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

What Lib Dem members think about the Coalition’s spending and welfare cuts

By Stephen Tall | Sun 2nd October 2011 - 2:45 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’ve been publishing the results in recent days.

Party members back Coalition spending cuts and welfare cuts by 2:1 majorities

LDV asked: Do you think the government has on the whole made the right decisions or the wrong decisions about where spending cuts should be made?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged and | 5 Comments
Stephen Tall

What do the Lib Dems need from the party’s next Chief Executive?

By Stephen Tall | Sat 1st October 2011 - 3:45 pm

As readers of Liberal Democrat News — and the party’s website — will know the Lib Dem are searching for a new chief executive to succeed Chris Fox. Here’s the job ad:

The Liberal Democrat Party is appointing a new Chief Executive.
Liberal Democrat Headquarters, London, SW1

The Chief Executive leads the Party administration and directs the human, financial and administrative resources of the Party – both its senior professional team and its membership and supporter base. He or she will bring energy and outstanding leadership to this crucial job. The post is based in the Party’s new headquarters in the

…

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged , and | 10 Comments
Stephen Tall

Labour’s odd messaging: how the party was for reversing Coalition cuts before it was against them

By Stephen Tall | Tue 27th September 2011 - 9:15 am

Mark Pack has already highlighted the pitfalls of political opponents commentating on other parties’ conferences. And he’s right of course. But it didn’t stop him, so I won’t let it stop me…

I am genuinely puzzled by Labour’s key messages based on the first two days of their conference. Day 1 kicked off with the Big Announcment by Ed Miliband that Labour is now committed to doubling tuition fees (dressed up as only The Observer could as Labour committing to ‘slashing’ fees).

Regardless of what you think about the policy, and I think I’ve made my views clear …

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dem members back Coalition on economy – but real worries about impact on public services

By Stephen Tall | Mon 26th September 2011 - 4:05 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

Large majority of Lib Dems back the Coalition’s economic policies…

LDV asked: On balance, do you agree or disagree with this statement: “In the long term, this government’s policies will improve the state of Britain’s economy”?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | 2 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo | Nick Clegg speaking Dutch, Spanish and German

By Stephen Tall | Mon 26th September 2011 - 7:25 am

Today, 26th September, is the European Day of Languages. But you knew that, of course.

At the initiative of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September. Throughout Europe, 800 million Europeans represented in the Council of Europe’s 47 member states are encouraged to learn more languages, at any age, in and out of school. Being convinced that linguistic diversity is a tool for achieving greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of our continent, the Council of Europe promotes plurilingualism in the whole of Europe.

Nick Clegg is rare in being a British polyglot politician, an internationalist of Russian and Dutch descent who is fluent in six languages. And here’s the video proof…

Nick speaking fluent Dutch (from 1:43):


(Also available on YouTube here.)

Nick speaking fluent Spanish:

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Posted in YouTube | Tagged | 9 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDV Caption Competition | Julian Huppert “it’s all a bit of a blur” Edition

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th September 2011 - 4:55 pm

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

Here’s rising star Dr Julian Huppert, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, flanked by Reading councillor Daisy Benson and LibDemVoice’s own Mark Pack at a conference fringe event. 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, Hugh Grant and Nick Clegg “one for the family album” Edition.

The winner, according to The Voice’s judging …

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Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged , , , and | 14 Comments
Stephen Tall

£6k versus £9k tuition fees: the real impact in pictures

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th September 2011 - 12:35 pm

Today’s announcement by Ed Miliband that Labour would double, not treble, tuition fees from the current £3k pa has prompted much vigorous discussion already. But what would be the actual impact for different income groups of the change in policy?

To find out, I fed different figures into Martin Lewis’s Student Finance Calculator. I made one assumption: that all students would need to take out the maximum maintenance loan to live on while studying. Here’s what the figures show…

Who pays nothing?

With fees at £6k…

… anyone whose salary doesn’t exceed £15,600 in today’s money.

With fees at £9k…

… anyone whose salary doesn’t exceed £15,600 in today’s money.

What if you earn the national average wage?

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Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 26 Comments
Stephen Tall

Ed Miliband on tuition fees: £6k not £9k. The reaction so far…

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th September 2011 - 11:10 am

Rejoice! Rejoice! Labour has a policy.

Party leader Ed Miliband has vowed that, if Labour were in government now, they would double tuition fees to £6k from the current £3k level set by the last Labour government with immediate effect. In other words, they would undercut the Coalition’s £9k fees by £3k.

Here are some early thoughts:

1) The principle of cutting fees from £9k to £6k

The reality is the cut from £9k to £6k makes no difference to the monthly repayments that poorer students will repay once they’ve graduated and earning more than £21k.

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 34 Comments
Stephen Tall

Revealed: What Lib Dem members think of Ed Miliband and David Cameron

By Stephen Tall | Sat 24th September 2011 - 7:45 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

Ed Miliband’s leadership gets massive thumbs-down from Lib Dem members

LDV asked: Do you think Ed Miliband is doing well or badly as leader of the Labour party?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged and | 1 Comment
Stephen Tall

What Lib Dem members think about ‘free schools’ and who should have most power

By Stephen Tall | Fri 23rd September 2011 - 3:25 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

42% of Lib Dem members reject ‘free schools’

LDV asked: “Free Schools” are new state schools set up by parents, teachers or voluntary groups which are outside the control of local authorities. Which of the following statements best reflects your views on free schools?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged , and | 10 Comments
Stephen Tall

Memo to LabourList’s Paul Richards… Feel free to keep obsessing. It’ll lose you the next election.

By Stephen Tall | Fri 23rd September 2011 - 7:40 am

I think it’s safe to assume that LabourList’s Paul Richards is not Nick Clegg’s greatest fan.

What prompts me to leap to this conclusion? Well, I guess if you headline your article profiling the Lib Dem leader ‘A snivelling, venal, ruthless social climber’ you’re making some kind of statement.

I’d highly recommend reading Paul’s post in full if only to gain an appreciation of the impotent fury, this red mist, which is clouding the Labour party’s judgment. Here’s a flavour:

Some make the mistake of saying that the reason why Clegg so naturally fits into a Tory government is because he

…

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 20 Comments
Stephen Tall

Why was this Lib Dem conference cheerful? Simple: because it mattered.

By Stephen Tall | Thu 22nd September 2011 - 9:20 pm

The Economist’s pseudonymous political commentator Bagehot devotes his column this week to the Liberal Democrats, analysing the mood of serenity which prevailed at this year’s party conference to the surprise (and chagrin) of the media.

He notes that activists were cheered by the anti-Tory rhetoric that pervaded speeches by Tim Farron, Chris Huhne and Vince Cable, believing this differentiation will in turn demonstrate to the electorate that the party is punching above its weight — that Nick Clegg is, in the words of Tory MP Nadine Dorries, “the boss”.

Many Lib Dems argue that Tory-bashing is good politics, and long overdue. It is true that differentiation does have a strategic aim: persuading voters that the Lib Dems are not powerless puppets in a Tory government. But those same Lib Dems underestimate the emotional temptations to which they are giving way.

The Lib Dems think it unfair that they are hated. They think (rightly) that inconclusive election results and a mood of national crisis made joining the Tories in the coalition last year the responsible thing to do.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 4 Comments
Stephen Tall

Lib Dem Voice survey shows members narrowly oppose Coalition’s NHS reforms

By Stephen Tall | Thu 22nd September 2011 - 1:55 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

Lib Dem members vote 43% to 37% against Coalition’s NHS reforms

LDV asked: The Health and Social Care Bill which will implement radical reforms to the NHS was passed on 6 September. The Bill was changed significantly to reflect Lib Dem policy proposals passed at the Spring conference. Critics say the changes do not go far enough to address concerns that the Bill will lead to creeping privatisation of the NHS. The Bill’s supporters say that the reforms will introduce more patient choice and improve healthcare. From what you have read or heard about these plans, do you support or oppose the Bill overall?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged and | 8 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo at Conference | CK on Nick, the DPM’s last year, and party leadership contest rules explained

By Stephen Tall | Thu 22nd September 2011 - 7:55 am

Were you at Birmingham and so missed out on how the Lib Dem conference was reported? Not at Birmingham and so missed out on seeing Lib Dem MPs and government ministers up close and personal? We hope these videos will help (re-)connect you…

Charles Kennedy on Nick Clegg


(Available on the BBC website here.)

Nick Clegg’s highlights over the last 12 months

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Posted in YouTube | Tagged and | 3 Comments
Stephen Tall

What Lib Dem bloggers and tweeters have said about Nick’s speech

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st September 2011 - 5:59 pm

There’s always a bit of an irony with blogging and party conferences — at the time when the media are most looking for reaction from activists to the leader’s speech most of them are hot-footing it to the train station to return to their normal lives outside the conference bubble.

However, a few Lib Dems have had chance to put finger to keyboard in response to Nick Clegg’s address to close the Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham. Here are those I’ve spotted so far on the Aggregator…

…

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Posted in Conference | Tagged and | 16 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDV survey shows recovery in Lib Dem members’ approval ratings for Coalition’s record

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st September 2011 - 3:50 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

Lib Dem members’ approval of Coalition recovers

LDV asked: Do you approve or disapprove of the Coalition Government’s record to date?

  • 66% – Approve
  • 25% – Disapprove
  • 9% – Don’t know

That 66%/25% split gives a net approval rating of +41% . We’ve been tracking this question since the formation of the Coalition, so we can see how this result has …

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Posted in LDV Members poll | 3 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo at Conference | Farron on ‘Tory bashing’, Lamb on NHS reforms, and Ming on the Euro

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st September 2011 - 10:15 am

At Birmingham and so missing out on how the Lib Dem conference is being reported? Not at Birmingham and so missing out on seeing Lib Dem MPs and government ministers up close and personal? We hope these videos will help re-connect you…

Tim Farron’s Tory-bashing


(Available on the BBC website here.)

Norman Lamb on NHS changes

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Posted in YouTube | Tagged , and | 3 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo at Conference | A Chris Huhne double-bill

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st September 2011 - 7:55 am

At Birmingham and so missing out on how the Lib Dem conference is being reported? Not at Birmingham and so missing out on seeing Lib Dem MPs and government ministers up close and personal? We hope these videos will help re-connect you…

It was Lib Dem energy secretary Chris Huhne’s day in the limelight yesterday, with his speech to the party’s Birmingham conference generating acres of coverage. Here’s how the BBC reported it.

Chris Huhne on fuel poverty and energy prices


(Available on the BBC website here.)

Huhne inspects energy efficient house

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Stephen Tall

What is the Lib Dem position on ‘The Big Society’?

By Stephen Tall | Tue 20th September 2011 - 3:25 pm

I was called by a colleague I know through my day-job last week: ‘What is the Lib Dem position on charitable giving?’ she asked. Beyond a bland ‘We’re in favour of it,’ I found myself a bit stuck for an answer.

Initially I put it down to my ignorance, and decided I should do some research, call a few people up, and find out something a bit more helpful, a bit more substantive. But coincidentally that day I happened to read this article — How can charities exert an influence on Lib Dem policies? — in Third Sector.

And it …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 3 Comments
Stephen Tall

Polling the Lib Dems: the good, the bad, and the inbetween

By Stephen Tall | Tue 20th September 2011 - 10:25 am

‘Less anger, but less clarity’ is how UK Polling Report’s Anthony Wells characterises the latest YouGov polling looking at the public’s attitudes to the Lib Dems. It’s interesting to read through the full data, available here, especially as the responses are directly comparable with a year ago, before the Lib Dems’ U-turn on tuition fees sent the party spiralling downwards in the polls.

The bad news

  • Nick Clegg’s popularity has taken a hit: from a net positive of +8% a year ago, to a net negative of -29% today. Worth noting, however, that this is primarily due to Nick’s toxicity with Labour supporters, with whom he has a rating of an astonishing -79%! Both Lib Dem (+51%) and Tory (+17%) supporters have net positive views of the Lib Dem leader.
  • There is greater opposition to the Coalition than a year ago. In September 2010, 43% supported it, while 46% opposed it (net -3%): today the split is 34%/57% (net -13%). Interestingly, among the group identified as ‘lost Lib Dem voters’ — ie, those who voted for the party in 2010 but no longer would — 29% support the Coalition, while 63% oppose it.
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Posted in Op-eds and Polls | 22 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo at Conference | Clegg & Cable on the economy; Andrew Neil’s take on the conference; and the power of Lib Dem conference reps

By Stephen Tall | Tue 20th September 2011 - 7:10 am

At Birmingham and so missing out on how the Lib Dem conference is being reported? Not at Birmingham and so missing out on seeing Lib Dem MPs and government ministers up close and personal? We hope these videos will help re-connect you…

Clegg welcomes Jaguar jobs boost; Cable warns of economic equivalent of war


(Available on the BBC website here.)

Andrew Neil’s Liberal Democrat conference report

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Stephen Tall

LDVideo at Conference | Hugh Grant, Nick Clegg and Party Animals

By Stephen Tall | Mon 19th September 2011 - 10:45 am

At Birmingham and so missing out on how the Lib Dem conference is being reported? Not at Birmingham and so missing out on seeing Lib Dem MPs and government ministers up close and personal? We hope these videos will help re-connect you…

Hugh Grant presses phone hacking issue at Lib Dem conference


(Available on the BBC website here.)

Don’t forget our LDV caption competition — Nick Clegg meets Hugh Grant — is still open for entries…

Nick Clegg: Immoral to drop 50p tax

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Stephen Tall

LDV Caption Competition | Hugh Grant and Nick Clegg “one for the family album” edition

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th September 2011 - 6:45 pm

So Hugh Grant dropped into the Lib Dem conference in Birmingham today.

He met with Nick Clegg and then addressed the Social Liberal Forum’s fringe event on the issue of phone-hacking, privacy and libel. He wasn’t there to endorse the party, but as the BBC reports here Hugh did give us credit for our long-standing opposition to the murky practices of the tabloids:

“You, more than any of the other parties, have a good bill of health. You have never been in bed with these scumbags.”

Here’s the moment Nick met Hugh (I think it’s that way round rather than Hugh met Nick, yes?)… and as it’s been a while since our last LDV caption competition, what better moment for a reprise? Here you go then…

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Posted in Caption Comp and Conference | Tagged , and | 17 Comments
Stephen Tall

Exclusive survey results: What Lib Dem members say about the party’s direction and Nick Clegg’s leadership

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th September 2011 - 1:25 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

Increase in members thinking Lib Dems on ‘right track’

LDV asked: Do you think, as a whole, the Liberal Democrats are on the right course or on the wrong track?

    • 69% – The right course
    • 22% – The wrong track
    • 9% – Don’t know

This gives us a net figure for ‘right track / wrong course’ of +47%, a significant up-tick over …

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged | 9 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDVideo | Nick Clegg rallies conference, Danny Alexander clamps down on tax evasion

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th September 2011 - 12:10 pm

Whether you’re one of the thousands of Lib Dem members busy at this year’s conference, or you’re one of those (like me) who’re having to sit this one out, Lib Dem Voice will try and make sure you don’t miss out on the action. Here’s how Day 1 of the party conference has been making news…

Nick Clegg: Lib Dems ‘imposing will’ on government


(Also available on the BBC website here.)

Danny Alexander: We need to make sure tax is paid

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Posted in Conference and YouTube | Tagged , and | 5 Comments
Stephen Tall

EXCLUSIVE: 84% of Lib Dem members continue to back Lib/Con Coalition

By Stephen Tall | Sat 17th September 2011 - 4:55 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. Some 550 party members responded, and we’ll be publishing the full results in the coming days.

Support for Coalition as high as ever

LDV asked: Do you support or oppose the Lib Dems being in the Coalition Government with the Conservatives?

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged | 19 Comments
Stephen Tall

“In government, a thorn in the Tories’ side” – James Landale’s alternative Lib Dem conference slogan

By Stephen Tall | Sat 17th September 2011 - 1:45 pm

‘In Government On Your Side’ is the official slogan of the Lib Dems’ autumn conference, which officially starts today. But the BBC’s James Landale has proposed an alternative – and I’m rather taken with it:

In government, a thorn in the Tories’ side

The suggestion comes in his pre-conference assessment here. It’s a fair-minded take that recognises the bruising year the Lib Dems have endured, but also acknowledges why the mood in Birmingham will be more upbeat than much of the media was probably expecting (or hoping). And for two …

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 2 Comments
Stephen Tall

The 7 Lib Dem MPs unaffected by the Boundary Commission proposals

By Stephen Tall | Tue 13th September 2011 - 6:20 pm

The last 24 hours’ political news has been dominated by the Boundary Commission for England’s proposals for new parliamentary constituencies — and in particular the reduction from 533 to 502 in accordance with the Coalition Agreement to reduce the size of the House of Commons.

I’m a self-confessed politics geek, so I find this stuff interesting. But I was surprised that it should be the lead news item on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning — does the public care as much as us anoraks? I doubt it.

True, some members of the public will have particular concerns about …

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , and | 25 Comments
Stephen Tall

New LDV members survey now live: your views on NHS, free schools, economy and life in government

By Stephen Tall | Mon 12th September 2011 - 7:25 am

The new LDV members’ survey is now live. So if you are one of the 1,500+ registered members of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum – and any paid-up party member is welcome to join – then you now have the opportunity to make your views known.

Questions we’re asking this month include:

  • what you think of ‘free schools’ and the NHS Bill;
  • your views on the Coalition’s approach to the economy, taxation and public services;
  • your thoughts on policies both domestic and foreign;
  • how satisfied you are with Nick Clegg as party leader, and leading figures within the Lib

…

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Leave a comment
Stephen Tall

Michael Brown and the Lib Dems: the bits the Telegraph missed out

By Stephen Tall | Sun 11th September 2011 - 5:57 pm

Today’s Telegraph splashes with the story, Revealed: secret new life of fugitive Lib Dem donor, devoting its first three pages to the tale of Michael Brown’s new life on the run in a Caribbean hideout.

Michael Brown, as our readers will not need reminding, donated £2.4m to the party just before the 2005 general election. His subsequent arrest and conviction on several counts of fraud have been an embarrassment to the Lib Dems ever since.

The Telegraph’s story is, shock horror, a little partial, though. Take this paragraph: ‘The Liberal Democrats have steadfastly resisted all attempts to force them to repay …

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 39 Comments
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