptions for properties empty as a result of the death of an owner, or if the owner has moved into hospital or to give or

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 7 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    LDV Caption Competition | Liam Fox “was he pushed?” Edition

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 15th October 2011 - 6:45 pm

    There’s no prize at stake – just the opportunity to prove you’re wittier than any other LDV reader…


    (Hat-tip to @RichardOsley.)

    Here’s former Defence Secretary Liam Fox and colleague, joined stage left by a mystery hand. What do you think they might be saying or thinking?

    And the winner of our last caption comp is…

    Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, Julian Huppert “it’s all a bit of a blur” Edition.

    The winner, according to The Voice’s judging panel of one, was this one by Neil McGovern, with …

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    Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged , , and | 19 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Huhne pledges to do ‘the right thing’ as he commits to nuclear power

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 15th October 2011 - 1:30 pm

    This week saw Lib Dem energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne make a major speech to the Royal Society on the future of nuclear power, with the Coalition committed to a series of new reactors adjacent to existing sites.

    The Coalition’s policy has long been trailed — a year ago, Chris put forward his views here on LibDemVoice.org, ‘Myth-busting: what the Coalition’s plans for nuclear energy really mean’. Here Chris acknowledged his shift from opposition to nuclear power to support conditional on no public subsidy — a shift which has majority support from Lib Dem members, at …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , and | 15 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    New constituency boundaries in Scotland: the impact on the Lib Dems

    By Stephen Tall | Fri 14th October 2011 - 7:20 am

    Last month it was the turn of English MPs to look nervously at the proposals of the Boundary Commission’s re-drawing of constituencies — Scotland’s turn has now come, with its national Boundary Commission yesterday publishing its proposals for public consultation.

    The Financial Times has undertaken a quick reccy to work out what it might mean:

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    Posted in News and Scotland | Tagged , , and | 15 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    EXCLUSIVE: How party members rate the performances of leading Lib Dems

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 4th October 2011 - 7:45 am

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 550 party members responded, and we’re continuing to publish the full results.

    Today we focus on the performances of the leading lights of the Liberal Democrats — those of our MPs in the cabinet, those occupying ministerial positions, and other leading Lib Dems:

    LDV asked: How would you rate the performances of the following leading Liberal Democrats and government ministers?

    Full results are published below, but here’s three key lists for those who want to cut to the chase… (with April 2011 ratings in brackets)

    Top 5 Lib Dem performers in the Government:

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    Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged | 6 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Lib Dem members’ views on the European Union (more divided than you might expect)

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 3rd October 2011 - 7:55 am

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 550 party members responded, and we’ve been publishing the full results.

    85% back EU membership… but 51% reject move to ever closer union

    LDV asked: Which of the following options would be your ideal future for the UK and the European Union?

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    Posted in Europe / International and LDV Members poll | Tagged | 10 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    What Lib Dem members think about the Libya military intervention and its aftermath

    By Stephen Tall | Sun 2nd October 2011 - 6:50 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 550 party members responded, and we’re continuing to publish the full results.

    Lib Dem members backed Libya intervention… and two-thirds are optimistic for country’s future

    LDV asked: Do you think Britain, France, the US and other countries were right or wrong to take military action in Libya?

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    Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged and | 3 Comments
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