Author Archives: The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 2nd November 2013 - 12:45 pm

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 10 days:

What would you like to see in 2015 manifesto?

The end of the British breakfast as we know

…

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg’s message for Diwali 2013

By The Voice | Fri 1st November 2013 - 3:00 pm

Available on You Tube here.

Posted in News | Tagged diwali 2013 and nick clegg | 1 Comment

David Steel: Scotland and the Lords after 2014 – Full speech

By The Voice | Fri 1st November 2013 - 9:04 am

Yesterday evening, Lord Steel delivered a lecture on Lords reform and the forthcoming Scottish referendum. Here is the speech in full.

Stone Memorial lecture, Strathclyde University 31 October 2013

Scotland and the Lords after 2014

My intention in this lecture is to look forward and discuss what fundamental changes and improvements could be made to our parliaments at Westminster and Holyrood once we get past the Scottish referendum this time next year. But before I do that, considering that this Sir Alexander Stone memorial lecture is decreed to be broadly on the subject of rhetoric I want as a prelude to remark on …

Posted in News and Speeches | Tagged constitutional reform, house of lords and Scottish referendum | 4 Comments

Did this Lib Dem duo from Scotland reveal Mrs Clinton’s (not-so-well-cloaked) presidential ambitions?

By The Voice | Thu 31st October 2013 - 2:46 pm

The Herald brings intriguing news of a recent dinner held in honour of a select group receiving honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews, including recently-departed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

The former First Lady was in good spirits. As appropriate for the star of the show, she arrived a little late, but made a point of going round all the other 17 graduates to shake them by the hand and say what a privilege it was to be graduating in their company.

The cast-list was impressive and included Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the worldwide web, Nobel laureate

…

Posted in News | Tagged hillary clinton, michael moore mp and sir menzies campbell | 1 Comment

EXCLUSIVE: Alistair Carmichael and Sheila Ritchie pitch for your Go Sober sponsorship

By The Voice | Tue 29th October 2013 - 12:00 pm

We have been following the often humorous progress of party legend Sheila Ritchie and Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael as they take part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Go Sober for October challenge. At the time of writing, Sheila is the top fundraiser in the UK and Alistair is fifth. They have raised, between them, over £6,000. When we predicted that they might get to £5,000, we thought were being wildly optimistic. We’ve noticed that when we write about their quest on here, it leads to an upsurge in donations for them both.

In order to encourage you to donate, and to choose whether you give your money to #TeamAlistair or #TeamSheila, the two old friends have written exclusively for you. The order in which the posts appear was decided by the toss of a coin.

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, featured, gareth epps, go sober for october and sheila ritchie | Leave a comment

Derek Osbourne sentenced to two years in jail

By The Voice | Tue 29th October 2013 - 11:34 am

Former Liberal Democrat Leader of Kingston Council, Derek Osbourne, was today given a two year prison sentence in Southwark Crown Court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to 17 counts of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Posted in News | Tagged derek osbourne | Comments Off

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

By The Voice | Sun 27th October 2013 - 1:58 pm

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

Dunfermline by-election win for Labour, disaster for the SNP and Lib Dems hold 3rd place (26 comments) by The Voice

Time to do away with Lib Dem Friends of Israel and Lib Dem Friends of Palestine (17 comments) by Leon Duveen

Ed Davey MP writes… Hinkley Point C – a bg step forward for energy decarbonisation (54 comments) by Ed Davey MP

Clegg on free schools and national curriculum: no more, no less than party policy and that’s for better and worse …

Posted in Site news | 1 Comment

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

By The Voice | Sat 26th October 2013 - 5:33 pm

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.

Here’s some of the most active discussions this past 10 days:

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Danny Alexander says there would be no recovery without Lib Dems

By The Voice | Sat 26th October 2013 - 1:43 pm

In today’s Telegraph, Danny Alexander is ebullient about the signs of economic recovery. He says this revival would not be happening without the Lib Dems.

The decision of Lib Dems to form the coalition is the bedrock on which the recovery is being built. Without a government prepared to do the right thing to tackle the deficit and support job creation the progress we are starting to see would simply not have happened.

Some people thought the Lib Dems wouldn’t stick at it. Now they know different. We’ve worked with the Conservatives, not just to take tough decisions, but to make the right decisions for the long term good of Britain.

Posted in News | Tagged Danny Alexander and economy | 9 Comments

Byelection results – 24 October

By The Voice | Fri 25th October 2013 - 3:42 pm

The Lib Dems gained one seat at yesterday’s county, district and unitary byelections.

Congratulations to Eric Seward who held North Walsham East for the Lib Dems with a decent 5.8% rise in votes.

Posted in News | Tagged local elections | 8 Comments

Dunfermline by-election win for Labour, disaster for SNP and Lib Dems hold 3rd place

By The Voice | Fri 25th October 2013 - 3:19 am

Your bleary eyed correspondent has returned from the Dunfermline by-election count. The result was as follows:

Cara Hilton (Labour), 10,275, 42.4%

Shirley Anne Somerville (SNP), 7402, 30.6%

Susan Leslie (Lib Dem), 2852, 11.79%

James Reekie (Conservative), 2009, 8.3%

Peter Adams (UKIP), 908, 3.75%

Zara Kitson (Green), 583, 2.4%

John Black (Ind), 161, 0.67%

We were squeezed a bit but stayed in a creditable third place.

Posted in News | Tagged by-elections, Dunfermline and Susan Leslie | 29 Comments

In Full: Nick Clegg’s speech on education – enabling every child to achieve a happy and fulfilling life

By The Voice | Thu 24th October 2013 - 1:52 pm

Nick Clegg finally gave his much trailed speech on education today. The full version is below. Stephen Tall will give some more detailed commentary later, but for now, here’s a quick summary. There were six main themes

Schools should be free from too much Whitehall micromanagement but must meet core standards
Positioning Liberal Democrats in centre between Labour who want to interfere in everything and Tories who would be quite happy to have no core standards at all.
Parents need reassurance about quality of curriculum, that teachers are qualified and that healthy food is provided whatever type of state funded school their kids

…

Posted in News | Tagged education, nick clegg and speeches | 12 Comments

Lynne Featherstone visits Uganda to highlight disability and development

By The Voice | Wed 23rd October 2013 - 12:29 pm

Last month, Liberal Democrat International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone wrote about her visit to the UN General Assembly where the focus was on putting the needs of people with disabilities at the heart of the overseas aid agenda:

More than one billion people worldwide live with disability and suffer huge discrimination as a result. They face unequal access to education, employment, healthcare, social support and the justice system. Consequently, they are disproportionately some of the poorest and most marginalised people in the world – part of an unseen great neglect.

To follow that up, Lynne is now in Uganda with British paralympian Ade Adepitan to highlight the challenges disabled people face on a daily basis and what the international aid community needs to do to help them. There are two ways in which you can follow her progress while she’s out there.

Posted in News | Tagged ade adepitan, disability rights, interntional development, lynne featherstone and uganda | 7 Comments

#TeamAlistair vs #TeamSheila Go Sober update – Carmichael behind but almost £3k pledged so far

By The Voice | Mon 21st October 2013 - 4:00 pm

Last week we brought you news of the challenge between Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael and one of his best friends, party legend Sheila Ritchie to see who could raise most money for Macmillan Cancer Support by going sober for October.

In the last 7 days, Mrs Ritchie has extended her already considerable lead. With ten days to go, can she pull off a memorable victory for the grassroots against the Establishment?

The current scores are as follows:

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, go sober, macmillan cancer support and sheila ritchie | Leave a comment

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

By The Voice | Sun 20th October 2013 - 1:29 pm

Many thanks to the 17.000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

The Labour Party “Plebgate” website they no longer wish you to see (19 comments) by Stephen Tall

Danny Alexander MP writes: this is the Liberal Democrats’ policy and everyone knows it (38 comments) by Danny Alexander MP

Opinion; Being tough on drugs means being pro-reform (22 comments) by Ewan Hoyle

Jeremy Browne talks to the Times about his sacking and not being a Tory (36 comments) by Andy Boddington

Labour Uncut editor Atul Hatwal writes…The two paths to a Labour deal …

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: Remember this?

By The Voice | Sun 20th October 2013 - 11:43 am

This week’s Letter from the Leader tells us something that members and supporters really should know already – that Liberal Democrats are responsible for raising the tax threshold, that the Tories in general and David Cameron in particular, trashed it publicly at the time. But now that the idea has turned out to be popular, the Tories are claiming it as their own. Keep this one in your bookmarks to show off who’s really responsible for this significant achievement.

Remember this?

I know I don’t usually send

…

Posted in News | Tagged letter from the leader | 1 Comment

Nick Clegg pledges parental guarantee to tackle poor standards in free schools

By The Voice | Sun 20th October 2013 - 9:04 am

The Independent on Sunday today reports that Nick Clegg is to criticise Conservative policy on free schools. He will pledge a new parental guarantee in the 2015 Liberal Democrat election manifesto.

It makes no sense to me to have qualified teacher status if only a few schools have to employ qualified teachers.

What’s the point of having a national curriculum if only a few schools have to teach it? Let’s teach it in all our schools.

And what’s the point of having brilliant new food standards if only a few schools have to stick to the rules? Let’s have quality food in all our schools.

If the Lib Dems re-enter government, the guarantee will assure parents that their child will be taught by a qualified a teacher. The schools will have to follow the national curriculum and conform to national nutritional standards for school meals.

Posted in News | Tagged education, free schools and nick clegg | 10 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 19th October 2013 - 1:25 pm

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.

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

£12,500 threshold

Can anyone tell me …

How do you rate Jeremy Browne as a Lib Dem MP?

…

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

A good night for Lib Dems at the byelections

By The Voice | Fri 18th October 2013 - 10:45 am

Three cheers to Michael Gee who gained Dalston in Carlisle from the Conservatives last night. The Lib Dems also held local council seats in the South Lakes and Luton. Congratulations to Annie Rawlinson and Clive Mead.

GAIN in Carlisle

HOLD in South Lakes

HOLD at Luton

Posted in Council by-elections and News | 11 Comments

Nick Clegg’s message for Eid-al-Adha – “Countless acts of kindness”

By The Voice | Tue 15th October 2013 - 6:48 pm

Nick Clegg has recorded a message for the festival of Eid-al-Adha, whch ends tonight, in which he says:

The theme of sacrifice and generosity, which defines this festival, works to strengthen the ties between us. It reminds us all – both Muslims and non-Muslims alike – of the obligations we have to each other, especially those who are suffering.

He adds that Muslims will be helping people in their own communities and across the world in “countless acts of kindness.”

He also takes the opportunity to talk about the £100 million extra humanitarian aid which the UK Government has sent to help people forced to leave their homes as a result of the conflict in Syria.

You can watch the message, also available on You Tube, here:

Posted in News | Tagged eid-al-adha and nick clegg | Leave a comment

Carmichael behind in first major test since becoming Secretary of State for Scotland

By The Voice | Mon 14th October 2013 - 10:25 am

We all know that Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael likes a social drink or two, although as he says himself “please do not take this to mean that I have any sort of addiction issue.” So many of his friends were surprised when he decided to take part in Macmillan Cancer Relief’s Go Sober for October fundraising campaign.

The ante was considerably upped during the first week when his old friend, ace campaigner and party legend Sheila Ritchie, decided on a Twitter whim to take part as well and challenged Alistair to a competition to see which of them could raise the most money.

This, of course, was all before Alistair was promoted to the Cabinet. Imagine having to face Theresa May, Chris Grayling and Iain Duncan Smith without being able to have a wee dram.

We aren’t half way through October yet, but at the time of writing, Sheila is some £300 ahead of Alistair, with £1025 pledged to his £710.

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, go sober for october and sheila ritchie | Leave a comment

Did Nick Harvey turn down the job of Lib Dem chief whip?

By The Voice | Sun 13th October 2013 - 1:30 pm

Sir Nick Harvey, summarily sacked as defence minister by Nick Clegg a year ago, was offered a job in government at last week’s reshuffle — at least according to James Forsyth in the Mail on Sunday:

The Lib Dem leader had hoped Nick Harvey would be his Chief Whip. But, to Clegg’s surprise, Harvey turned down the job. ‘Clegg was gobsmacked,’ one Lib Dem tells me. The Deputy Prime Minister didn’t expect him to reject an invitation to join his inner circle. Harvey had been sounded out about taking

…

Posted in News | Tagged don foster, nick harvey and reshuffle | 2 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 13th October 2013 - 12:30 pm

Many thanks to the 18,000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

++ Jeremy Browne sacked from Home Office, replaced by Norman Baker (34 comments) by Stephen Tall

Today’s Lib Dem reshuffle: 4 thoughts from me on what it means (19) by Stephen Tall

The poll findings which should encourage (some) Lib Dems and worry Labour (22) by Stephen Tall

Marxism: a respectable philosophy, or dangerous, or evil? (70) by Joe Otten

Danny Alexander writes… A good home should not be a luxury for the few, but an achievable aspiration for the many (84)

…

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Lib Dem councillor Sarah Brown 27th most influential on Indy’s 2013 Pink List

By The Voice | Sun 13th October 2013 - 11:08 am

Many congratulations to Sarah Brown, Cambridge Lib Dem councillor, who has been ranked in today’s Independent on Sunday Pink List 2013 as the 27th most influential campaigner making a difference for a more equal society. That, incidentally, puts her one place higher than Eddie Mair…

27. (34) Sarah Brown
Councillor

The Cambridge Councillor is the only out transgender politician in Britain. Representing the Liberal Democrats for the Petersfield Ward, Brown has been made the Executive Councillor for Community Well-Being this year. A member of the LGBT and Liberal Democrats Executive, she is also

…

Posted in News | Tagged sarah brown | 4 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 12th October 2013 - 6:50 pm

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.

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

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

LDVideo: Vince Cable praises Royal Mail’s “very good launch” onto the stock market

By The Voice | Sat 12th October 2013 - 2:30 pm

Royal Mail shares soared on their first day’s floatation yesterday, prompting inevitable accusations that the company had been priced too low. Here’s Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable explaining his aim to assure long-term investment irrespective of the froth of the “spivs and speculators”:

Posted in News | Tagged chuka umunna, financial times, royal mail, the independent and vince cable | 4 Comments

Julie Pörksen selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Berwick

By The Voice | Fri 11th October 2013 - 11:20 am

Julie Pörksen will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Berwick constituency at the 2015 general election.

An agricultural economist, Julie grew up in Belsay, Northumberland. She was selected yesterday evening. Julie stood as a candidate in the Northumberland County Council elections last May, slashing the Tory majority in Amble West with Warkworth to one vote.

Sir Alan Beith is standing down at the next election after 40 years as Berwick’s MP.

Posted in News | Tagged general election 2015 | 9 Comments

Chemical weapons watchdog wins the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize

By The Voice | Fri 11th October 2013 - 10:09 am

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has won the 2013 Nobel peace prize.

The Hague-based global chemical weapons watchdog, supported by the United Nations, is currently aiming to help destroy Syria’s chemical weapons capacity by the beginning of November.

Posted in News | Tagged nobel peace prize | 5 Comments

Clegg: Guardian’s leaked Snowden secrets of “immense interest to people who want to do us harm”

By The Voice | Thu 10th October 2013 - 8:07 pm

MI5 chief Andrew Parker spoke out yesterday against the leaking of intelligence secrets by Edward Snowden to The Guardian, claiming it seriously endangered national security and had given terrorist groups like al-Qa’ida “the gift they need to evade us and strike at will”. Nick Clegg was asked if he agreed on his LBC radio phone-in show, Call Clegg. Here’s what he said:

Nick Ferrari: Deputy Prime Minister, do you agree with the Prime Minister, who says that Andrew Parker, the Security Chief’s warning to the Guardian’s publication of those files handed

…

Posted in News | Tagged al-qaeda, andrew parker, call clegg, edward snowden, intelligence, mi5 and nick clegg | 13 Comments

Actually, this Summer of Strategy could be quite good…

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

Author Archives: The Voice

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

Nick Clegg’s message for Diwali 2013

David Steel: Scotland and the Lords after 2014 – Full speech

Did this Lib Dem duo from Scotland reveal Mrs Clinton’s (not-so-well-cloaked) presidential ambitions?

EXCLUSIVE: Alistair Carmichael and Sheila Ritchie pitch for your Go Sober sponsorship

Derek Osbourne sentenced to two years in jail

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

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

Danny Alexander says there would be no recovery without Lib Dems

Byelection results – 24 October

Dunfermline by-election win for Labour, disaster for SNP and Lib Dems hold 3rd place

In Full: Nick Clegg’s speech on education – enabling every child to achieve a happy and fulfilling life

Lynne Featherstone visits Uganda to highlight disability and development

#TeamAlistair vs #TeamSheila Go Sober update – Carmichael behind but almost £3k pledged so far

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

Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: Remember this?

Nick Clegg pledges parental guarantee to tackle poor standards in free schools

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

A good night for Lib Dems at the byelections

Nick Clegg’s message for Eid-al-Adha – “Countless acts of kindness”

Carmichael behind in first major test since becoming Secretary of State for Scotland

Did Nick Harvey turn down the job of Lib Dem chief whip?

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

Lib Dem councillor Sarah Brown 27th most influential on Indy’s 2013 Pink List

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

LDVideo: Vince Cable praises Royal Mail’s “very good launch” onto the stock market

Julie Pörksen selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Berwick

Chemical weapons watchdog wins the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize

Clegg: Guardian’s leaked Snowden secrets of “immense interest to people who want to do us harm”

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Actually, this Summer of Strategy could be quite good…

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

Author Archives: The Voice

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