Author Archives: The Voice

Via Press Gazette:

The NUJ has accused the police of abusing its stop and search powers after a photographer was detained for 45 minutes whilst she was covering a wedding in London Docklands.

Jess Hurd was taking photos of a traveller wedding last Wednesday – on UN Human Rights Day – for a long term documentary project on the persecution of travellers when she had her camera taken from her and was detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act.

The section covers those thought to be “carrying out hostile reconnaissance for a terrorist assault”. Hurd was spotted by police outside the reception

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Via The Guardian came the news this week that:

Luxembourg’s parliament … moved to curtail the powers of the country’s monarch, Grand Duke Henri, after he refused to sign a euthanasia bill into law.

The 60-member legislature voted 56-0, with one abstention, to amend the constitution so that bills will no longer require Henri’s approval before passing into law. The vote avoided a constitutional crisis and cleared the way for Henri to “promulgate” – or formally announce – the euthanasia and assisted-suicide bill after it gets final legislative approval on December 18…

The law makes euthanasia and assisted suicide possible after at

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Welcome to our live Q&A session with Steve Webb, the climate change and energy spokesperson. It’s dead easy. Click into the box below to get started with your questions, or just to read what others are asking. The chat will go live from 6.30pm.

Via Muslim News we have the text of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s greeting ahead of next week’s Eid festival:

I offer my warmest greetings and best wishes for all Muslims on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

I know this is a very special time for family and friends coming together as you join in spirit with the millions gathered in Mecca to uphold the traditions of one of your most sacred feasts.

As Muslims in the UK celebrate Eid al-Adha, we are reminded of the contributions that Muslim communities have made to our religious and cultural heritage.

The latest quarterly donation reports show relatively modest donations from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust to the Liberal Democrats (£8,725 in the third quarter of 2008), but via their website comes news that more money is on its way:

Grants made in 2008
October 2008 Quarter

Liberal Democrats

£1,230,000 towards campaigning costs in the lead up to the next General Election allocated as follows:

* £150,000 to support campaigns in key seats with women, black and minority ethnic candidates;
* £700,000 towards the cost of campaign staff and literature;
* £200,000 for election related training;
* £180,000 to support voter contact operations.

www.libdems.org.uk

The Office of the Leader

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As Anders Hanson has written earlier today:

It’s so hard to write this.  As some of you may know, Neil Trafford has died in a car accident.  I wasn’t sure if I should write anything here so soon, but when I started writing things down I found that although it was upsetting it was also helpful.

Neil was one of those amazing people who was not only a really committed Liberal Democrat and a phenomenal campaigner, but was also great fun to be with, was very outgoing and sociable and had a real normal life outside of the party.

Neil was hugely …

Via The Sunday Times:

One of Britain’s least active MEPs has been receiving more than £40,000 a year for office expenses despite having no office in his constituency.

David Sumberg, a Conservative MEP for the North West of England, has already declared he pays £54,000 a year for secretarial support from his wife.

Since the current European parliament was elected in 2004, Sumberg has made just two set-piece speeches and 12 one-minute “explanations of votes”. He has tabled five questions and sits on a committee but has not written any of its reports or tabled any resolutions.

“If there was a competition for

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Nick Clegg appeared on the Daily Politics show today, talking about Liberal Democrat tax cut plans and how the party is ahead of the curve. You can watch the piece here.