Author Archives: The Voice

LibLink … Chris Huhne: Griffin is trying to peddle hatred against Muslims

By The Voice | Fri 23rd October 2009 - 3:55 pm

Over in the Independent, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne writes about his experiences on last night’s BBC Question Time as a fellow panellist alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin. Here’s an excerpt:

The key method of Griffin was on display: pretend to be moderate and reasonable in order to garner support which would be revolted if it knew his real agenda. He was confronted with quotes from YouTube, in which he told David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan that the BNP had to move softly because the British people were not yet ready for talk of racial purity, so

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged bbc question time, bnp and nick griffin | Leave a comment

BBC1 Question Time: your Lib Dem blogs reader

By The Voice | Fri 23rd October 2009 - 10:34 am

Here’s the click-through of posts published on the Lib Dem blogs in response to last night’s BBC1 Question Time, with Nick Griffin. If we’ve missed your post, or you write something later on, please post your link in the comments thread:

Nick Griffen’s grin (Lynne Featherstone);
This week, dancing the military goosestep, it’s Nick and Eva! (John Ault);
So #bbcqt – what a laugh, eh? (Jennie Rigg);
Is the BNP a repository of the psychologically unstable? (Liberal Revolution);
Nick Griffin on BBC Question Time – the verdict, #bbcqt (Mark Thompson);
Nick Griffin – pretending to

…

Posted in News | Tagged bbc question time, bnp and nick griffin | 5 Comments

Simon Hughes on the Labour MPs “failing to match climate rhetoric with real action”

By The Voice | Thu 22nd October 2009 - 7:15 pm

Lib Dem Voice yesterday covered the video Simon Hughes made to highlight the Lib Dems’ opposition day motion on climate change, and the 10:10 campaign’s call for a commitment to a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010. The Lib Dems’ motion was straightforward:

That this House believes that it is vital that the UK demonstrates political leadership at all levels in response to the climate crisis, and that this is particularly important ahead of the United Nations Climate Change summit in Copenhagen if there is to be an international agreement which will avert the worst effects of catastrophic climate change; further believes that immediate practical responses to the crisis should include a massive expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency and a commitment for all homes in Britain to be warm homes within 10 years; acknowledges that action taken now to tackle the climate crisis will cost less than action taken in the future; notes the declared support of Labour and Conservative frontbenchers to the objective of the 10:10 campaign which calls for 10 per cent. greenhouse gas emission reductions by the end of 2010; agrees that the House will sign up to the 10:10 campaign; calls on Her Majesty’s Government and all public sector bodies now to make it their policy to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2010; and further calls on the Government to bring a delivery plan before this House by the end of 2009 on how these objectives will be achieved.

But Labour MPs said no, rejecting the motion – you can find a full list of MPs who opposed it below – but, first, here’s what Simon Hughes had to say:

Posted in Parliament | Tagged 10:10 campaign, climate change, environment, labour party and simon hughes | 3 Comments

LibLink … Paddy Ashdown: Afghanistan’s future lies in strengthening its tribal structures, not in its corrupt government

By The Voice | Wed 21st October 2009 - 6:14 pm

Over at The Independent, former Lib Dem leader Lord (Paddy) Ashdown assesses the situation in Afghanistan in the light of President Karzai’s belated acceptance of the need for new, legitimate elections. Here’s an excerpt:

… no one should be in any doubt what the new vote will cost, not just in treasure but in blood. A new election may do something for President Karzai’s legitimacy, but it won’t alter the problem he poses if, as Mrs Clinton at least seems to expect, he is re-elected. What then?

Some say that Karzai II must be very different from Karzai I and the international

…

Posted in Europe / International and LibLink | Tagged afghanistan, devolution, hamid karzi and paddy ashdown | 1 Comment

Evan secures Parliamentary debate on Trafigura and libel laws

By The Voice | Wed 21st October 2009 - 10:15 am

Lib Dem MP Evan Harris has secured a debate on libel law and the reporting of Parliamentary proceedings following Carter Ruck’s attempts last week to gag The Guardian from reporting details of a Parliamentary Question concerning Trafigura’s activities. (You can catch-up on LDV’s reporting of the issue here.)

The debate will take place today in Parliament’s Westminster Hall today, 21st October, from 2.30-4pm.

Explaining the purpose behind the debate, Evan says:

There is a lot of concern in Parliament and in the media over the impact of English law on freedom of expression, but the people who should be

…

Posted in Parliament | Tagged #carterruck, #trafigura, evan harris and libel | Leave a comment

LibLink … Chris Huhne: Why I will debate with Nick Griffin

By The Voice | Wed 21st October 2009 - 9:45 am

Over at the Guardian’s Comment is Free blog, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne – who will be appearing alonsgide BNP leader Nick Griffin on Thursday night’s BBC1 Question Time – argues that it is time for liberals to challenge the fascists head-on. Here’s an excerpt:

The BBC has judged that two MEPs in a nation-wide election entitles the BNP to a voice on Question Time, just as previously a similar threshold elevated Ukip and the Greens. The BBC’s duty of impartiality is too important to have broadcasting executives decide that some opinions are acceptable and others are not, providing

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged bbc question time, bnp and chris huhne | 3 Comments

Nick Clegg – “Parliament houses a shooting gallery but not a creche”

By The Voice | Tue 20th October 2009 - 10:20 pm

Today witnessed the appearance of Nick Clegg (as well as Gordon Brown and David Cameron) in front of the Speaker’s Conference, chaired by the new Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.

The issue this special committee has been asked to look at is: “Consider, and make recommendations for rectifying, the disparity between the representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons and their representation in the UK population at large”.

You can watch Nick give his views and answer questions on the Parliament website here (his part begins about 48 …

Posted in Parliament | Tagged commons speaker, equalities, john bercow, nick clegg and Parliament | 7 Comments

LibLink … Vince Cable: Flash a red light on reckless lending

By The Voice | Tue 20th October 2009 - 6:20 pm

Over at The Times, the Lib Dems’ shadow chancellor Vince Cable argues that the Financial Services Authority’s review on mortgages doesn’t go far enough to prevent a return to banks’ wild excesses. Here’s an excerpt:

Some of the more aggressive banks, seeking to expand their market share, are relaxing their offerings in terms of loan-to-value ratios. Any eagerness to return to former lending practices should be a source of concern. The housing market has not adjusted, at least yet, to realistic levels. Historical trends show a cyclical pattern of boom and bust, lasting roughly 15 to 20 years, going back to

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged banking, fsa, housing and vince cable | Leave a comment

LibLink … Vince Cable: Loaded, yet STILL bankers are not doing their job lending to help businesses expand

By The Voice | Mon 19th October 2009 - 5:55 pm

Writing in the Mail yesterday (yes, the Mail: the newspaper which last week published the most complained-about article in British history) Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable contrasts two of the big stories of the last week: the investment bankers, announcing record bonuses, alongside the news of another big rise in unemployment. Here’s an excerpt:

A year after the collapse and rescue of the banking system by the taxpayer, the number of British workers without full-time jobs is still rising: 120,000 more in the three months to August.

But the big international banks – mainly US-owned but major players in

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged banking, recession, unemployment and vince cable | 1 Comment

CommentIsLinked@LDV … Chris Huhne: The implicit media prejudice against the Lib Dems

By The Voice | Mon 19th October 2009 - 10:20 am

Over at the Independent, Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne argues that the real bias at broadcasters is not against the Conservatives, but the Liberal Democrats. Here’s an excerpt:

The evidence of such bias is compelling and persistent. Broadcasters repeatedly ignore a third view on matters of the day. Even where Labour and Conservative views are nearly identical – such as on crime, Afghanistan or Iraq – news organisations evidently feel they can eliminate the Liberal Democrat viewpoint in the interests of simple, adversarial debate. The idea that there might be more than two points of view in an argument is normal in other European democracies, but not here.

Posted in LibLink | Tagged chris huhne and media | 7 Comments

LDV’s weekend round-up (17-18 Oct ’09)

By The Voice | Mon 19th October 2009 - 9:55 am

Busy this weekend? Didn’t get chance to read Lib Dem Voice? Here’s your ~~cut-out-and-keep guide~~ easily clickable digest of the 19 articles we published …

The LDV Friday Five (ish): 16/10/09 (3) by Stephen Tall
Members of the public who believe Lib Dem MPs behaved worst over expenses? ZERO PER CENT (11) by Stephen Tall
What’s the best blogging platform for new bloggers? (10) by Mat Bowles
Chris Huhne writes … Geert Wilders is best ignored (12) by Chris Huhne MP
MPs expenses: some MPs still don’t get it (3) by Mark Pack
…

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Glasgow North East Lib Dems launch by-election campaign

By The Voice | Thu 15th October 2009 - 6:20 pm

From the BBC:

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched their campaign for the Glasgow North East Westminster by-election. Former social worker Eileen Baxendale, 64, will fight the seat which was left vacant by the resignation of former Commons Speaker Michael Martin.

Ms Baxendale said she could give people “something different” and it was “a disgrace” the constituency had been without an MP for 115 days. The by-election has been scheduled to take place on 12 November.

The Lib Dem campaign was launched by Scots leader Tavish Scott, who said his party was the only one with “proposals for real change”.

…

Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged eileen baxendale, glasgow north east and tavish scott | 1 Comment

Nick’s Commons statement on Afghanistan

By The Voice | Wed 14th October 2009 - 3:30 pm

The BBC reports on Gordon Brown’s statement today to the House of Commons on the situation in Afghanistan:

Gordon Brown has announced plans to send 500 more troops to Afghanistan – but only if key conditions are met. The troops will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained. …

There are currently about 9,000 UK troops stationed in Afghanistan. There are also 150 reserve troops in the country which the Ministry of Defence said would be available for further temporary deployments.

Below is the text of Nick Clegg’s statement in response:

We on these benches have argued that we cannot continue to fight this war on half-horsepower with half-measures and half-baked thinking. Time is running out for the mission in Afghanistan and we need a radical change in direction.

Posted in Parliament | Tagged afghanistan, gordon brown and nick clegg | 2 Comments

CommentIsLinked@LDV … Nick Clegg: Sir Thomas Legg must re-open MPs’ expenses files

By The Voice | Wed 14th October 2009 - 2:30 pm

Over at the Daily Telegraph, Nick Clegg urges Sir Thomas Legg – heading the Parliamentary inquiry into MPs’ expenses – to go further than he has to date, and “take on the biggest abusers of the expenses regime”. Here’s an excerpt:

’ve instructed Liberal Democrat MPs to cooperate fully with Sir Thomas’ investigations, and abide by any reasonable requests for repayments. But when the Legg process was first announced, I think most people expected the worst offences to come under the toughest scrutiny – MPs who avoided Capital Gains Tax, claimed cash for mortgages that didn’t exist or ‘flipped’ their second home so they could claim for renovations on house after house. Legg’s review, which is still ongoing, will simply not be credible if it doesn’t do all it can to investigate these offences.

Posted in LibLink | Tagged mps expenses, nick clegg and thomas legg | 18 Comments

Lib Dem MP: Where’s my nearest railway station? In Norway.

By The Voice | Tue 13th October 2009 - 9:50 am

The Voice enjoyed this snippet from Hugh Muir’s diary in today’s Guardian:

Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat MP for the distant seat of Orkney and Shetland, received a parliamentary travel expenses form, which asked: “What is your nearest mainline railway station?” He contacted the Fees Office to explain that his constituency is in the middle of the North Sea but was told he had to answer. OK then, he said: Oslo. The member for Smarty-pants west.

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, hugh muir and mps expenses | 9 Comments

The LDV Saturday caption competition – Vince ‘n’ Paddy

By The Voice | Sat 10th October 2009 - 8:45 am

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

vince paddy

Here are veteran Lib Dem stars Vince Cable and Paddy Ashdown – but what do you imagine they might be thinking / saying?

Image: Alex Folkes/Fishnik Photography

Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged paddy ashdown and vince cable | 13 Comments

How you can help Liberal Democrat Voice

By The Voice | Thu 8th October 2009 - 1:50 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 great, 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 …

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Huhne urges Labour – “Restore hero cops’ pensions”

By The Voice | Wed 7th October 2009 - 7:45 pm

Thousands of police officers forced to retire after being injured in the line of duty face having their injury pensions cut back to minimum levels, research by the Lib Dems’ home office team has found.

Previously, officers were allocated an additional sum each year to compensate them for the injuries they received, even when they reached retirement age. However, since Home Office guidance was issued in 2004, many forces have reassessed officers when they have reached retirement age and reduced their injury awards to the lowest possible level. The Labour Government’s recent response to a consultation on this subject …

Posted in News | Tagged armed forces, chris huhne, military covenant and policing | 6 Comments

The LDV Saturday caption competition – Jo Swinson

By The Voice | Sat 3rd October 2009 - 8:45 am

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

jo swinson

Here’s Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson putting across her point – but what might she be thinking / saying?

Image: Alex Folkes/ Fishnik Photography

Posted in Caption Comp | Tagged Jo Swinson | 8 Comments

Daily View 2×2: 30 September 2009

By The Voice | Wed 30th September 2009 - 9:05 am

Two big stories

Gordon’s speech to conference

It almost passed unnoticed in the blogosphere, but it seems Gordon Brown made some sort of speech yesterday.

As the Daily Express put it:

Brushing off reports he is a “dead man walking,” a deluded Brown gushed: “It’s our Britain that works best.”

Though Labour activists might prefer The Guardian’s take:

In a determined 59-minute speech to the party’s autumn conference in Brighton, the prime minister said the Conservatives had faced the “economic call of the century” and had called it wrong.

Polanski arrested

Roman Polanski had sex with a 13 year old girl 32 years ago, so is …

Posted in Daily View | Tagged gordon brown and vince cable | 9 Comments

‘Trial HIV vaccine cuts infection’ – Evan’s response

By The Voice | Fri 25th September 2009 - 12:20 pm

The BBC reports:

An experimental HIV vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection, researchers say. The vaccine – a combination of two earlier experimental vaccines – was given to 16,000 people in Thailand, in the largest ever such vaccine trial. Researchers found that it reduced by nearly a third the risk of contracting HIV, the virus that leads to Aids. Speaking at a news conference in Thailand, US ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, said the trial has “brought us one step closer to an HIV vaccine”.

Lib Dem shadow science minister Evan Harris has issued the following response:

The field of HIV vaccine research is littered with failures and disappointments. Ideas which look great on paper or in theory end up not giving protection against the virus in the real world. This is the first time that scientists have come close to making that leap, and it’s a real cause for hope.

“However, it would be premature to say this is a turning point.

Posted in News | Tagged evan harris, hiv/aids and NHS | 1 Comment

Trouble for Labour in Rochdale as former mayor quits party

By The Voice | Thu 24th September 2009 - 12:20 pm

Rochdale Labour party is in turmoil this week, after seven Labour members were disciplined for bringing the party into disrepute for calling for an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse by their parliamentary candidate, Simon Danczuk. The former mayor of Rochdale, Robin Parker, has now quit the party in protest at what he regards as a miscarriage of justice, describing the position of Mr Danczuk as Labour’s candidate as “untenable”.

Here’s an excerpt from the in-depth report at Rochdale Online:

Posted in News | Tagged paul rowen, robin parker, rochdale and simon danczuk | 1 Comment

RIP Tom Blumenau

By The Voice | Wed 23rd September 2009 - 6:22 pm

From the Guardian’s obituary:

Tom had a strong social conscience and a feeling of moral obligation towards both individuals and the wider community. He was a magistrate for 15 years, a founder member of the Social Democratic party (SDP) and active in the constituency party for the SDP and later for the Liberal Democrats. Arguably his most fulfilling work was with Amnesty International (of which, together with his wife, Eva, he was a founder member) and with its offspring, the Prisoner of Conscience Fund. He set up and later became the chairman of the St John’s Wood, London, branch of

…

Posted in Obituaries | Leave a comment

Daily View 2×2: 23 September 2009

By The Voice | Wed 23rd September 2009 - 9:00 am

2 Big Stories

Clegg faces frontbench dissent on cuts

The Independent reports:

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg faced a major test of his authority tonight as his own frontbenchers stepped up criticism of his plans for public spending cuts.

One senior Lib Dem MP even suggested Mr Clegg had still to prove himself as leader and needed to listen more to activists’ concerns.

French police clear Calais “Jungle”

The Times says:

French police moved to clear migrants out of their makeshift camp in Calais today amid screams, tears and fights with protesters.

Scuffles broke out as the camp, known as “the Jungle”, was emptied in

…

Posted in Daily View | 12 Comments

BBC report: “Clegg ‘to axe tuition fee pledge'”

By The Voice | Sat 19th September 2009 - 8:01 pm

The BBC is reporting that the party will drop its pledge to axe tuition fees.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says he may be forced to scrap the party’s flagship policy of abolishing university tuition fees in England and Wales.

Mr Clegg will tell his party’s annual conference he has to be “realistic” about whether it is affordable given the country’s mountain of debt.

His analysis is backed up by the following quotes from Nick:

“I believe tuition fees are wrong, I believe they need to be abolished, I want to do it as soon as possible,” Mr Clegg will tell a rally

…

Posted in News | 21 Comments

Clegg: Labour insiders have asked us to fall in line

By The Voice | Fri 18th September 2009 - 11:05 pm

More material for Libdemologists, from the Telegraph:

The Lib Dem leader said that members of the Labour Party had approached his party looking for help in preventing the Tories taking power after the next election…

Mr Clegg, whose party begins its annual conference on Saturday in Bournemouth, said he will not take part in any alliance with Labour.

Read the full story here

Posted in News | Tagged nick clegg | 1 Comment

Nick Clegg: angry liberal

By The Voice | Fri 18th September 2009 - 7:25 pm

Drama and political passion over at the Jewish Chronicle, where Nick Clegg vows to Martin Bright that he will not silence controverial Lib Dem peer Baroness (Jenny) Tonge, whose outspoken comments on the Israeli-Palestine conflict have in the past landed her in hot water.

Nick Clegg is angry. No, it’s beyond angry. Incandescent almost gets it, but that still doesn’t capture the full fury of the man as he leans forward from his chair in the Liberal Democrat leader’s office in the House of Commons.

The accusation that Mr Clegg had failed to honour his commitment to act against the pro-Palestinian Lib

…

Posted in Europe / International | Tagged israel, jenny tonge, jewish chronicle, nick clegg and palestine | 5 Comments

Ladbrokes: “all the early money” goes on Lib Dems’ Dave Hodgson in Bedford mayoral election

By The Voice | Tue 15th September 2009 - 11:45 pm

An email drops into the Voice’s inbox from Ladbrokes to let us know their latest odds for the by-election for the directly-elected position of Mayor of Bedford. The betting firm has made the Tories favourites at 1/2, but the Lib Dems’ Dave Hodgson is a close second at odds of 2/1 – and Ladbrokes note:

your man Hodgson is attracting all the early money in Bedford!

Labour and the Independent candidates are also-rans in this election. So, guess what, folks? It’s a 2-horse race!

To find out more about Dave Hodgson’s campaign to become Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford click here. …

Posted in News | Tagged bedford and dave hodgson | 3 Comments

CommentIsLinked@LDV… Nick Clegg: Scotland needs to dare to be different

By The Voice | Mon 14th September 2009 - 1:20 pm

Over at Scotland on Sunday, Nick Clegg has an article arguing that “It’s the Liberal Democrats who have the record, the strength and the vision to change politics for good”. Here’s an excerpt:

It’s liberals who invented the state pension and the NHS, liberals who were first to campaign to protect the environment and liberals who first put concern for human rights into our foreign affairs. The Liberal Democrats are a pioneering party – the party of Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell, who stood up against jeers and derision to campaign against the illegal invasion of Iraq. We led calls for

…

Posted in LibLink and Scotland | Tagged nick clegg | 1 Comment

Paul Twigger selected for Lib Dems in West Derby

By The Voice | Sun 13th September 2009 - 12:00 pm

ClickLiverpool.com has the story:

Cllr Paul Twigger has been unanimously selected by the Liberal Democrats to fight the next General election for the West Derby constituency. At 28, Paul Twigger will be one of the youngest prospective candidates to stand for the Lib Dems. Mr Twigger will go head to head with Labour’s Stephen Twigg in 2010 for the Parliamentary seat. … As well as being the city’s youngest councillor, Paul Twigger also works as a Field Officer for the charity Age Concern Liverpool, looking after some of Liverpool’s most vulnerable citizens.

Cllr Twigger said: “I am delighted to have been

…

Posted in Selection news | Tagged liverpool, paul twigger and west derby | 3 Comments

Op-eds

ALDC by-election report – 5 November (Charles Quinn)
Tom Arms’ World Review (Tom Arms)
Observations of an Expat: Post Election Worries (Tom Arms)
How Liberal Democrats can ride Britain’s youth wave on the pro-EU shift (Rupinder Singh)
Just growth by lowering deadweight losses through tax (Tony Vickers)

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Author Archives: The Voice

LibLink … Chris Huhne: Griffin is trying to peddle hatred against Muslims

BBC1 Question Time: your Lib Dem blogs reader

Simon Hughes on the Labour MPs “failing to match climate rhetoric with real action”

LibLink … Paddy Ashdown: Afghanistan’s future lies in strengthening its tribal structures, not in its corrupt government

Evan secures Parliamentary debate on Trafigura and libel laws

LibLink … Chris Huhne: Why I will debate with Nick Griffin

Nick Clegg – “Parliament houses a shooting gallery but not a creche”

LibLink … Vince Cable: Flash a red light on reckless lending

LibLink … Vince Cable: Loaded, yet STILL bankers are not doing their job lending to help businesses expand

CommentIsLinked@LDV … Chris Huhne: The implicit media prejudice against the Lib Dems

LDV’s weekend round-up (17-18 Oct ’09)

Glasgow North East Lib Dems launch by-election campaign

Nick’s Commons statement on Afghanistan

CommentIsLinked@LDV … Nick Clegg: Sir Thomas Legg must re-open MPs’ expenses files

Lib Dem MP: Where’s my nearest railway station? In Norway.

The LDV Saturday caption competition – Vince ‘n’ Paddy

How you can help Liberal Democrat Voice

Huhne urges Labour – “Restore hero cops’ pensions”

The LDV Saturday caption competition – Jo Swinson