Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

Nick Clegg’s statement to the Commons on press regulation

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

clegg on levesonLast 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

…

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The Voice

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

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 22 Comments
The Voice

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

…

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The Voice

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

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

steve webbThe 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 and | 5 Comments
The Voice

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

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

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.

Willie's press compliments

 

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 …

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The Voice

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

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

cameron clegg miliband 2Nick 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

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The Voice

LDVideo: Lib Dem spring conference round-up (2)

By The Voice | Mon 11th March 2013 - 12:45 pm

Missed the Lib Dems’ spring conference this weekend? Here are three clips to help you catch-up, or re-live, some of what happened… (You can see part 1 of our round-up here.)

Nick Clegg criticises Theresa May’s Human Rights Convention comments

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The Voice

Caron Lindsay previews Nick Clegg’s speech on Radio 5 Live

By The Voice | Mon 11th March 2013 - 8:08 am

Yesterday morning, at a ridiculously early hour, as some Conference goers were only just going to bed, Lib Dem Voice Co-Editor Caron Lindsay spoke to Radio 5 Live about Conference in general and Nick Clegg’s speech in particular. You can judge for yourself how accurate her predictions were by listening here from about 8 minutes in.

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The Voice

LDVideo: Lib Dem spring conference round-up (1)

By The Voice | Mon 11th March 2013 - 8:05 am

Missed the Lib Dems’ spring conference this weekend? Here are three clips to help you catch-up, or re-live, some of what happened…

“Where we work we win” says Nick Clegg

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The Voice

Text of Nick Clegg’s speech to the Lib Dems’ spring party conference

By The Voice | Sun 10th March 2013 - 12:40 pm

Here’s the text of Nick Clegg’s speech to the Lib Dems’ spring conference in Brighton today:

Eastleigh. Conference, I have never seen anything like it. Thousands and thousands of activists flooding in from every part of the UK. Young people arriving in their droves. Hitting the pavements, the phones, Facebook, Twitter, email – finding any and every way to drive our message home. I want to thank you all – you were just brilliant.

They said we’d never win it. The same critics who try to write us off time and time again. But, you know what? The naysayers can tear

…

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The Voice

Paddy: “You’ve heard the saying it’s not the winning that matters, it’s the taking part. That’s b*****ks.”

By The Voice | Sat 9th March 2013 - 11:00 am

Paddy Ashdown video screenshotPaddy Ashdown, Chair of the Liberal Democrat General Election Campaign, is about to speak to the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference. Here’s what he’ll say:

You know, making this speech today gives me a strong sense of déjà vu. I gave a speech at the Conference here in Brighton, right after the last time we won a by election in Eastleigh!

Some things haven’t changed. Orange diamonds. Fighting against the odds, Simon Hughes. But one big thing has changed. We were a Party of Opposition then. We’re a party

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The Voice

Jo Swinson talks directly to Lib Dem members about her role in the Chris Rennard allegations

By The Voice | Sat 9th March 2013 - 10:45 am

jo swinson Alex Folkes/Fishnik PhotographyLast night, Danny Alexander wrote this post for LibDemVoice explaining his role in the allegations concerning Lord Rennard, confirming he spoke directly to the party’s then chief executive to make clear any future conduct would have consequences: “These were not easy conversations, nor should they have been.”

Jo Swinson, whose only previous public statement on the issue was posted here on LibDemVoice, took to the stage at last night’s party conference rally to talk directly to members about how she’d handled the allegations which were …

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The Voice

Nick’s conference speech: “When our opponents tell us we are finished, remember Eastleigh!”

By The Voice | Fri 8th March 2013 - 7:05 pm

Here’s the text of Nick Clegg’s speech at the start of the Spring Conference Rally in Brighton tonight:

I know it is unusual for me to speak at the start of the rally but there’s an issue I want to address head on.

Today is International Women’s Day. It is right that we come together as a party to celebrate the life changing advances in women’s rights both at home and around the world. Advances that Liberal Democrats championed in opposition and are delivering in Government.

But it is also right that – following the events of recent weeks – we

…

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The Voice

Food safety: a conflict of interest that should worry you

By The Voice | Fri 8th March 2013 - 12:51 pm

The author of this piece wishes to remain anonymous, due to political restrictions on their activity, and is involved in local government regulation.

It will be interesting to see if the horse meat scandal brings any of the supermarkets to court. Selling something that is not what you say it is, is an offence unless you have a defence of ‘due diligence’. As a local government regulator, I doubt very much that any of the supermarkets will be brought before the courts. Why? Because successive governments have made the enforcement of regulations on big business has been made so difficult in …

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The Voice

Women Liberal Democrats and sexual harrassment allegations

By The Voice | Tue 5th March 2013 - 8:53 am

miranda-whiteheadWe have received this statement from the Chair of Women Liberal Democrats, Miranda Whitehead, which has been sent to all their members. In view of its subject matter we have decided to reproduce it in full.

Women Liberal Democrats ( WLD)  are very concerned  by the sexual harassment allegations involving the party .

Of equally serious concern is the implication that the party did not deal appropriately with these complaints when they were first raised and failed to offer support.

We are also aware that it appears WLD was not seen as a place to turn for people with concerns. As some of these allegations are historical we are having to look back through our records, to be certain that these issues weren’t raised to the SAO, but whatever the case that is a failure on the part of WLD, and for that I am personally very sorry.

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged , and | 17 Comments
The Voice

Don’t forget #CallClegg on at 9am today

By The Voice | Wed 27th February 2013 - 8:57 am

In a change to the usual schedule, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will be taking questions from listeners around the country at 9am this morning, Wednesday (not tomorrow, Thursday):

Not that there’s much for him to talk about this week…

Posted in News | 2 Comments
The Voice

Lord Rennard: further reports and a new statement

By The Voice | Tue 26th February 2013 - 6:33 pm

Radio 4 ran a piece about the allegations against Chris Rennard today which covered a wide range of the questions raised so far. You can listen to it here. (Update – also written up by the BBC here.)

A spokesperson for Lord Rennard also issued a statement today, which says:

Lord Rennard refutes these allegations. He will co-operate with any properly constituted inquiry.

He has been notified of an internal investigatory panel within the Party. The matter must now be regarded as sub judice pending its proceedings and no further statement will be issued in the interim.

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The Voice

Mark Pack on BBC comments on Chris Rennard allegations

By The Voice | Tue 26th February 2013 - 7:05 am

Lib Dem Voice co-editor Mark Pack was interviewed by the BBC yesterday about the allegations concerning Chris Rennard. Here’s what he had to say:

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The Voice

Stephen Tall on Sky News comments on today’s Chris Rennard allegations

By The Voice | Mon 25th February 2013 - 10:40 pm

Lib Dem Voice co-editor Stephen Tall was interviewed on Sky News earlier today about the allegations concerning Chris Rennard — here’s what he had to say:

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Posted in YouTube | Tagged and | 9 Comments
The Voice

Farron: “We screwed this up”

By The Voice | Mon 25th February 2013 - 9:53 am

Speaking on Radio Four’s Today programme, Party President Tim Farron spoke candidly about the the handling of the alleged inappropriate behaviour of the party’s former chief executive, stating very plainly:

The one thing I probably can tell you without going through due process is that we screwed this up as a party. There are individuals out there who we have a duty of care towards who we did not fulfil that duty of care to them and that is something we have to learn from, apologise for, and make sure never happens again.

He emphasised two key points which will guide the …

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The Voice

Statement from Nick Clegg on Chris Rennard allegations

By The Voice | Sun 24th February 2013 - 7:35 pm

The following statement by Nick Clegg has just been issued:

The allegations made on Channel 4 concerning Lord Rennard last Thursday were extremely serious and distressing to the women involved. It is critical they are investigated thoroughly and dealt with properly and they will be.

But I would like to make one thing crystal clear. I did not know about these allegations until Channel 4 informed the party of them shortly before they were broadcast. I have today spoken to one of the women in the broadcast who I respect and admire and who confirmed that she had never raised the issue

…

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The Voice

Chris Rennard steps aside from party roles to avoid “embarrassment” to Lib Dems

By The Voice | Fri 22nd February 2013 - 10:40 am

Further to the allegations broadcast on last night’s Channel 4 News that former Lib Dem chief executive Lord (Chris) Rennard behaved sexually inappropriately towards women working for the Liberal Democrats, he has announced he’s stepping aside from his current active roles within the party — as a Lib Dem peer and a member of the party’s federal policy committee — to avoid “embarrassment” to the party. Here‘s the Telegraph report:

The top Lib Dem official official will temporarily stand down from his party duties to avoid “embarrassment” to the party, after several women made accusations about his conduct on

…

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The Voice

Party launches investigation over C4 News allegations

By The Voice | Thu 21st February 2013 - 7:52 pm

The party has launched an internal investigation, headed by Party President Tim Farron, in response to allegations aired on tonight’s Channel 4 News.

The party released this statement in response to the report:

In view of the serious allegations put to us by Channel 4 and the concerns raised about how such issues have been handled in the past, Nick Clegg has asked Tim Farron, the Party President, to establish an immediate review into all our procedures for dealing with these issues, including a thorough examination of how allegations made in the past have been handled. This review group had its

…

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The Voice

Eastleigh Tory candidate “running scared” from hustings

By The Voice | Thu 21st February 2013 - 9:52 am

Missing Tory candidateThe Conservative candidate has pulled out of the BBC Radio 5 Live hustings this morning, and is facing accusations of running scared of voters.

From The Guardian:

There is growing concern within the party that with a week to go before polling day her no-nonsense and frequently off-message approach is damaging its chances of seizing the seat from the Liberal Democrats.

Candidates from the other major parties were attending the debate – chaired by Victoria Derbyshire – on Thursday morning for 5 Live, a major set-piece of the week. But Conservative

…

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Posted in News and Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged , , , , , and | 8 Comments
The Voice

Social care reforms – open thread

By The Voice | Mon 11th February 2013 - 10:51 am

Jeremy Hunt is due to confirm the pre-announced details of Social Care reform later today.

The BBC summarises what’s known about the proposals here:

The government is due to announce its “fully-funded solution” to the problem of elderly people in England who cannot afford social care.

It is expected to include a £75,000 cap on the costs people pay for care and a rise in the threshold for means-tested support from £23,250 to £123,000.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the “scandal” of many people selling homes to pay care bills must be tackled.

Do these proposals go far enough?

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The Voice

Gove forced into GCSE U-turn ‘under Lib Dem pressure’

By The Voice | Thu 7th February 2013 - 7:35 am

The morning’s big news is that Conservative education secretary Michael Gove is set to announce a U-turn today on his plans to scrap the current GCSE exams and replace them with a new EBacc qualification in 2015. Here‘s how the Independent reports it:

The Education Secretary bowed to overwhelming pressure for a rethink from Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, the exams regulator Ofqual and MPs from all parties. It is understood that he decided to act after being warned by civil servants that one key plank of his reforms – handing each of the core subjects over to just

…

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The Voice

Equal marriage: the speeches of Stephen Gilbert, Stephen Williams and Simon Hughes

By The Voice | Wed 6th February 2013 - 8:45 am

Last night saw the House of Commons approve the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Three Lib Dem MPs spoke, and here are their contributions to that historic debate…

steve gilbertStephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD):

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins), who has articulated what many people of faith across our country have struggled with before coming to the conclusion that love should be for one and all and that marriage should not be an exclusive institution.

I declare an interest:

…

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The Voice

Tessa Munt and Tim Farron on Chris Huhne’s downfall

By The Voice | Mon 4th February 2013 - 7:40 pm

Reaction to Chris Huhne’s shock decision to plead guilty to perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case and to quit as MP for Eastleigh has been rolling throughout the day.

Here’s two of Chris’s backbench colleagues on today’s events. First, Lib Dem MP for Wells, Tessa Munt, who praised his work as a “fantastic constituency MP”:

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The Voice

Lib Dem donor Brompton Capital given all clear by the Electoral Commission

By The Voice | Mon 28th January 2013 - 9:20 am

rumi verjeeA month ago, the Sunday Telegraph splashed on allegations by Labour MP Michael Dugher demanding the Electoral Commission investigate donations to the Lib Dems from Rumi Verjee via Brompton Capital Limited.

Well, the Electoral Commission has now investigated — and it’s given the donations the all-clear, and ruled out pursuing the matter any further:

“We have carefully considered whether there is sufficient reason to believe that a breach of PPERA may have taken place, and whether the matter warrants referral for a case review or investigation. Having

…

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