Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

Andrew Duff MEP elected leader of UK Lib Dems in Europe

By The Voice | Thu 18th January 2007 - 10:00 am

Andrew Duff MEPAndrew Duff MEP has been elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party (LDEPP) in a vote yesterday evening. The contest was triggered following Diana Wallis’ resignation as Leader after she was elected a Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Speaking after the result, Andrew Duff said:

“I am grateful to my Liberal Democrat colleagues for electing me to lead the delegation into the second half of this Parliament. The individual talents of Lib Dem MEPs are well known. They are a fantastic team to work with, and we will continue to achieve …

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The Voice

Vigil for British Residents in Guantanamo Bay

By The Voice | Tue 9th January 2007 - 2:11 pm

gitmo.jpgLast night, Ed Davey used a Parliamentary debate to highlight the case of a constituent of his who is being detained in Guantanamo Bay. Ed believes that as a result of his detention, his constituent may be losing his sanity. You can read the full debate here. As mentioned in the debate, Sarah Teather also has a constituent in Guantanamo.

This event may be of interest to Lib Dems:

:: VIGIL FOR British Residents in Guantanamo Bay ::
On the eve of the 5th Anniversary of the Opening of Guantánamo Bay

Wednesday 10th January, 6pm
Richmond …

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The Voice

Nicol Stephen aims high in 2007

By The Voice | Tue 2nd January 2007 - 10:01 pm

Nicol Stephen MSPIn his new year message, Nicol Stephen, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said:

“This (2006) has been a momentous year for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Our success in the Dunfermline by-election sent shockwaves through the foundations of UK and Scottish politics. The Liberal Democrats achieved a massive 16% swing from Labour and Willie Rennie gained the seat. It was a turning point and for the first time it is now clear the Liberal Democrats can be Scotland’s largest party. The party is growing in support, particularly amongst young people and …

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The Voice

Campbell: “determined to take fight for a fairer Britain into the mainstream of British politics”

By The Voice | Tue 19th December 2006 - 11:09 am

Menzies CampbellMenzies Campbell has today delivered a speech to the IPPR entitled “Poverty and opportunity: the Liberal way”.

We reproduce the speech in full below – it’s fairly long and weighty as you’d expect, but worth reading in full rather than skipping to the conclusion, as we’ve done in the blog post title 😉

Some coverage of this speech already here.

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The Voice

PPC updates

By The Voice | Tue 19th December 2006 - 10:00 am

The PPC list now shows PPCs for Milton Keynes N, Warrington S, Glasgow N, Bexhill & Battle, Christchurch, Edinburgh West.

Posted in Selection news | 2 Comments
The Voice

Heads up: Campbell to make keynote poverty speech at 11am

By The Voice | Tue 19th December 2006 - 12:01 am

Menzies Campbell will address the IPPR today outlining Liberal Democrat policy proposals on tackling poverty.

More here.

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The Voice

>> Full details of Lib Dem mini-reshuffle

By The Voice | Mon 18th December 2006 - 3:36 pm

IN: Lynne Featherstone joins the Shadow Cabinet

Norman Lamb, formerly Chief of Staff to Menzies Campbell, takes on the role of Shadow Health Secretary.

Ed Davey becomes the Leader’s new Chief of Staff, which will be alongside his present role as Chair of Campaigns and Communications.

The DTI portfolio is taken on by Susan Kramer, who passes on the International Development portfolio to Lynne Featherstone, who joins the Shadow Cabinet for the first time.

Steve Webb was promoted to Chair of the Election manifesto team in October. He remains in the Shadow Cabinet.

The rest of the …

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The Voice

>> Mini-reshuffle underway in Lib Dem shadow cabinet

By The Voice | Mon 18th December 2006 - 11:31 am

Menzies CampbellImpeccable sources. Details sketchy. Has Lembit perhaps been just a little bit too cheeky for Ming’s taste?

Updates in the members discussion board. Official confirmation may not follow for 48 hours or so.

If you know what’s going on, do tell [email protected] – anonymity guaranteed.

Note: if you are a registered user and a Liberal Democrat, and don’t have access to the members-only boards you need to complete this form. But don’t get excited – there’s very little over there at the moment. Lib Dem MPs and their staff tend to …

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The Voice

Is John Thurso the sexiest man in the Liberal Democrats?

By The Voice | Fri 15th December 2006 - 1:35 pm

Thurso and Willott - the beautiful peopleAll round love walrus John Thurso MP is currently heading a poll to be crowned sexiest man in the Liberal Democrats on the blogger of the year’s site. It’s the ‘tache that does it. Lib Dem Voice unsucessfully lobbied for Jeremy Purvis MSP to be included on the list.

Jenny Willott is currently leading the field for the ladies and… look, I’m just not sure how much more I can say on this whole article without offending anyone, OK?  So …

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The Voice

Tory Councillor found guilty of gay slur

By The Voice | Tue 12th December 2006 - 4:35 pm

Cllr Peter Willows, a long-standing Conservative councillor in Brighton and Hove has today been found guilty of a breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act, which outlaws language causing alarm, distress or harassment.

He was alleged to have likened homosexuals to paedophiles, at a reception hosted by the mayor of Brighton and Hove.

Pink News had a reporter in the hearing and will doubtless have more soon.

Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 8 Comments
The Voice

PPC update: Birmingham Hodge Hill

By The Voice | Tue 12th December 2006 - 1:32 pm

Colin RossIt seems the last PPC update was written while Colin Ross was still updating his site, so we missed the selection of our first BME candidate in the current round – in Birmingham Hodge Hill.

Congratulations to Cllr Tariq Khan, who has been selected for this “moving forward” status seat. As Colin says “At the May 2005 General Election Birmingham Hodge Hill saw a massive swing from Labour of 18.3%, and should be regarded as one of the seats the Liberal Democrats should pick up from Labour at the next …

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The Voice

Lib Dems call for Post Office restrictions to be lifted to save our Post Offices

By The Voice | Sun 10th December 2006 - 1:00 pm

Commenting on reports that half the country’s post offices might be shut, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary Edward Davey MP said:

Ministers’ claims that post offices must close in their thousands are simply wrong.

These closures have been Government driven as ministers have taken away businesses like pensions, TV licences and passports.

Post offices can be viable if they are set free from Royal Mail restrictions on who they can trade with and given investment boosts to embrace new technologies and fresh business ideas.

We need less buck passing from ministers and more determination to save our post offices which are so crucial

…

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The Voice

Labour’s HQ sale tax dodge

By The Voice | Sun 10th December 2006 - 8:59 am

The Labour Party has been accused of depriving taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of pounds in stamp duty in the sale of its London headquarters, despite the Chancellor’s clampdown on stamp duty avoidance schemes in his mini-budget last week.

The Independent on Sunday has learnt that Labour sold its Westminster headquarters this year using a specially created company. The device, which Labour insists is a normal commercial transaction, cost the Treasury about £210,000 in lost stamp duty.

More

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The Voice

Another Councillor defects: Tories lose majority on Crawley BC

By The Voice | Fri 8th December 2006 - 11:10 pm

Crawley Borough Councillor Marcella Head has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats according to local Lib Dem Councillor Gordon Seekings.

The defection means the Tories’ lose their majority on the Council which is now 18 Con, 16 Lab and 3 Lib Dem and becomes NOC with the Lib Dems holding the balance of power.

This comes just days after a defection by a Conservative on Dover District Council led to the Tories losing their majority on that Council which is now 22 Con, 17 Lab, 3 Lib Dem and 3 Ind.

Marcella is distributing a letter to all her constituents and writes:

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The Voice

Lib Dems gain councillor; Tories lose Dover?

By The Voice | Mon 4th December 2006 - 10:04 pm

News reaches us that a Conservative councillor on Tory-run Dover District Council has defected to the Liberal Democrats.

We understand this would leave the Conservatives with a minority administration and the possibility of losing control entirely.

Update: The Dover Liberal Democrats site has the full story.

Cllr Paul Dawkins has resigned from the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats. He said: “We need to restore political balance to the Council to make it more responsive to local needs. The Lib Dems will give me the opportunity of working with a committed team, something that I that I have not had previously.”

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The Voice

More PPCs selected – and should Lib Dem Voice carry PPC ads?

By The Voice | Mon 4th December 2006 - 12:00 pm

Congratulations to the three selected candidates in Newcastle, promising new Lib Dem territory thanks to recent great local election results:

  • Newcastle Central – Gareth Kane
  • Newcastle East – Stephen Psallidas
  • Newcastle North – Ron Beadle

These selections, plus Winchester and Woking appear in the updated PPC list.

Now a question – I haven’t yet posted up last week’s PPC ads, and no-one has complained. Is that information useful, or should LDV carry only news of seats that have selected?

Posted in News and Selection news | 10 Comments
The Voice

CentreForum: Lucky timing, or conspiracy of international proportions?

By The Voice | Mon 4th December 2006 - 9:00 am

Oh OK, so it’s lucky timing.

Today’s unveiling of the Trident white paper (see our sort-of-advanced warning here) represents something of a timing coup for liberal think-tank CentreForum, for this evening they meet in Parliament for a long-planned discussion on… you guessed it… Trident.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 1 Comment
The Voice

Lib Dems haven’t heard the last of Michael Brown

By The Voice | Fri 1st December 2006 - 7:18 pm

Prison life can be lonely, and word reaches Lib Dem Voice that controversial former Lib Dem donor Michael Brown has taken to talking to the press from prison – we’re told he has been forcefully putting “his side of the story”

More column inches still to come…

Posted in News | 1 Comment
The Voice

Whitehall Press Offices told: ‘clear the decks’ on Monday

By The Voice | Thu 30th November 2006 - 12:24 pm

Major announcement coming…

Posted in News | 13 Comments
The Voice

UKIP leader in desperate fishing expedition: ‘No difference between the parties, so you may as well join us’

By The Voice | Tue 28th November 2006 - 1:32 pm

Farage“Dear Councillor,

“There does not seem to be very much difference between our three main parties these days.  This is hardly surprising as 75% of our laws are now made by the EU with little or no input from Westminster.

“As you must realise local government is in a poor state too with a new unelected layer of Regional Assemblies and voter disenchantment.

“In UKIP we believe that it is essential for the UK to become self-governing again and for voters to want to participate.  We are developing as a broadly based real party of …

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The Voice

Jenny Tonge faces ‘show-down’ with whips today

By The Voice | Mon 27th November 2006 - 12:19 pm

Jenny TongeThe BBC reports that “A Liberal Democrat peer is to face party whips over claims she repeated remarks critical of the political influence of the “pro-Israeli lobby”… The party has the power to withdraw the whip (removing her from the Lib Dem group of peers in the House of Lords) after the hearing on Monday, if it is unsatisfied with her explanation.”

Following Jenny’s rebuke by the party leader last month which prompted a heated debate on Lib Dem Voice, Baroness Tonge contacted us to say: “My original …

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The Voice

Canal cuts are nuts, says Huhne

By The Voice | Mon 27th November 2006 - 12:00 pm

WebsiteA new campaign against Defra’s environmental budget cuts, which has meant a 7% cut to British Waterways funds in the last year with the loss of 180 jobs, has been announced.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

“These redundancies show Defra’s budget cuts beginning to bite. Our canal networks will suffer as a result, together with a whole range of environmental and rural services.

“These cuts put our canals and waterways under threat, impacting on a wide range of users including boat owners, holidaymakers, anglers and ramblers. Canals are also …

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The Voice

Campbell pays tribute to Nick Clarke

By The Voice | Thu 23rd November 2006 - 2:27 pm

Menzies Campbell has paid tribute to The World At One presenter Nick Clarke, who has died at the age of 58:

“Nick Clarke was one of the best broadcast journalists of his generation. He was always well informed and brought an urbane authority to everything he did.

“Woe betide any politician who tried to avoid giving direct answers to his direct questions.

“He was a professional to his fingertips who made the World at One his own programme.”

Posted in News | Tagged and | 1 Comment
The Voice

London Region Exec Committee elections

By The Voice | Thu 23rd November 2006 - 10:03 am

The results of the London region elections can be found at:

http://libdems4london.org.uk/news/667.html

If you know of election results in other regions, do e-mail [email protected]

Posted in London and Party policy and internal matters | Leave a comment
The Voice

Ming’s good day at PMQs

By The Voice | Wed 22nd November 2006 - 2:40 pm

BBC News reports that “The old Ming Campbell – and I mean that in the non-ageist sense – is back.”

More

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

Vote now: Should the Lib Dems next London Mayoral candidate be an MP?

By The Voice | Wed 22nd November 2006 - 2:09 pm

City HallIn 2000 Susan Kramer (not an MP at the time) was crushed by Ken Livingstone. 2004 saw Simon Hughes MP receive the same treatment.

The latest Lib Dem Voice poll asks whether the party should front one of its growing band of London area MPs (Susan Kramer, Simon Hughes, Ed Davey, Paul Burstow, Tom Brake, Lynne Featherstone, Sarah Teather, Vince Cable) or use the opportunity to promote a grass-roots campaigner / peer / councillor / random other.

Please vote, and if you feel so inclined, do give your reason in the comments box …

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Posted in London and Voice polls | Tagged and | 8 Comments
The Voice

Toksvig to stand for Lib Dems?

By The Voice | Wed 22nd November 2006 - 12:33 pm

Top Lib Dem blog Hot Ginger & Dynamite reports that Iain Dale reports that Sandi Toksvig may stand for the Lib Dems at the next General Election.

UPDATE: Local officials have confirmed Toksvig did NOT apply for Meon Valley, and that she is not on the approved candidates list.

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The Voice

Someone send David Laws a new keyboard

By The Voice | Mon 20th November 2006 - 4:34 pm

He’s probably burnt his old one out. According to the Recess Monkey blog:

Lib Dem MP David Laws (Yeovil) has managed to ask 202 PQs today, and 175 PQs were to a single Department – the DWP.

Labour blogger Kerron Cross has more. New researcher in the Laws fold, by any chance?

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

PM “trying to legislate his way in to history”

By The Voice | Wed 15th November 2006 - 11:49 am

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell has accused the Government of ‘statutory addiction’ and commented that this Queen’s Speech was ‘remarkably similar to those which have gone before’.

Menzies Campbell said:

After nearly ten years in office the government and the Prime Minister are still chasing the same elusive goals and the same elusive headlines.

This is a rush from judgement towards legislation. The government suffers from a statutory addiction.

This is a Prime Minister trying to legislate his way into history.
Before the Prime Minister was elected he told us that his priority was education, education, education.

Since he was elected his priority has proved to be legislation, legislation, legislation.

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The Voice

AGM season is upon us

By The Voice | Tue 14th November 2006 - 2:41 pm

Wine and cheeseIt’s that time of year again when we’re all downing wine and cheese and MPs are trying to wriggle out of their agreements to give speeches to local party and branch Annual General Meetings.

AGMs are serious business, but can be comical – if your AGM produces a story that will make your fellow Lib Dems laugh, cry, or sit up and applaud, e-mail [email protected]. If you request it, we will give you total anonymity.

If you haven’t yet been told when your local AGM is, then contact the

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