Author Archives: The Voice

Internal investigation into allegations against Lord Rennard

Statement of Alistair Webster QC’s conclusions
Following allegations made in a Channel 4 documentary early in 2013 I was appointed under Rule 7.6 of the English Party’s membership rules to investigate and determine whether or not it was appropriate to charge Lord Rennard with acting in a way that had brought the party into disrepute. The charge, if proved, might warrant his expulsion from the Liberal Democrats or other sanction under the Party’s rules.

Let me be clear from the outset that the evidence suggests that Lord Rennard’s behaviour has caused distress to a number of women, so much so that they came forward several years after the events in question.

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Michael Moore appointed as EU Business Adviser to Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg has asked former Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore to be his Adviser on European business affairs. The unpaid role will see Michael working with businesses across the UK to understand the key trade, investment and regulatory issue affecting their dealings in the European Union.

He will carry out a review of the issues and report to Nick Clegg by the Summer.

Michael Moore said:

Britain’s engagement with the rest of Europe is fundamental to our future economic well-being. At this crucial moment in the development of the UK’s relationship with the EU, I am delighted to take on this

Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 1 Comment

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

Many thanks to the 14,800  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

What’s with the Nick Clegg/Ed Balls love in? (18 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Opinion: Foodbanks: Are there more hungry people than a decade ago? (25 comments) by Iain Roberts

Don Foster MP to stand down in 2015 (12 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Opinion: The Immigration Trap (76 comments) by David Allen

Should MPs be allowed to take their babies into the voting lobby? (26 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Lorely Burt to stand for Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader (19 comments) by The …

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Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 6

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. Over the past few days, we have sought out  nominations and now have a rather impressive list, of which this is the final part, that we’ve been publishing in instalments over the past week. Here is the final  part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

You can read part 1 here, part 2 here part 3 here,  part 4 here and part 5 here.

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Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 5

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. We sought out  nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ve been publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the penultimate part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

You can read part 1 here, part 2 here part 3 here and part 4 here.

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Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 4

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. We sought out  nominations and  have a rather impressive list that we’ve been publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the fourth part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

You can read part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here.

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Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 3

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. We sought out  nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ve been  publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the third part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

You can read part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

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+++ Lorely Burt to stand for Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader

lorely-outside-parliament-1Solihull MP Lorely Burt has announced that she is to stand for the Deputy Leadership of the Liberal Democrats. The post became vacant when previous incumbent Simon Hughes became a Minister last month.

Lorely has secured the nominations of 24 of the required 29 MPs.

Lorely has a background in business and is described as having broken many glass ceilings during her career, including being the first women to chair the Liberal Democrats’ Parliamentary Party.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 19 Comments

Nick Clegg: Nothing I look forward to more on my birthday than DPMQs

DPMQBob Russell wished Nick Clegg “Happy Birthday” at his monthly Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions today, hence the quote in the headline.

Nick dealt robustly with a wide range of questions, from regional airports, food banks, the triple lock on pensions to Syrian asylum seekers. He managed to get in a reference to his disagreement with George Osbourne over the fiscal methods that should be used to reduce the deficit after 2015, claiming a sincerely held difference of view. He advocated a mix of public spending constraints, welfare savings and fair taxes on those with the broadest shoulders.

Posted in News | Tagged | 4 Comments

Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 2

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. We sought out  nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the second part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

Posted in News | Tagged | 1 Comment

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

Many thanks to the 12,700 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

So we might have Ed Balls in a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition Cabinet after all.. (86 comments) by Caron Lindsay

NEW POLL: Who is your Liberal Voice of the year? (20 comments) by Stephen Tall

LibLink: Richard Reeves: The Clegg Factor (50 comments) by Newshound

New Year Reflections from Charles Kennedy: 2014 is not for the politically timid (17 comments) by Charles Kennedy

Opinion: Putting the facts into Britain’s fraudulent immigration debate (30 comments) by Giles Goodall

Going it alone (54 comments) by …

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Liberal Democrat Voice Roll of Honour 2013 – Part 1

We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2013. Over the past few days, we have sought out  nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the first part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting for Liberal Democrat values and victory. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2013.

Baroness Liz Barker

For this speech in the same …

Posted in News | Tagged | 11 Comments

LDV’s 2013 Best: our dozen most-read articles of last year

Many thanks to the  555,972 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice in 2013. Here’s our 12 most-read posts…

The affair is none of our business, but how did it get in the papers anyway? (54 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Tom Brake on 38 degrees and the Transparency and Lobbying Bill (84 comments) by Tom Brake MP

Sarah Teather won’t fight 2015 election (286 comments) by Caron Lindsay

The Economist’s political map of the UK: north/south divide revealed (35 comments) by Stephen Tall

Simon Hughes MP writes: My vote on the same sex marriage bill (111 comments) by Simon Hughes MP

Posted in News and Site news | 2 Comments

What could you do with £32?

In these straitened times, we are sure that you have better things to do with £32 than pay it needlessly to the party’s Conference registration Department. You could of course still give it to the party, but that’s by the by.

It could also pay for a meal out, or a trip to the sales, or 3 or 4 books, 4 one day travelcards in London and a coffee when you get there. Or a round of drinks in the Conference bar…

Today is the last day when members can register for Liberal Democrat Spring Conference at the lower rate. Don’t miss …

Posted in Conference | Tagged | 5 Comments

Lib Dem HQ tweets: “Dear Twitterbots, we are happy with our 2000 new party members. We do not need your offers of 5000 new followers.”

Those scamps in the Lib Dem press office have clearly had a good Christmas, judging by their Twitter timeline this morning following up on the news that the party’s membership has increased in 2013

Posted in News | Tagged | 7 Comments

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

Many thanks to the 9000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Time to expose UKIP (32 comments) by Issan Ghazni

Telegraph: “Liberal Democrats believe that party can oust several Tories” (22 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Same story, two very different headlines (30 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Vince tells Andrew Marr: Immigration panic does damage, politicians should give facts not resort to harmful populism. (42 comments) by Newshound

Two thirds of Lib Dem members say yes to HS2 (12 comments) by Stephen Tall

Duncan Hames steps down as PPS to  Nick Clegg and Simon

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Who’s your leading Liberal Democrat Star of 2013? Part 1

We have our Liberal Voice of the Year award, but that’s for people outside the party.

We also thought it might also be a good idea as we reach the end of the year to celebrate people in the party who we thought had made an outstanding contribution in 2013. When I say we, I’m including you in this. Some of the team will be making their own suggestions and we invite you to either submit your own posts by emailing [email protected] or just put your suggestions in the comments to the various posts that will be appearing over the next …

Posted in News | Tagged and | 36 Comments

Duncan Hames steps down as PPS to Nick Clegg and Simon Wright takes over

Following this afternoon’s wonderful news about the safe arrival of Andrew Lennox Marshall Hames,  the Belfast Telegraph reports that his dad, Duncan Hames, has decided to step down from his position as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Nick Clegg so that he has “more time to spend with our new baby”:

Mr Hames said: “When I told Nick that I would be wanting more time to spend with our new baby, I knew he would understand.

“Now that our son, Andrew, is with us, I am stepping down as the Deputy Prime Minister’s PPS.

“I truly appreciated the opportunity to see the coalition

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Kirsty Williams AM’s Christmas Message

From mybrecon.co.uk

nick clegg kirsty williams - 1FOR me part of the Christmas period is about reflecting on the year that has been and looking forward to the year coming up.

2013 has been an interesting year here in Wales. There have been ups, with strong signs of the UK’s economy improving and unemployment falling in the constituency. There have also been downs, with Wales falling further behind England and Scotland in both education and health standards.

Next year is set to be even busier for me. I recently won a ballot to bring

Posted in News | Tagged and | 7 Comments

++Jo Swinson and Duncan Hames welcome son Andrew

When Jo Swinson and Duncan Hames got engaged, they announced it by a co-ordinated tweets.

They carried on that tradition to announce the birth of their son Andrew. He was born on Sunday, but they’ve just announced his arrival in the last few minutes.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 3 Comments

LDVideo: Nick Clegg’s Christmas message

Not just a talking head this year. We see pictures of Nick visiting a school and Great Ormond Street Hospital, pulling crackers and chatting with children. Someone needs to tell him not to stick his hands in his pockets after he’s done the antibacterial wash, though. Oh, we just did.

Enjoy.

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What’s being debated in our members’ forum this week?

LibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you’re reading now. The second is our private members’ forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access.

If you’re a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that’s on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you’ll be included in our regular surveys’ of party members’ views.

Here’s some of the most active discussions this past 7 days:

Posted in Site news | 1 Comment

Ibrahim Taguri selected for Brent Central PPC

Ibrahim Taguri selected for Brent CentralBrent Central Liberal Democrats have selected Ibrahim Taguri as their successor to Sarah Teather to stand at thee 2015 General Election.

Ibrahim born in Brent, grew up in Willesden Green and has spent many years working in the charitable sector.

Posted in Selection news | Tagged , and | 2 Comments

++ Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes replaces Lord McNally as Justice Minister

Simon HughesNews just in:

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has replaced Lord (Tom) McNally as the Liberal Democrat Minister of State for Justice.

Lord McNally has been appointed as the new Chair of the Youth Justice Board, a post which he will take up in mid-March 2014. Simon Hughes will take over as Justice Minister with immediate effect.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“Tom McNally has been a fantastic minister who has pushed through a Liberal agenda in the Ministry of Justice. He will now bring the same

Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 20 Comments

Ros Kayes chosen by West Dorset Lib Dems to take on Oliver Letwin in 2015

The Lib Dems have been runners-up in the West Dorset constituency since it was created in its modern form in 1992. Oliver Letwin was first elected in 1997 and has narrowly held the seat the seat since then. It would take only a 3.5% swing towards the Lib Dems to win it.

The party has this week moved a step nearer towards that goal with the selection of an energetic local candidate, Ros Kayes, as their website highlights:

West Dorset Liberal Democrats have selected Bridport based Cllr Ros Kayes to fight the seat for the party in the General Election of

Posted in Selection news | Tagged , and | 16 Comments

FOUND: David Cameron’s Little Black Book

So David Cameron’s keeping a little black book of the things Lib Dems have stopped him doing in Government – things he wants to put in the next Tory manifesto.

A copy has been found, and it’s scary reading:

Liberal Democrats think these policies are unfair. Do you want schools to be run for profit? Or a record of all your emails and texts to be kept? Or do you want your boss to be allowed to fire you at will?

Click here to help us stop David Cameron’s Little Black Book

Posted in News | 17 Comments

Spring Conference reprieved

Spring 2013 Federal Conference agendaA couple of weeks ago Lib Dem Voice reported that party members were being consulted by Federal Executive about the future of Spring Conference, following a consultation session at Glasgow.  This was driven by financial pressures and the need for the Spring Conference to be cost-neutral.

Options included keeping it as it is but with cost savings, reducing its length from two days, or abolishing the Spring Conference completely .  The second option was preferred by Federal Executive.  Not surprisingly, the Federal Conference Committee did not support either abolition or any changes to the length of the conference.

Gareth Epps reports that yesterday evening the Federal Executive agreed to not make any changes, but to see how online technology could make the conference more accessible to the wider membership.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 10 Comments

Bob Russell’s surgery lasts for 12 hours – is this a record?

bob russell_2Bob Russell, the Lib Dem MP for Colchester, claims to have set a record by holding a surgery that lasted for 12 hours.

It seems that 36 people made appointments to see him last Friday. It’s not entirely clear whether he had originally planned it to go on for so long, or whether he just had a very long list of people who wanted to see him.

He claims to have seen 10,000 constituents at his surgeries since he was elected in 1997.

So your challenge today is to establish whether …

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 6 Comments

Nick Clegg’s Commons tribute to Mandela: “let us honour his memory by ensuring that the hope he gave lives on”

clegg on leveson 2Nick Clegg offered his tribute on behalf of the Lib Dems today to Nelson Mandela’s immense contribution to leading South Africa away from apartheid and towards democracy. Here’s what he had to say:

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg):
On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, let me add my voice to the many tributes to Nelson Mandela, the father of modern South Africa. Our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones, the people of South Africa, and everyone around the world who is grieving his loss.

Nelson Mandela’s message

Posted in Parliament | Tagged and | 8 Comments

MPs condemn MPs’ pay rise

MPs of all sides are objecting to IPSA proposals to increase their pay by 11%, alongside some less-reported minor cuts to expenses and a move to a career-average pension scheme, that make the whole package, we are told, cost-neutral.

Danny Alexander has called the rise “wholly inappropriate”:

I think most people will find it utterly incomprehensible that a time of pay restraint for the public sector and further squeezes on Government spending that IPSA should be recommending . I think it would be wholly inappropriate to get such a large pay rise when every other public sector worker sees pay

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 17 Comments
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