Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

Boost for Layla Moran’s campaign as Greens stand down in Oxford West and Abingdon

By The Voice | Sun 7th May 2017 - 10:17 am

The Greens have stepped down in Oxford West and Abingdon, which will help Lib Dem Layla Moran who is in second place in this heavily Remain voting area.

From the Oxford Mail

The Green Party will now be telling supporters that the main aim is to try and prevent a Conservative victory in Oxford West and Abingdon, and Layla Moran of the Liberal Democrats is the candidate who stands most chance of defeating the Conservative candidate Nicola Blackwood.

Ms Briggs said: “I’m a Green Party member to the core, but we need to be prepared to put the greater good before our

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 21 Comments
The Voice

Liberal Democrats will keep Pensions Triple Lock – Cable

By The Voice | Sun 7th May 2017 - 8:45 am

Theresa May has been reticent about whether the Conservatives will commit to keeping the pensions triple lock which was introduced by then Liberal Democrat pensions minister Steve Webb.

Today, the Liberal Democrats are committing to keep it for the duration of the next Parliament.

Vince Cable explains why:

Liberal Democrats believe that an important test of a civilised society is the way in which it cares for the elderly. We will protect the Triple Lock unlike the Conservatives.

The guiding principle of the pensions system must be to ensure that none are left unable to meet their basic needs for survival and participation in

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 52 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dems select Jo Roundell-Greene for Yeovil

By The Voice | Fri 5th May 2017 - 9:04 am

The Liberal Democrats have selected award-winning senior councillor Jo Roundell-Greene for Yeovil.

From Somerset Live:

Paddy Ashdown, Chairman of Yeovil Liberal Democrats said: “David Laws and I are delighted that the flame passes to Jo Roundell Greene who has been an exceptional councillor and champion for our area.

“I know that she will be a brilliant hardworking and effective Liberal Democrat MP who will fight for all, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Jo Roundell Greene was named amongst the best councillors in the country at the Local Government Awards in 2016. She is a wife, mother and grandmother, and has

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | Leave a comment
The Voice

It’s polling day. It’s 10 o’clock. Tim says thanks

By The Voice | Thu 4th May 2017 - 10:17 pm

As polls close in the local elections, Tim Farron has emailed party members to say thanks for all the hard work they have done over many months which has culminated in a very long day today. Activists are in pain right now. Many have been on the go since before dawn. And under normal circumstances, they’d be able to rest up for a bit, but Theresa May had other plans for our lives for the next five weeks.

Anyway, here’s what Tim said:

Hi

Polls are now closed in England, Scotland and Wales.

I want to thank every one of you that

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged | Leave a comment
The Voice

Willie Rennie: Every Liberal Democrat councillor will be a champion for their community, not a cheerleader for independence

By The Voice | Thu 4th May 2017 - 11:30 am

Willie Rennie has delivered his final rallying call of the Council campaign in Scotland. Every council seat in the country is up for grabs today.

This is what he had to say:

It is incredibly important that everyone has their say on who they want to represent their community.

Every Liberal Democrat Councillor will be a local champion that communities deserve. They will work all year round, not just at election time. Despite the Greens and the SNP wanting to put independence back to the top of the agenda, Liberal Democrats will serve to deliver the improvements to local services that we need.

Our

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 1 Comment
The Voice

WATCH: When Tim and Theresa meet the public

By The Voice | Thu 4th May 2017 - 9:16 am

The party’s digital people are really on form at the moment. Within hours of Tim Farron’s friendly argument with a voter yesterday, they had this out on social media contrasting what happens when Tim and Theresa go out in public. Tim chats away to anyone and came out of that experience with Malcolm very well. Theresa, well, doesn’t really meet ordinary people. This is important because in a democracy, people need to see their leaders under intense public scrutiny. No idea should go unchallenged.

Anyway, enjoy.

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 6 Comments
The Voice

WATCH: The party’s new video

By The Voice | Wed 3rd May 2017 - 8:08 pm

It’s certainly short and sweet.

What do you think?

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged | 8 Comments
The Voice

Another membership milestone: Lib Dem membership reaches record high on eve of local elections

By The Voice | Wed 3rd May 2017 - 8:12 am

The Liberal Democrats have reached their highest ever membership!

We’ve just gone over the high watermark of 101,768 set in 1994.

The landmark comes as Tim Farron heads to Oxford to rally activists for the party’s final push of the local election campaign.

More than 14,000 new members have joined the Liberal Democrats in the two weeks since the General Election was called. More than 50,000 members have joined since last year’s European referendum and nearly 70,000 since the 2015 General Election.

Tim Farron pledged to build the party to 100,000 members by the end of the parliament as a key pledge during his 2015 leadership campaign – but at that point everyone expected the end of the parliament to be 2020.

Tim said:

We are going into these local elections bigger than ever before, with a clear message and a growing sense of momentum.

In many of the counties where these elections are taking place it is the Liberal Democrats who are the main challengers to the Conservatives. Liberal Democrat councillors are the strong opposition to the Conservatives across the country, standing up to them on cuts to schools and elderly care.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 8 Comments
The Voice

WATCH: Nick Clegg’s speech on Brexit

By The Voice | Tue 2nd May 2017 - 10:11 pm

Nick Clegg gave his first major speech on Brexit of the election campaign today. You can watch it below. The full text follows:

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 10 Comments
The Voice

Clegg: Poor, insecure and vulnerable already paying price of Theresa May’s hard brexit

By The Voice | Tue 2nd May 2017 - 12:01 am

Nick Clegg is to make his first major intervention of the election campaign this afternoon in a speech at the National Liberal Club.
The former Deputy Prime Minister will criticise Theresa May for her pursuit of a hard Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn for his inept opposition.

He will point to analysis showing the average UK household is set to be £500 worse off this year than it was in 2016, and stress that only the Liberal Democrats are capable of providing this Conservative government with the opposition the country desperately needs.

He  is expected to say:

My argument today is simple: Our country cannot thrive without a strong economy. We can’t have a strong economy and a hard Brexit.

Theresa May alone is responsible for pursuing this course. It is already hurting the very people who need most help in society. So the question in this election is this: who will hold Theresa May accountable for the economic harm she will inflict on Britain?

Judging by the reports of last week’s lunch between Jean-Claude Junker and the Prime Minister, the Conservatives are once again proving to be as incompetent in doing the right thing for the country as they are ruthless in chasing votes.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 8 Comments
The Voice

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

By The Voice | Sun 30th April 2017 - 4:55 pm

7 bestMany thanks to the 20,600  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Daisy Benson stands aside as Yeovil candidate (20 comments) by Newshound

David Ward removed as a candidate (55 comments) by The Voice

Lib Dem candidate won’t stand against the Speaker after all (42 comments) by The Voice

The “hit list” of pro EU Tory MPs the Lib Dems are targeting in Brexit purge – Telegraph (28 comments) by Paul Walter

Encouraging poll news for the Liberal Democrats (26 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Could Rachel Johnson stand as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats? (42 comments)  by Caron Lindsay

Continue reading »
Posted in Site news | 1 Comment
The Voice

Farron to Blair’s 1997 voters: Things can only get better with the Lib Dems

By The Voice | Sun 30th April 2017 - 12:30 pm

On the eve of the 20th anniversary (how on earth did that happen?) of Tony Blair’s first election victory in 1997, Tim Farron has made an appeal to those who voted for Blair to choose the Liberal Democrats this time, saying that the Blair anthem of old now applies to the Lib Dems:

1997 shows what can happen when a party is prepared to make a broad appeal to change Britain’s future for the better.  My message on the eve of that anniversary is this: ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ – but this time with the Liberal Democrats. Back us and change Britain’s future.

I am urging those voters, those people who backed Labour in 1997, to come and vote for the Liberal Democrats.

Labour have comprehensively failed to stand up for our schools, hospitals and our place in the world.

They have become too weak, and too divided, to stand up for those who need it most.

Power without principle is barren, but principle without power is futile.

This election is a chance to change the direction of our country, those people who crossed the Labour box twenty years ago should vote for the Liberal Democrats.

It’s interesting that he didn’t even explicitly mention Brexit once – one of the few press releases where it is omitted. The people who gave Blair power would have voted overwhelmingly to Remain.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 7 Comments
The Voice

Elizabeth Riches selected to fight North East Fife

By The Voice | Fri 28th April 2017 - 8:54 pm

Former Fife Councillor and Depute Council Leader Elizabeth Riches has been selected to fight North East Fife. The interesting fact that I didn’t know about her from her biography is that she lived in the Arctic Circle for 2 years.

She has been a biology teacher, ran her own horticulture business and was a Councillor at Region and District level for 27 years.

She visited a dairy farm with Willie this morning but, a little disappointingly, there were no animal shenanigans to brighten up our Friday.

However, they did make a video to celebrate Elizabeth’s selection:

Elizabeth Riches said

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 5 Comments
The Voice

New role for Daisy Benson

By The Voice | Fri 28th April 2017 - 7:41 pm

Western Counties Liberal Democrats have appointed Daisy Benson as their Director of Member and Supporter Mobilisation. Given her record at enthusing the Newbies, they certainly could not have chosen anyone better for this role.

Gavin Grant, Chairman of Western Counties region commented:

I shared the disappointment of many that the timing of this General Election denied Daisy Benson the chance to win back Yeovil.

But I am delighted to announce that within the time available to her, Daisy will use her skills in this key strategic role in our West Country Campaign team.

Since the snap General Election was called 13,000 people have

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 6 Comments
The Voice

Vince Cable predicts second economic storm

By The Voice | Fri 28th April 2017 - 12:01 am

Remember back in 2003, when Vince Cable was saying that at some point the economy would collapse because of the amount of consumer credit?

Well, he was right then and he’s now saying that we could be up for another Brexit fuelled crash.

The former Business Secretary, who hopes to win back his former seat of Twickenham, says that a combination of declining consumer confidence, job losses and inflation has the potential to outstrip the economic storm of the previous decade. That, if you remember, was the direst economic crash since the Depression in the 30s.

Vince said:

For Britain, the economic weather is arguably worse than it was before the credit crunch. The pound has plummeted, which is driving up prices and trapping consumers in a vicious Brexit squeeze.

Consumer confidence was all that kept the storm clouds away. But with job losses at everywhere from Deutsche Bank to Nestlé, that confidence is going to drain away further.

The Chancellor clearly has no confidence in the economic strategy of the government, because he knows that leaving the single market and customs union has the potential to devastate the UK economy.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 29 Comments
The Voice

Liberal Democrats will not field a candidate against Caroline Lucas

By The Voice | Thu 27th April 2017 - 9:20 am

Liberal Democrats in Brighton Pavilion last night decided not to field a candidate in Brighton Pavilion against Greens co-leader Caroline Lucas.

From the Mirror:

Lib Dem President Sal Brinton said: “ Liberal Democrats across the country are challenging Theresa May’s Conservative Brexit government. As in previous elections, a limited number of local parties are considering how best to provide that challenge in their constituencies.

This comes after the Greens stepped aside in Richmond Park to give us a clear run.

What is also significant is that close to Brighton is the constituency of Lewes which we narrowly lost by less than the Greens …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 31 Comments
The Voice

Sue McGuire selected to fight Southport

By The Voice | Thu 27th April 2017 - 8:31 am

It’s just a week since John Pugh announced his decision to retire at the snap General Election. Last night, local Liberal Democrats selected Cllr Sue McGuire to fight the seat on 8th June.

From the Southport Visiter:

Sue McGuire represents Cambridge Ward in Southport, which covers parts of Churchtown and Marshside, and is a governor at Marshside Primary School.

She was first elected to Sefton Council in May 2010, and was chosen as leader of the party in June 2015.

Born and bred in Banks, Sue attended Tarleton High School.

She has worked extensively within the community to support and help residents on issues including local health services, council services and tenancy problems.

You can follow her on Twitter here.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 11 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dem candidate won’t stand against the Speaker after all

By The Voice | Wed 26th April 2017 - 4:40 pm

Yesterday the Bucks Herald reported:

Buckingham Constituency (Liberal Democrats) will be fighting the General Election on June 8th. This is the first time one of the three major parties has contested the seat since 2005, four years before John Bercow MP became the Speaker.

Their prospective parliamentary candidate is Sarah Lowes.

Sarah Lowes is a life-long Lib Dem voter who joined the party in May 2015, after the then leader Nick Clegg’s resignation speech inspired her to become an activist rather than an armchair supporter.

However, this has now been superseded by events. Today, Sarah Lowes took the decision to stand down in accordance with the convention that the main political parties do not oppose the Speaker.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 45 Comments
The Voice

David Ward removed as a candidate

By The Voice | Wed 26th April 2017 - 3:45 pm

Controversial former Bradford East MP David Ward has been removed as a candidate by Tim Farron. He had been re-selected as candidate for the seat and earlier in the day Tim Farron had said that he was not in a position to be able to remove him.

I am fully aware of the comments David Ward has made in the past and I find them deeply offensive, wrong and anti-Semitic. I think his decision to stand again, and the local party’s decision to select him, is wrong and I disagree with it completely.

I don’t select our individual candidates and nor should I. But let me be clear, I won’t tolerate anti-Semitism in my party.

A few hours later, some constitutional geekery had clearly been done because Tim released the following statement about an hour ago:

I believe in a politics that is open, tolerant and united. David Ward is unfit to represent the party and I have sacked him.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 59 Comments
The Voice

Lynne Featherstone hits out at UKIP’s FGM policy

By The Voice | Mon 24th April 2017 - 7:43 pm

Lynne Featherstone has, rightly, reacted with horror to UKIP’s proposal to “implement school-based medical checks on girls from groups at high risk of suffering FGM. These should take place annually and whenever they return from trips overseas.”

Lynne, in her work as Home Office and International Development Minister, changed the law to tackle FGM. She said:

UKIP’s approach is horrifically heavy-handed and will alienate the very communities we are trying to reach out to. We should be training our teachers and other providers such as community experts to identify those at risk and teaching children themselves that FGM is wrong and to come forward if they fear for themselves or a friend.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 8 Comments
The Voice

Liberal Democrats expected to surpass 100,000 members today

By The Voice | Mon 24th April 2017 - 12:02 am

The Liberal Democrat membership surge is about to take the party to a landmark 100,000 members – thanks to a staggering 12,500 joining since Theresa May announced the snap General Election last Tuesday.

Reaching six figures makes the party bigger than it has been since the mid-1990s and puts it on course to reach its highest membership ever within days. The biggest the party has been since its formation is 101,768 in 1994.

It means that more than 50,000 members have joined since last year’s European referendum and more than 67,500 since the 2015 General Election.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron pledged to build the party to 100,000 members by the end of the parliament as a key pledge during his 2015 leadership campaign – but at that point everyone expected the end of the parliament to be 2020.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 12 Comments
The Voice

Rennie: Liberal Democrats have the momentum

By The Voice | Sun 23rd April 2017 - 8:55 am

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has  declared that momentum has given the Liberal Democrats the upper hand in the snap general election.

Since the announcement on Tuesday of a snap election 8,000 people have joined the party with membership more than double than what it was before the election in 2015.  The party also raised £500,000 in just 48 hours.

In an email to members, Willie wrote:

Nobody was expecting the announcement on Tuesday but the calling of the general election has given the Liberal Democrats real momentum. A staggering  8000 new members joined the party in the 48 hours after the election was called as people have flocked to us in a bid to change the direction of this country. No other party has seen such a surge.

The upcoming election comes on top of the 30 council by-elections that the Liberal Democrats have gained since last year, including in Scotland. And who could forget that historic by-election victory in Richmond, overturning a Tory majority of 23,000 to be the voice against the Conservative hard Brexit.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | Leave a comment
The Voice

WATCH: Nick Clegg on Newsnight giving a clue about our election strategy

By The Voice | Sat 22nd April 2017 - 10:55 am

Nick Clegg appeared on Newsnight on Wednesday night at the end of a feature on Tory/Lib Dem marginals in the South West.

He said that Theresa May had called the election for cynical and opportunistic reasons, to try and “hoover up a huge majority” before the effects of Brexit hit and capitalising on the weakness of Corbyn.

He said that issues like the chronic underfunding of the NHS and schools were also important and were being overshadowed by Brexit.

In an interesting glimpse to our election strategy, he said that it was clear that Theresa May would still be PM and the Tories would still be the party of Government and the key test now was how to provide effective opposition to that Government. We are not going to sustain Theresa May in power to “implement a self-harming hard brexit” and we certainly aren’t going to help Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 51 Comments
The Voice

It’s Friday, there’s an election on, there must be a funny story about Willie Rennie and livestock

By The Voice | Fri 21st April 2017 - 8:20 pm

You just need to Google “Willie Rennie and pigs” to find the funniest moment of last year’s Holyrood election campaign. 

Well, there’s another election on and Willie put the past behind him and went to see some lambs.

So far, so cute:

What could possibly go wrong?

Apart from the odd unfortunate camera angle.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 2 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dems raise almost £10,500 an hour since election called – more than double Labour’s effort

By The Voice | Fri 21st April 2017 - 6:55 pm

The Lib Dems have raised more than £500,000 in individual donations since Theresa May called for a General Election on Tuesday morning.

From the BBC:

All parties have made cash appeals to supporters after Theresa May’s surprise decision to hold an election on 8 June.

The Lib Dems say they raised £500,000 in 48 hours.

A similar Labour fund-raising drive is reported to have raised £200,000. Labour has yet to comment on the figure, reported by the FT.

The Conservatives have been contacted for details of their fundraising efforts.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron claimed activists and donors were “flocking” to his party on the back of its distinctive anti-Brexit message.

The party, who are arguing for another referendum on the final Brexit deal, say they have seen their membership jump to 95,000, attracting 8,000 new members since Tuesday alone.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 13 Comments
The Voice

Alex Cole-Hamilton to chair Scottish Lib Dem General Election Campaign

By The Voice | Fri 21st April 2017 - 10:27 am

One of the party’s best ever campaigners has been chosen to chair the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ General Election campaign. Alex knows a lot about winning seats from the SNP after sensationally grabbing Edinburgh Western from them last year.

Alex  said:

I’m honoured to take on this important role for my party. We have a great grassroots organisation that is hungry for victory.

We have the wind in our sails and a hugely motivated activist base, keen to bring the party back to strength.

I can’t wait to get my teeth into the campaign.

Willie Rennie explained why he had chosen Alex:

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 3 Comments
The Voice

GE 17: Key dates

By The Voice | Thu 20th April 2017 - 7:33 pm

The Electoral Commission have got off the mark pretty quickly and published their election timetable.

Key dates are:

Close of nominations: 4pm on 11 May 2017

Register to vote by: midnight on 22 May 2017

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 2 Comments
The Voice

John Pugh to stand down as an MP

By The Voice | Wed 19th April 2017 - 5:23 pm

John Pugh has announced that he won’t be fighting the General Election in his Southport constituency.

From the BBC:

John Pugh, MP for Southport, said he planned to retire next month, but “did not bank on the prime minister’s opportunism” in calling an election.
He said he did not want to work through “the nightmare chaos of Brexit” in the next parliament.
The local constituency party will now choose a new candidate from an all-woman shortlist.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
The Voice

+++Breaking: Jo Swinson to stand for East Dunbartonshire

By The Voice | Wed 19th April 2017 - 4:29 pm

Great news:

In a statement, she added:

This next Parliament will be pivotal for our country, both for Scotland’s place in the UK, and the UK’s relationship with the rest of Europe.

I’m standing in the general election because I’m passionate about keeping Scotland in the UK, and averting the disaster of the Tories’ hard Brexit. Most people in East Dunbartonshire agree – 61% voted to stay in the UK and 71% voted to remain in the EU. They deserve a pro-UK, pro-EU MP.

East Dunbartonshire is the SNP’s second most marginal seat, with a majority of just 2,167 over the Liberal Democrats. The result last time makes it absolutely clear: this is a fight between the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, and one I fully intend to win.

I helped her get elected the first time round in 2005. She put so much work into it over the preceding two years. She worked part time and every morning she’d go out delivering. Every afternoon and evening she spent canvassing. She was disciplined, organised and effective. And she turned out to be a brilliant MP and Equalities Minister.

Her announcement comes after her old boss at the then Business, Innovation and Skills Department, Vince Cable, announced that he was standing for Twickenham:

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 11 Comments
The Voice

Why Nick Clegg will defend his Sheffield Hallam seat

By The Voice | Wed 19th April 2017 - 11:06 am

Nick Clegg has announced this morning that he will defend his Sheffield Hallam seat. He explained why:

Theresa May has called a General Election out of opportunism and intolerance: opportunism in seeking to exploit the weakness of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party; and intolerance in seeking a landslide majority to bring about ‘unity’, by which she means the ability to impose whatever interpretation of Brexit she wishes without meaningful scrutiny from Parliament.

Meanwhile, her Brexit-obsessed Government is failing to provide the decent schools, hospitals and social care which communities, including those I represent in Sheffield, rightly deserve.

This General Election once again places the interests of the Conservative Party ahead of the daily needs of the British people.

I will be re-standing as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in Sheffield Hallam – a constituency I have had the immense privilege to represent in Parliament for twelve years – because I vehemently oppose the direction that Theresa May wishes to drag our wonderful country.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 16 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • cim
    Where have young politically active people being going in recent years in the UK as an outlet for their anger? Corbyn's Labour. The Greens. Corbyn's new party. ...
  • Graham Evans
    Whatever the message, we need a leader who can clearly enunciate it, and not simply make party policy on the hoof. Ed Davey's intervention on the issue of local...
  • Peter Davies
    "Wanting to tear down historical statues , monuments , portraits, sanatise books etc ….It’s what the Taliban did in Afghanistan." It's also something Cromwe...
  • PM
    If Brexit is the cause of all our problems in the UK, what is the cause of the similar, or even worse, problems in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy etc? The ...
  • David S
    Even if one's conclusion after examining all the complexities of the Civil War (which is a good deal more than "monarchy vs. democracy") is that Cromwell was a ...