Author Archives: The Voice

Is that a headline you expected to read even a month ago? Yet today HM The Queen announced a large number of Lib Dem policies as part of the coming year’s legislative programme, including the party’s major priorities: fair taxes, a fair start for children, a green and sustainable economy, and a comprehensive clean up of politics.

Here’s the full list:

1. Making the tax and benefits system fairer and simpler, including a significant increase in the personal allowance and an ambition to increase it to £10,000
2. Restoring the earnings link to pensions
3. Greater freedoms for teachers over the curriculum
4. Measures to improve energy efficiency in

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This statement dropped into our mailbox shortly before 2am this morning.

“Tonight the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party and the Federal Executive of the Liberal Democrat party have overwhelmingly accepted my recommendation that we should now enter into a coalition government with the Conservative Party.”

“Before I say anything more about that coalition government I would like to express my thanks and admiration for Gordon Brown. He has been a towering figure in British politics for well over a decade. And the manner in which he has acted over the last few days has demonstrated immense dignity, grace and a profound sense of

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Two interesting snippets from today’s commentary …

Growing hostility within Labour to a coalition with the Lib Dems (FT)

Points out that senior Labour figures have been queuing up to denounce any prospect of a progressive alliance between their party and the Lib Dems: Jack Straw, John Reid, David Blunkett, Diane Abbott and Tom Harris have all argued it would be unworkable. The FT’s Jim Pickard notes:

I’m equally incredulous about the attempts to cobble together up to seven parties (including the Greens’ single MP) to hold off the Tories at any cost. Not least because one pro-coalition cabinet minister told me

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Via email:

Over the past four days we have been working flat out to deliver an agreement that can provide stable government for Britain that can last.

As you know we believed it was right that the Conservative Party, as the party with the most seats and votes, should have the first right to seek to form a government and we entered into discussions with them accordingly.

Our talks with the Conservatives have made progress but so far we have been unable to agree a comprehensive partnership agreement for a full Parliament.

I strongly believe we need a government that lasts so that it …

Nick Clegg has just issued the following statement:

Over the past four days we have been working flat out to deliver an agreement that can provide stable government that can last.

“The talks with the Conservatives have been very constructive and I am grateful to David Cameron and his team for the effort they have put in. But so far we have been unable to agree a comprehensive partnership agreement for a full Parliament.

“We need a government that lasts which is why we believe, in the light of the state of talks with the Conservative Party, the only responsible thing to do

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Gordon Brown has within the past hour announced he will be standing down as leader of the Labour party at their autumn conference – but hopes to remain as Prime Minister of a Lib-Lab coalition alliance until that time:

If it becomes clear that the national interest, which is stable and principled government, can be best served by forming a coalition between the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats, then I believe I should discharge that duty to form that government which would in my view command a majority in the House of Commons in the Queen’s speech and any other

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