Author Archives: The Voice

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The LDV Friday Five: 20 April 2012

By The Voice | Fri 20th April 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | 4 Comments

Paddy Ashdown: If everyone dodged taxes there would be no hospitals, no schools, no welfare

By The Voice | Mon 16th April 2012 - 9:24 am

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday, Paddy Ashdown was at his most forthright on the subject of tax relief for charitable donations.

Paddy reminded Marr that he is the President of UNICEF UK, and therefore knows exactly how charities will be hit by the government’s proposal of a £50,000 or 25% of income (whichever is higher) limit on tax exempt donations from one individual.

But he told Marr that it is the poor who pay when tax monies are diverted excessively to charities. He said …

Posted in News | Tagged Charitable donations and paddy ashdown | 8 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #269

By The Voice | Sun 15th April 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 269th 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 (8-14 April, 2012), 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 | Leave a comment

The LDV Friday Five: 13 April 2012

By The Voice | Fri 13th April 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

People wearing crosses at work: what is the government doing?

By The Voice | Sat 7th April 2012 - 9:26 am

Here’s the answer, courtesy of the official reply being sent to people who write to ministers on this topic:

Unfortunately, some recent media coverage has misrepresented the position with regard to the ability of employees to wear crosses, or other religious symbols, while at work. The Government believes that people should be able to wear crosses openly at work. The law allows for this, and employers are generally very good at being reasonable in accommodating people’s religious beliefs.

There is no law stating what people can or cannot wear as this is considered a matter of personal choice. The Equality Act 2010 maintains this …

Posted in News | 18 Comments

Tim Farron replies to Lib Dem members’ letter: “Britain must be more liberal and free as a result of Liberal Democrats in power, not less”

By The Voice | Fri 6th April 2012 - 6:00 pm

Earlier this afternoon, Lib Dem Voice published An open letter to Lib Dem party president, Tim Farron: Concerns over our liberal identity and mission in government following recent suggestions the government would seek to increase the authorities’ web surveillance powers. Signed by more than 150 Lib Dem members (with many more adding their names in the comments thread) it urged the party’s ministers “to heed our call – block these illiberal proposals and lead the charge for reform of RIPA to ensure our citizens enjoy the fair, free and open society we seek to build and safeguard.”

Tim Farron has sent us this response:

Posted in News | Tagged featured, interception modernisation programme and tim farron | 32 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 6 April 2012

By The Voice | Fri 6th April 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

An open letter to Lib Dem party president, Tim Farron: Concerns over our liberal identity and mission in government

By The Voice | Fri 6th April 2012 - 1:55 pm

The following letter, written by Martin Eakins a Lib Dem councillor in Manchester and co-signed by more than 150 fellow party members, has been sent to party president Tim Farron:

Dear Tim,

We understand that the leaked policy on RIPA internet surveillance is now being reviewed more thoroughly, rather than rushed into the Queen’s speech. As such we would like you, as our president, to convey the following thoughts to appropriate Liberal Democrat ministers.

The Home Secretary wrote in the Sun on Tuesday that “Only suspected terrorists, paedophiles or serious criminals will be investigated.” This is akin to saying “if you’ve

…

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged interception modernisation programme and ripa | 48 Comments

How you can help Liberal Democrat Voice

By The Voice | Wed 4th April 2012 - 4:53 pm

The Voice is only a success because of the interest and support from our readers. For many people just lurking and reading the site is all they want to do – and that’s fine, we’re grateful for people taking the time to read the site.

You can though help us continue to produce interesting content for a growing audience. Here are four simple ways:

1. Let us have your tips for stories. Perhaps there’s something outrageous going on in your local council? Or you’re an expert in a particular area and have spotted a story other people have missed? Or you’ve seen …

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

The Independent View: A note to the Liberal Democrats on university access and information

By The Voice | Wed 4th April 2012 - 12:50 pm

A child’s fate is often decided very early on in its development. That is why government intervention must happen early. Liberal coalition policies such as parenting classes and the pupil premium will help us move away from what Nick Clegg calls a “closed society” where people’s circumstances at birth haunt them for the rest of their life.

The most effective intervention happens before the age of 11, but this mustn’t be where it ends. A lack of decent careers advice and university guidance at some secondary state schools means that many talented pupils are failing to meet their potential.

Just as worrying …

Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged education | 11 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #267

By The Voice | Sun 1st April 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 267th 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 (25-31 March, 2012), 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 | Leave a comment

The LDV Friday Five: 30 March 2012

By The Voice | Fri 30th March 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Brian Paddick to be questioned live on Guardian website TODAY 1-2 pm

By The Voice | Wed 28th March 2012 - 9:53 am

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick will be answering questions live on the Guardian website between 1 and 2 pm today.

If you have anything you want to ask Brian about what he stands for and what he wants to do for London, head here and put your question in the comments.

We’ll bring you news of how he got on tomorrow.

PS It’s a busy day for the London campaign. Don’t forget about the tweetathon to launch Caroline Pidgeon’s One Hour Bus Ticket campaign which she wrote about last night here.

Posted in News | Tagged brian paddick, guardian and london mayoral election | 1 Comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #266

By The Voice | Sun 25th March 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 266th 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 (18-24 March, 2012), 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

The LDV Friday Five: 23 March 2012

By The Voice | Fri 23rd March 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | 1 Comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #265

By The Voice | Sun 18th March 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 265th 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 (11-17 March, 2012), 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 | Leave a comment

The LDV Friday Five: 16 March 2012

By The Voice | Fri 16th March 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

How you can help Liberal Democrat Voice

By The Voice | Mon 12th March 2012 - 1:54 pm

You can though help us continue to produce interesting content for a growing audience. Here are four simple ways:

Posted in Site news | 2 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #264

By The Voice | Sun 11th March 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 264th 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 (4-10 March, 2012), 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 | Leave a comment

Text of Nick Clegg’s speech to the Lib Dems’ 2012 spring conference

By The Voice | Sun 11th March 2012 - 12:15 pm

Nick Clegg is currently speaking to the Lib Dems’ spring conference at NewcastleGateshead — here’s the text of his speech:

This year will show the best of Britain. The Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee, a nation proud of our past, but with our face to the future. A nation that treasures liberty, honours hard work and values fair play and fair chances. That is the character of our country: strong, confident, united.

And our character as a nation is being tested, because even in this year of celebration families are under pressure, worrying about paying their bills, about keeping their jobs,

…

Posted in News | Tagged #ldconf and nick clegg | 4 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 9 March 2012

By The Voice | Fri 9th March 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | Leave a comment

Lynne Featherstone criticises marriage tax breaks

By The Voice | Mon 5th March 2012 - 1:54 pm

PoliticsHome reports:

Lynne Featherstone has criticised the idea of giving married couples a tax break, saying such a move would be “extremely unfair”. In an interview with The Times(£), the Equalities Minister said a reduction in tax for couples who tie the knot was a “bizarre concept… and wrongly aimed” and warned it was unfair on those couples and single parents who were unmarried.

Posted in News | Tagged marriage and tax | 13 Comments

James Graham leaves the Liberal Democrats

By The Voice | Mon 5th March 2012 - 1:22 pm

Winner of the 2007 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year award, James Graham has announced he has resigned from the Liberal Democrats.

Writing on his blog, Quaequam Blog!, under the title “Pressing reset”, James says:

Last night I formally resigned as a member of the Liberal Democrats, effective immediately. To answer some likely questions:

1) No, I’m not joining another party. As if.
2) No, I’m not making a protest or resigning because of a specific issue.
3) No, I’m not planning to write a self-aggrandising article about my personal reasons for resigning, at least not this week (and when I do I’ll

…

Posted in News | Tagged liberal democrats | 40 Comments

LDVideo: Jo Swinson’s Political Slot: The Liberal Democrats are in government on your side

By The Voice | Mon 5th March 2012 - 1:07 pm

Posted in Lib Dem TV and News | Tagged apprenticeships, Jo Swinson, pupil premium, tax cuts (Lib Dem), vince cable and youth contract | 6 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #263

By The Voice | Sun 4th March 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 263rd 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 (26 February – 3 March, 2012), 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 | 2 Comments

Tonge: Clegg acted “very hastily and ill-advisedly” in issuing apologise-or-resign ultimatum

By The Voice | Sat 3rd March 2012 - 12:41 pm

Here’s the Press Association report of Baroness (Jenny) Tonge’s BBC interview following her resignation this week over controversial remarks about the future of Israel:

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Tonge has claimed her party leader Nick Clegg acted “hastily” in quickly disowning her after she said Israel “would not be there forever”. She was forced to give up the party whip after the Deputy Prime Minister told her to apologise or resign hours after her comments to students at Middlesex University were revealed.

During a talk at the university, she claimed Israel would “reap what it has sown” if the United States

…

Posted in News | Tagged israel, jenny tonge, middle east, nick clegg and palestine | 17 Comments

The LDV Friday Five: 2 March 2012

By The Voice | Fri 2nd March 2012 - 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

Posted in Friday Five | 1 Comment

Jenny Tonge resigns

By The Voice | Wed 29th February 2012 - 5:34 pm

Baroness Jenny Tonge has resigned from the Liberal Democrats after refusing to apologise over her remarks about Israel.

According to Nicolas Watt of the Guardian, this follows Nick Clegg’s ultimatum that she should apologise for her remarks or resign.

HuffpoUK has the story:

Baroness Tonge has resigned the Lib Dem whip in the House of Lords, according to reports, after refusing to apologise for claiming that Israel would not “last forever”.

The Liberal Democrat peer, who once said she would consider becoming a suicide bomber if she were Palestinian,

…

Posted in News | Tagged jenny tonge | 15 Comments

Paddick accuses Met of leaking confidential witness information

By The Voice | Tue 28th February 2012 - 9:50 am

Yesterday former policeman Brian Paddick gave evidence to the Leveson inquiry, including these claims about the Met Police:

Posted in London and News | Tagged brian paddick, lord leveson and Phone hacking | 1 Comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #262

By The Voice | Sun 26th February 2012 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 262nd 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 (19-25 February, 2012), 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 | Leave a comment

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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