Author Archives: The Voice

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The LDV Friday Five: 26 April 2013

By The Voice | Fri 26th April 2013 - 5:00 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

The Economist’s political map of the UK: the north/south divide revealed (35 comments) by Stephen Tall
How a spreadsheet error has wrecked the world economy… or not (74 comments) by Joe Otten
How Thatcherite are you? (27 comments) by Stephen Tall

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

LibLink: Edward McMillan-Scott – End the European Parliament’s “travelling circus”

By The Voice | Tue 23rd April 2013 - 3:14 pm

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP is the only British Vice-President of the European Parliament and has been leading the campaign for a single seat for the European Parliament. On the British Influence website he writes:

For four days each month, the European Parliament leaves its working base in Brussels, the EU’s political capital, and descends on Strasbourg, its official ‘Seat’ for debates and votes. In addition, half of the Parliament’s staff work in Luxembourg. This arrangement costs €180 million and 19,000 tonnes of C02 every

…

Posted in LibLink and News | Tagged edward mcmillan-scott, european parliament and single seat campaign | 7 Comments

LibLink: Greg Mulholland – A day to celebrate England, Englishness, and all things English

By The Voice | Tue 23rd April 2013 - 11:58 am

Today is St George’s Day, and Greg Mulholland has marked the occasion with an article in Endeavour Public Affairs. He writes:

St George’s Day is an occasion when we should celebrate England, Englishness, and all things English. Yet how many English people actually take the time to celebrate, to commemorate the event, even by that most English of pastimes, by popping for a pint of England’s national drink, beer, in one of our most distinctive of English institutions, the public house?

It often seems to me, surely strangely, that the answer is fewer than the number of people who live in England and celebrate St Patrick’s Day. It is not only the Irish Diaspora communities who celebrate this, so why is it that not more English residents, whether born and bred or not, choose to celebrate our national day?

Posted in LibLink | Tagged england, featured and st george | 24 Comments

Lloyd George among Royal Mail’s latest 1st Class ‘Great Britons’

By The Voice | Sun 21st April 2013 - 4:15 pm

Royal Mail this week announced the launch of its latest set of special stamps, ‘Great Britons’, a set of 1st Class stamps celebrating the achievements of 10 distinguished individuals from the realms of sport, journalism, music, politics and the arts.

David Lloyd George, the last Liberal Prime Minister, is the chosen politician. Here’s how Wikipedia describes him:

Lloyd George is best known as the highly energetic Prime Minister (1916–22) who guided the Empire through the First World War to victory over Germany and its allies. He was a major player at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 that reordered Europe after the Great War. As an icon of 20th-century liberalism, he is regarded as the founder of the British welfare state. He made a greater impact on British public life than any other 20th-century leader, thanks to his leadership of the war, his postwar role in reshaping Europe, and his introduction of Britain’s social welfare system before the war.

Posted in News | Tagged david lloyd george and royal mail | Leave a comment

Kirsty Williams on criticism of the Coalition: “It knocked my confidence.”

By The Voice | Sun 21st April 2013 - 12:00 pm

It’s the Welsh Lib Dems’ conference this weekend and Kirsty Williams will take the opportunity to argue that a “crucial turning point” has been reached, reports BBC News:

At the conference in Cardiff, Ms Williams will claim the fact the Lib Dems retained third place in the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election last November, albeit with a much reduced share of the vote, was a “sign post that things were changing” for the party.

“Eastleigh was a turning point,” she will say. “Yes, the criticisms of our

…

Posted in Wales | Tagged cardiff south and penarth, kirsty williams and nick clegg | 3 Comments

Win 2 free tickets to see Lembit Opik at Matt Forde’s ‘The Political Party’ TONIGHT

By The Voice | Wed 17th April 2013 - 8:45 am

Yes, you read that headline right. The Voice is offering 2 FREE tickets to our readers to see Lib Dem luminary Lembit Opik be interviewed on ‘The Political Party’ with Matt Forde. The event takes place TONIGHT, Wednesday 17th April, 8pm at London’s St James Theatre in Victoria.

As it’s short notice, this is simply a first-come-first-served offer: simply email [email protected]. First two readers to reply will get the tickets (please only reply if you know you can attend). And if you want to attend even if you don’t …

Posted in News | Tagged lembit opik and matt forde | 7 Comments

How would you use £600? Last night’s Liberal Democrat Party Election Broadcast

By The Voice | Wed 17th April 2013 - 7:29 am

Last night’s Party Election Broadcast by the Liberal Democrats concentrated on the significant raising of the tax threshold that comes in this month. The “stronger economy in a fairer society enabling everyone to get on in life” mantra was repeated heavily. The work of local Liberal Democrat councillors in creating jobs and protecting services was also mentioned.

The Broadcast had earlier been trailed to members in an email from Elizabeth Jewkes, the party member who had proposed its inclusion in the manifesto. She said:

Just a few years ago, in 2009, I attended our conference in Bournemouth as an ordinary party member

…

Posted in News | Tagged elizabeth jewke, party election broadcast and tax threshold | 9 Comments

Simon Hughes says that Lords reform is still on the Liberal Democrat agenda

By The Voice | Mon 15th April 2013 - 2:25 pm

The Financial Times website carries an article suggesting that senior Liberal Democrats are preparing to make the issue of Lords reform a deal breaker in any future coalition negotiations. It quotes Deputy Leader Simon Hughes as saying:

If the time did come for more coalition negotiations, the experience of coalition the first time will be clearly taken on board when we think through what we would do a second time. The constitutional reform agenda and particularly reform of the Lords would have to be a part of the package.

The article goes on to say that sources close to Nick Clegg …

Posted in News | Tagged coalition negotiations, lords reform, nick clegg and simon hughes | 15 Comments

What’s on at Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference this weekend?

By The Voice | Mon 15th April 2013 - 9:55 am

A public service announcement from the Welsh Liberal Democrats follows…

With record numbers of delegates attending and five Lib Dem Government Ministers taking part, the Welsh Liberal Democrat conference taking place this weekend already looks as if it’s going to be a memorable one.

Highlights on the agenda include:

Keynote speeches – Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will be opening Conference, with speeches later on in the weekend also come from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander and Welsh Liberal Democrat party Leader Kirsty Williams.
Gala dinner –Vince Cable MP will be guest speaker at the Conference Dinner. Unsurprisingly, tickets for this

…

Posted in Wales | Leave a comment

Chris Davies MEP reveals how Strasbourg isn’t always good for your health

By The Voice | Sun 14th April 2013 - 1:15 pm

Chris Davies reveals one of the unexpected problems of the European Parliament shuttling between Brussels and Strasbourg at great expense: bed bugs. Here’s an excerpt from his latest notes:

I went to the medical centre in the European Parliament in Brussels. “I’ve had these itchy spots on my arms and legs for 6 weeks or so,” I told the doctor. “They started off like insect bites but they won’t go away.” She looked at them and asked if any new spots had appeared since the Parliament was

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged chris davies, european parliament and strasbourg | 2 Comments

LibLink: Michael Moore – Scotland is stronger within the United Kingdom

By The Voice | Wed 10th April 2013 - 4:31 pm

Michael Moore has been sharing his thoughts on the referendum on the US version of Huffington Post. He writes:

Scotland is facing an historic decision in 2014: whether to remain as part of the United Kingdom or to leave and go it alone. Scotland’s nationalist First Minister Alex Salmond is in America this week and will seek to persuade Americans that Scots want independence, that it is our destiny and that U.S. relations with Scotland will only improve should it happen. On all counts, I believe that this analysis is flawed.

…

With

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged Michael Moore, Scotland and scottish independence | 4 Comments

Nick Clegg launches local election campaign

By The Voice | Tue 9th April 2013 - 12:32 pm

The launch of our local election campaign yesterday was rather overshadowed by some other news.

Here is an extract from Nick Clegg’s speech:

Next month, in wards across the country, people will be confronted with the same choice. Despite all their stated differences, a vote for Labour or the Tories will be a vote for the same thing.

Their record in local government shows that, even when millions of families are feeling the pinch, they’ll both squander taxpayers’ money on waste, inefficiency and their own vanity projects.

A vote for the Liberal Democrats, on

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Posted in News | Tagged featured, local elections and nick clegg | 13 Comments

Liberal Democrats pay tribute to Lady Thatcher

By The Voice | Mon 8th April 2013 - 4:22 pm

Several senior Liberal Democrats have already shared their thoughts on the passing of Lady Thatcher. We’ll collate further comments on this page as they come in.

Nick Clegg, currently on a visit to Cornwall, had this to say:

Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in

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Posted in News | Tagged margaret thatcher | 31 Comments

RIP Margaret Thatcher

By The Voice | Mon 8th April 2013 - 1:35 pm

The BBC and other outlets are reporting that Margaret Thatcher has died following a stroke. She was Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister and one who changed the political landscape. While we in the Liberal Democrats often have disagreed with her, there is much to reflect on in her lasting legacy.

Our thoughts are with Lady Thatcher’s friends and family at this time. Comments are open below for tributes only, please.

Posted in News | Tagged featured and margaret thatcher | 42 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #320

By The Voice | Sun 7th April 2013 - 7:30 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 320th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31 March – 6 April, 2013), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | 1 Comment

Greg Mulholland to propose “complete separation of state marriage and religious weddings”

By The Voice | Sun 7th April 2013 - 4:00 pm

Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland was one of seven Lib Dem MPs to abstain from the vote on same-sex marriage in February. He explained his reasons for doing so here:

I do agree unequivocally that all adults must be treated equally in terms of legal recognition of their relationship and the rights that they convey; the question is how best to deliver that at the same time as protecting freedom of conscience. These are two important rights and must both be delivered simultaneously. The problem is that as currently drafted, the Marriage Bill delivers neither of these. It is a confused and flawed piece of legislation that does not actually deliver equality as it proposes different definitions of marriage for heterosexual and same sex couples; nor does it sufficiently protect freedom of conscience for people with religious and other differing views of marriage. This is why I was unable to support the Bill at second reading, however nor did I want to vote against it or what would be misinterpreted as my being anti equal legal rights, which I am very clearly not.

Greg now has a proposal, though it’s far-reaching legislative changes may not be well-received at Westminster:

Posted in News | Tagged equality bill, greg mulholland and same sex marriage | 18 Comments

LibLink: Sarah Teather – Grubby Osborne’s crude opportunism is capitalising on fear

By The Voice | Sun 7th April 2013 - 12:35 pm

Former Lib Dem children’s minister Sarah Teather unleashes something of a broadside not just against the Coalition, but against all three political parties for their policies on the poorest in society, both benefit claimants and also immigrants and asylum-seekers:

There is nothing like insecurity to bring out the temptation to scapegoat. Instead of offering a bit of statesmanlike leadership, Conservative ministers have engaged repeatedly in crude opportunism, capitalising on fear. And so the battle is drawn: good against evil. Those without benefits against those who claim. Strivers against shirkers. The deserving against

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Posted in LibLink | Tagged sarah teather | 11 Comments

Secret Lib Dem-UKIP talks revealed

By The Voice | Mon 1st April 2013 - 10:45 am

Even before the Eastleigh result was announced it had become clear that strong Liberal Democrat and UKIP campaigning has the potential to crush Conservative support from both sides. Many Conservative seats throughout England could fall to one party or the other given the right co-ordination of UKIP and Liberal Democrat strategy. Even where the Liberal Democrats could not win, the Conservatives could be sufficiently weakened to hand a seat to UKIP, and vice versa.

While of course UKIP and the Liberal Democrats have big policy differences, most notably on Europe, if there …

Posted in News | Tagged featured | 19 Comments

LibLink: Danny Alexander – Bedroom blockers and tax dodgers will pay

By The Voice | Sun 31st March 2013 - 4:45 pm

Lib Dem chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander has published a robust defence of the Coalition’s welfare reforms in The Sun on Sunday. Here’s how it starts:

Last week a young woman came to talk to me about her housing situation. Her frustration was obvious. She was working hard in a low-paid job and was stuck in an overcrowded home with a young family and desperately needed to move to a bigger home. She couldn’t understand why she had to wait so long to get a home that was the right size for her and her family. It’s a story

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged bedroom tax, Danny Alexander, mansion tax, tax cuts (Lib Dem), the sun and welfare reform | 50 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 29 March 2013

By The Voice | Fri 29th March 2013 - 10:15 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock (ahem, ish). Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

Nick Clegg’s illiberal hat-trick: now immigration joins ‘secret courts’ and media regulation on the pyre (134) by Stephen Tall
Boris has a right Mair in live BBC interview (18) by Stephen Tall
Opinion: Taking minimum wage work out of tax would deliver the Living Wage (15) by Adam Corlett

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Mike Hancock MP under investigation by Portsmouth City Council

By The Voice | Wed 27th March 2013 - 6:15 pm

The BBC reports that Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, also a Councillor on the City’s Council, is being investigated for a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct.

The Council’s lawyer is quoted as saying:

A sub-committee of Portsmouth City Council today decided to refer a complaint against councillor Mike Hancock for investigation.

I will now appoint an independent lawyer to carry out an investigation.

If a breach is proved against a councillor, they can be censured for their conduct.

A spokesman for Mike Hancock said:

The allegations have previously been investigated by the police but no further action was taken.”

Mike Hancock will co-operate

…

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Make sure your nomination is not invalid

By The Voice | Tue 26th March 2013 - 4:15 pm

Are you standing in the local elections in May?

If so, you need to be aware of a change in the guidance about nominations and the new nomination form. If you do not return the form correctly you may be disqualified.

The regulation is:

a candidate must return the entire consent to nomination form which includes copies of the relevant legislation by the close of nominations for their nomination to be valid

So when you return your nomination form you must send back the 5 pages of legislation, as well as the consent form.

Posted in Election law and News | Tagged local elections 2013 | Leave a comment

LDV Caption Competition: Where we plough, we win

By The Voice | Sat 23rd March 2013 - 12:52 pm

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

(Photo by Ian Turgoose)

An action day this morning in Sheffield Hallam became an impromptu canvassing and snow clearing session. We know what Nick was saying while this photo was being taken, but what do you think could have been said that would have been even wittier?

And the winner of our last caption comp is…

Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, “Knowing Me” Nick Clegg, “Knowing You” Steve Coogan Edition.

Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged featured, nick clegg and snow wardens | 12 Comments

Nick Clegg’s statement to the Commons on press regulation

By The Voice | Tue 19th March 2013 - 7:57 am

Last night we published Nick Clegg’s email to supporters setting out his views on press regulation. Here’s the text of his full statement in the Commons yesterday:

Mr Speaker, when Lord Justice Leveson published his recommendations, the Liberal Democrats supported them. I agreed with his basic model of a new, independent self-regulatory body for the press…
With a new recognition body authorised to check, periodically, that the system is working properly.

Given the importance of the relationships between politicians, the public and the press… I said at the outset

…

Posted in Parliament | Tagged leveson inquiry and nick clegg | 1 Comment

Nick Clegg writes… Press regulation: a liberal solution

By The Voice | Mon 18th March 2013 - 9:35 pm

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has written to party supporters tonight…

Having been in face to face negotiations till nearly midnight last night – followed by calls, texts and emails for many hours afterwards – I am delighted to have stood up this afternoon in the House of Commons to welcome the cross-party agreement on implementing the Leveson Report. It wasn’t easy but after a lot of hard work – led on our side by the tireless Jim Wallace, we have got there.

The Leveson Inquiry was established after public revulsion at the phone hacking scandal. So, when Lord Justice Leveson published

…

Posted in News | Tagged leveson inquiry, media and nick clegg | 22 Comments

Royal Charter deal struck on press self-regulation

By The Voice | Mon 18th March 2013 - 4:55 pm

The BBC reports:

A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter, but views vary over whether it would be underpinned by law. Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said this would be the case, but the prime minister denied it. …

Mr Clegg said he had worked “flat out” to get the deal, and was “delighted” with the cross-party agreement.

“We’ve secured the cherished principle of freedom of the press, which

…

Posted in News | 3 Comments

Hoggart on Webb: “He understands it so you don’t have to! Thank heavens!”

By The Voice | Sun 17th March 2013 - 4:55 pm

The Guardian’s Simon Hoggart has been collecting examples of impenetrable jargon. This week, Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb features:

Thanks for the many examples of jargon you’ve sent in, and we’ll have a proper look at it all soon. In the meantime, there are examples which are actually quite helpful.

Take work and pensions, which is without a doubt the most difficult of all government departments. Yet the Liberal Democrat minister Steve Webb actually seems to know exactly what he is talking about. He may be alone. See if you

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Posted in Humour | Tagged simon hoggart and steve webb | 5 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 15 March 2013

By The Voice | Fri 15th March 2013 - 5:45 pm

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week:

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

Jo Shaw quits Lib Dems in protest at leadership’s pro-secret courts position (25) by Stephen Tall
Losing one of our best….an appreciation of Jo Shaw (91) by Caron Lindsay
Vince Cable on Labour’s opposition day debate on Mansion tax (62) by Helen Duffett

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Scottish Liberal Democrats launch new Facebook page

By The Voice | Thu 14th March 2013 - 3:55 pm

Ahead of Scottish Conference in Dundee this weekend, Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched a new Facebook page for news, views, infographics and pictures about the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Their picture of today is a head shot of leader Willie Rennie with all the nice things that journalists keep saying about him.

The Conference has its fair share of controversy – debates on secret courts, snaring and smacking over the next three days.

There will be keynote speeches from Vince Cable, Nick Clegg, Jo Swinson, Michael Moore and Malcolm Bruce as well as …

Posted in News | Tagged facebook, Scottish liberal democrat conference and willie rennie | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg on Leveson: “I want a free and fair press”

By The Voice | Thu 14th March 2013 - 3:00 pm

Nick Clegg has emailed Lib Dem members today to set out his view on David Cameron’s decision to pull the plug on cross-party talks seeking to find an agreed way forward on the Leveson Report’s recommendations for self-regulation of the press underpinned by statute:

As you may have seen this morning the Prime Minister has decided to call off the cross-party talks on implementing the Leveson proposals on press regulation.

Throughout the talks I have sought to defend a free press while making sure ordinary people can be protected

…

Posted in News | Tagged david cameron, leveson inquiry and nick clegg | 11 Comments

Op-eds

A plea from a member – more ambition and less equine pacification please… (Nick Baird)
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Councils must help music – so music can help their communities flourish (Charlie Clinton & Josh Matthews)

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Author Archives: The Voice

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

And the winner of our last caption comp is…

5 most-read stories on LDV this week

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