Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

The Independent View: Political Innovation No.5 – Government information? Get the public to provide it!

By The Voice | Mon 27th September 2010 - 8:28 pm

This is a guest cross-post by Lauren Currie – originally posted on the Political Innovation site here.

For too long, policymaking has been monopolised by civil servants, self-serving pressure groups and sensationalist journalists. We get a vote once every four or five years and we’re expected to be satisfied with that.

Public services are too important to get lost in headline issues, and too big to leave to those who have the time and energy to write letters or sit on committees. The best communication happens when it’s easy to do, and when it’s a conversation, not just a complaint.

For this reason, …

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | 2 Comments
The Voice

Liberal Youth support Farron for Prez

By The Voice | Sun 26th September 2010 - 10:57 am

The Liberal Youth Executive has voted to support Tim Farron in his bid to become the next President of the Liberal Democrats. Tim’s campaign was launched in the wake of the announcement by current President Baroness Ros Scott that she would not be seeking re-election.

Commenting, National Chair Martin Shapland said: ”On behalf of the Liberal Youth Executive I am delighted to declare our support for Tim Farron. He is a first class campaigner, a fantastic public speaker, and is an entirely approachable character. He understands the fundamental importance of youth participation in politics, and has a strong desire to work …

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Posted in News and Party Presidency | Tagged , and | 34 Comments
The Voice

+++ EXCLUSIVE: The MEP, the erotic award, the picture

By The Voice | Sat 25th September 2010 - 10:14 am

Lib Dem Voice is proud to have the first picture of North West MEP Chris Davies and his flying golden penis.

Davies won the trophy when he was named as Politician of the Year at the Erotic Awards 2010, for his work to give sex workers a voice at last year’s party conference and defending them from the prohibitionist policies of the previous government.

The award, proudly on show in Chris’s Stockport office, was previously held by another Lib Dem, Baroness Miller, and could be found in the office Sue Miller shared with Lord Lee of Trafford and Lib Dem party

…

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

Linda Jack’s day as guest editor

By The Voice | Fri 24th September 2010 - 9:41 pm

A big thank goes out to all at the Voice to Linda Jack, who has been our guest-editor for today.

Taking the theme of conference reviews, Linda has kept us busy with interviews and articles all day.

For posterity, here’s a list of the posts we have featured today.

…

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The Voice

Lib Dems pass motions on Trident and diversity

By The Voice | Wed 22nd September 2010 - 3:27 pm

News of two motions passed by Lib Dem conference today…

Diversity: Hughes to propose “radical changes” to promote candidate diversity

Simon Hughes, the party’s deputy leader, commented:

“I am glad that Conference agreed today that there will be a full set of proposals for candidate diversity and that we will have the chance to take decisions to change the face and mix of the Liberal Democrats.

“I will be presenting a paper to the Party’s Federal Executive next month which will propose radical changes in the way we select our candidates.

“This proposal will include the aim that half our candidates will be women …

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , , , and | 4 Comments
The Voice

Vince Cable speech to conference

By The Voice | Wed 22nd September 2010 - 12:28 pm

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:

I have come to account to you, Conference, for the work I have been carrying out in the Coalition Government.

I have managed to infuriate the bank bosses; acquire a fatwa from the revolutionary guards of the trades union movement; frighten the Daily Telegraph with a progressive graduate payment; and upset very rich people who are trying to dodge British taxes. I must be doing something right.

But I am told that I look miserable. I’m sorry, conference, this is my happy face. ‘Aren’t you having fun?’ …

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , , and | 3 Comments
The Voice

Full text: Nick Clegg’s speech to Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference

By The Voice | Mon 20th September 2010 - 4:18 pm

Speaking at Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today , Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will say:

Two and a half years ago, I stood in this very hall to make my first speech as Leader of our party. I said that the chance for change was within our reach, and we had to seize it. That chance came. Perhaps not quite in the way many of us could have expected.
But the chance came and you – we – responded with real courage and conviction.

Cynics expected us to back away. Instead, we confounded those who said …

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , and | 7 Comments
The Voice

Jo Swinson invites Lib Dems to join campaign for fairer voting system

By The Voice | Sat 18th September 2010 - 1:15 pm

An email to Lib Dem members, signed by Jo Swinson, is promoting the Lib Dem rally taking place on Saturday evening, with some high-profile guest speakers, as the party gears up for next May’s referendum:

On Saturday, join Nick Clegg, Art Malik, Martin Bell, some surprise special guests and myself as we launch our campaign for a fairer voting system.

As you know , Nick Clegg is leading the fight in Parliament to secure the United Kingdom its first ever referendum on electoral reform.

Fighting for fairer votes will be one of the top priorities for the Liberal Democrats this coming year –

…

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The Voice

Citizen video journalism to hit the streets of Liverpool

By The Voice | Sat 18th September 2010 - 7:45 am

Chris Henry of Winkball.com writes for Lib Dem Voice about the site’s plans to give up to 10,000 members of the public their say on the big three issues facing the country…

This weekend sees the party political conference season continue with the Liberal Democrat Party conference in Liverpool. Much debate will certainly surround this conference after the Liberal Democrats found themselves in alliance with the Conservatives to form a coalition government after the drama of Britain’s hung parliament crisis in May.

With the media storm that surrounds this the party political season, one media outlet will be

…

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The Voice

Ming on university funding: new system may gain his support

By The Voice | Sat 18th September 2010 - 6:45 am

Former Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell was one of the party’s first MPs to indicate unhappiness with the Coalition’s programme for government, stating he would vote against any increase in student tuition fees that October’s Browne review on university funding might recommend. Under the terms of the Coalition agreement, Lib Dem MPs were supposed only to abstain on any such measure.

However, this week’s Times Higher Education Supplement indicates that the Coalition’s proposals for a graduate contribution may just be enough to win Ming over:

Speaking in the run-up to the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool starting on 18 September,

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , , and | 3 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dem councillor in Barnsley joins Labour

By The Voice | Fri 17th September 2010 - 10:02 pm

The BBC reports:

Barnsley’s only Liberal Democrat councillor has joined Labour because of her opposition to her party’s decision to join a coalition government. Sharron Brook had represented the town’s Dearne Valley South ward as a Liberal Democrat since 2003. Her decision to switch to Labour, which controls Barnsley council, came after she was briefed on the government’s plans for children’s services. “It was on impulse really, I’d had enough,” she said.

Cllr Brook gained some prominence in the summer, when she circulated a leaflet denouncing the Lib Dems’ decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives, telling voters she was …

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Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 25 Comments
The Voice

The Independent View: Political Innovation No.4 – opening policy research to the public

By The Voice | Fri 17th September 2010 - 1:10 pm

This is a guest cross-post by Ivo Gormley – originally posted on the Political Innovation site here.

Although Government claims to want our participation and wants us to appreciate its policies, it hides the evidence on which it bases its policies in fat documents and reports that are hard to read and only available free at special events at think-tanks around Whitehall.

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | 1 Comment
The Voice

Richard Livsey dies

By The Voice | Fri 17th September 2010 - 8:04 am

Richard Livsey – Lord Livsey of Talgarth, former Brecon and Radnorshire MP and former Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, died peacefully at home on Wednesday night aged 75.

Kirsty Williams AM, the current leader of the Welsh Lib Dems, has paid tribute to Lord Livsey.

Richard Livsey was a man of immense honour and decency who was loved and respected by his constituents, colleagues and by politicians of all parties.

He will be remembered particularly as a champion for the rural communities in which he lived and an expert on agriculture, which he worked in all his professional life.

Nick …

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Posted in News | Tagged | 4 Comments
The Voice

The Independent View: Political Innovation No.3 – assertion-flagging: for less partisan, prejudiced blogging

By The Voice | Tue 14th September 2010 - 12:00 pm

This is a guest cross-post by Andrew Regan – originally posted on the Political Innovation site here.

Most political bloggers are motivated to fight what they see as bigotry, prejudice, and ill-informed, unjustifiable assertion.

Close up of an eye; click for photo credit

This is a fine and noble cause, because the spreading of false beliefs – without the evidence to support them – is bad for all of us, as is the displacement of informed argument by mere rhetoric. All the more so when the perpetrator …

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged | 5 Comments
The Voice

Clegg on the “profound effect” of fixed-term Parliaments

By The Voice | Mon 13th September 2010 - 2:22 pm

NickClegg.com has noted the significance of today’s legislation to establish the principle of fixed-term parliaments, removing from Prime Ministerial whim the timing of future general elections:

“Establishing parliaments of fixed-terms is a straightforward, but fundamental, change in our politics. It is a simple constitutional innovation, but one that will have a profound effect.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has pledged the introduction of a five year fixed term parliaments will have a “profound effect” and lead to greater stability in the political system.

The Fixed term Parliaments Bill faces its second reading in the House of Commons this afternoon.

“Establishing parliaments of fixed-terms is

…

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Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged and | 27 Comments
The Voice

Clegg: Governing for the long term

By The Voice | Fri 10th September 2010 - 11:57 am

Nick Clegg gave the following speech to the Institute for Government yesterday:

Successful governments require a number of ingredients: strong leadership, public support, dedicated ministers, and a good dose of luck, to name but a few.

But above all they need a clear sense of purpose.

When governments lose sight of their overriding purpose for being in power, the glue that holds them together dissolves. We saw this in the latter years of Labour’s time in office. A directionless government, without the underpinning of a clear purpose, inevitably ended in factionalism, intrigue and bankruptcy.

This is a mistake we will not repeat.  In my speech …

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , and | 4 Comments
The Voice

Our litmus test of the state of UK politics today

By The Voice | Thu 9th September 2010 - 10:12 pm

This is a joint posting by Left Foot Forward, ConservativeHome and Liberal Democrat Voice

LitmusThe leading blogs of left, right and centre, Left Foot Forward, ConservativeHome and Liberal Democrat Voice have teamed up to publish a special, limited edition newspaper – Litmus – looking at the key issues facing Britain today, which will be distributed at the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party conferences.

It may not have been the Internet election that many had predicted but websites and social networks played a greater role than in any previous election. The blogosphere, in …

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Posted in Op-eds | 20 Comments
The Voice

BBC: Clegg seeks to calm public ‘anxiety’ over spending cuts

By The Voice | Thu 9th September 2010 - 9:35 am

The BBC reports:

Nick Clegg has sought to calm fears over the impact of spending cuts, insisting they will be spread over four years and not implemented immediately.

The deputy prime minister told the BBC he understood “people’s anxieties” about October’s spending review, likely to see departmental budgets cut by 25%.

But it was wrong to say a “Sword of Damocles” would fall overnight and cuts would be spread out until 2015.

He said extra financial support would be available to vulnerable areas.

You can listen to Nick’s interview with John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme here.

If you’re lucky, and listen …

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Posted in News | Tagged and | 18 Comments
The Voice

The Independent View: Political Innovation No.2 – the politics of buying things

By The Voice | Wed 8th September 2010 - 12:00 pm

This is a guest cross-post by Dominic Campbell – originally posted on the Political Innovation site:

Well, you wouldn’t still be reading had I called it the politics of procurement now would you? (no, stop – don’t go!). No-one who engages with government procurement comes away impressed with it. It’s a process that wastes £billions and rewards process over outcomes.

Yet we all know that, deep down, it’s a symptom of a political problem. It is a system set up to manage …

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged | 5 Comments
The Voice

Five jailed over postal vote fraud

By The Voice | Mon 6th September 2010 - 4:24 pm

The BBC is reporting the jailing of five people, including two former councillors, for postal vote fraud in Bradford.

…the men plotted to get Conservative candidate Haroon Rashid elected in the Bradford West seat using fraudulent postal vote applications.

One man admitted conspiring to defraud the city’s electoral registration officer and was jailed for 11 months.

The four other men had denied the charge but were found guilty and jailed for 21 months at Leeds Crown Court.

Posted in Election law | Tagged | Leave a comment
The Voice

How you can help Liberal Democrat Voice

By The Voice | Mon 6th September 2010 - 2:26 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 three 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 …

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Posted in Site news | 1 Comment
The Voice

RIP Cyril Smith

By The Voice | Fri 3rd September 2010 - 1:22 pm

News has just reached the Voice that Sir Cyril Smith, for 20 years Liberal (then Liberal Democrat) MP for Rochdale, has just passed away.

Just over two years agho, Lib Dem Voice published an appreciation of Cyril’s life to mark his 80th birthday:

You’ve got to come to Rochdale to understand properly Sir Cyril’s popularity. He doesn’t get out much these days, but when he does… Rochdale comes to a standstill. Many people remember the Cyril from the 1970s and early ’80s. The Cyril who was Chief Whip during the Jeremy Thorpe scandal; the Cyril who appeared on national TV alongside

…

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Posted in Obituaries | Tagged | 11 Comments
The Voice

Nick Clegg writes about his visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan

By The Voice | Thu 2nd September 2010 - 4:54 pm

In an email sent this afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has written about his trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Earlier this week this week I went to Afghanistan and Pakistan to see for myself the problems and challenges that those countries face. The coalition government is committed to playing our part to helping ensure that the region has a peaceful and prosperous future.

It was my second visit to our armed forces in Afghanistan, where I saw again the bravery and professionalism of our troops. Whilst the situation in the country is still difficult, I believe

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 1 Comment
The Voice

Andy Coulson accused of knowing about widespread phone hacking

By The Voice | Thu 2nd September 2010 - 1:22 pm

So says the New York Times in its detailed report on what the News of the World got up to with phone hacking during Andy Coulson’s time as editor:

A dozen former reporters said in interviews that hacking was pervasive at News of the World. “Everyone knew,” one longtime reporter said. “The office cat knew.”

One former editor said Coulson talked freely with colleagues about the dark arts, including hacking. “I’ve been to dozens if not hundreds of meetings with Andy” when the subject came up, said the former editor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The editor added that when Coulson

…

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Posted in News | Tagged | 2 Comments
The Voice

The Independent View: Towards interactive government

By The Voice | Wed 1st September 2010 - 5:52 pm

This is a guest cross-post by Tim Davies – originally posted on the Political Innovation site:

The communication revolution that we’ve undergone in recent years has two big impacts:

  • It changes what’s possible. It makes creating networks between people across organisations easier; it opens new ways for communication between citizens and state; it gives everyone who wants it a platform for global communication; and it makes it possible to discover local online dialogue.
  • It changes citizen expectations of government. When I can follow news from my neighbour’s blog on my phone, why can’t I get updates on local services on the mobile-web?

…

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Leave a comment
The Voice

BBC: Nick Clegg hails England’s ‘unbeatable’ World Cup bid

By The Voice | Mon 23rd August 2010 - 5:18 pm

The BBC reports:

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has told Fifa inspectors England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup is “unbeatable”. The Fifa delegation, which will write a report on England’s bid to host the World Cup, began their four-day visit with a reception at Downing Street. Mr Clegg said: “I believe this is an exceptionally strong, unbeatable bid. We in this government believe in it, we hope that you will believe in it.”

You can see Nick welcome the Fifa delegation here:

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
The Voice

Tory MP in Commons sex party “scandal”

By The Voice | Sun 15th August 2010 - 11:20 am

The Mail is getting worked up that people attending a black tie dinner at the House of Commons may later, having left those hallowed halls, enjoy some form of sexual activity.

The newspaper is upset that Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell has sponsored the black tie event in the Commons, after which attendees will go onto what the Mail says is

an ‘After Party’ on a nearby boat where entertainment includes ‘pole dancing, burlesque and erotic performances’.

Needless to say, this is an outrage – the Mail even tracked down an unnamed MP to comment ‘This smutty event is below the dignity of …

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Posted in News | Tagged and | 14 Comments
The Voice

By-election news: Conservative gain in Medway

By The Voice | Sat 14th August 2010 - 5:56 pm

Only the one by-election this week, a gain for the Conservatives:

Conservative 617 (44.6; +5.6)
Labour 544 (39.4; -0.7)
LibDem (Garry Harrison) 104 (7.5; -0.6)
Green 45 (3.3; +3.3)
BNP 39 (2.8; +2.8)
English Democrats 33 (2.4; n/a)
Majority 73
Turnout 25.3%
Con gain from Lab

(There were two parties standing last time who didn’t stand this time.)

Posted in Council by-elections | 2 Comments
The Voice

Charles Kennedy and wife Sarah to separate

By The Voice | Mon 9th August 2010 - 7:05 pm

The Press Association reports the sad news:

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and his wife Sarah are to separate. A statement issued by the couple’s respective lawyers said it was “with great sadness” that they had decided to split.

“In doing so amicably, our ongoing and overriding priority will obviously remain our son,” it went on. “We wish this to remain an entirely private family matter.”

Mr Kennedy married Sarah Gurling in 2002 and their son, Donald, was born during the 2005 general election campaign while he was still party leader.

Posted in News | Tagged | 7 Comments
The Voice

Vince’s verdict on the Tories: “I’ve been pleasantly surprised that they’re not as I’d envisaged them”

By The Voice | Mon 9th August 2010 - 5:15 pm

There’s a fascinating interview of Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable by Decca Aitkenhead in today’s Guardian (much more revealing than yesterday’s in the Telegraph).

As ever with Vince, there are some great one-liners – and, more importantly, a very down-to-earth and honest assessment of his work and that of the Coalition.

Vince on continuing to travel by Tube:

I don’t feel comfortable with luxury, and I try to stay fairly normal. I mean, the first week I became a minister I discovered that there were ministerial cars and Jaguars and all this kind of thing, but I very quickly

…

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Posted in News | Tagged | 57 Comments
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