Author Archives: The Voice

Nick Clegg: Being in Europe has not held us back, it has thrust us forward

Yesterday, Nick Clegg made a keynote speech at the National Liberal Club outlining the reasons Britain should stay in the EU. He tore the Leave campaign apart for its false figures and assertions. One widely quoted line is that Boris Johnson is “Trump with a thesaurus.” But that’s not all he said. He was very clear that the EU, including the single market, had had British influence at its heart. It’s not something that was imposed on us. We helped create it – and it’s been good for us.

And in the modern era, being in the European Union has also helped us to flourish. Britain today is a major world power.

We are one of the world’s most powerful economies;

we are a cultural powerhouse;

our capital is one of the world’s most popular destinations;

our universities are among the very best on the planet;

our businesses lead the world in everything from computer games to wind power.

If being part of the EU was such a drag on our prospects, as the Brexiteers claim, how come we have achieved all this whilst being part of the European Community and the EU for the last 41 years?

He argues that we need the safety in numbers that the EU provides to cope with the challenges of the 21st century:

The 21st century world is one of profound global challenges: climate change, extremism, mass migration, the globalised economy.

The European Union gives us the strength in numbers that we need to meet those challenges.

All over the world countries are responding to the challenges of a globalised economy by coming together to form trading blocs – from Nafta to Asean, from Mercosur to the Pacific Alliance.

In the EU we are part of a single market with the enormous clout that 500 million consumers gives us.

That clout allows us to go toe to toe with the Americans, the Chinese, the Indians, the Russians and everybody else on the global stage.

Going it alone would mean we are trying to compete in that landscape with the much smaller clout of 60-odd million people.

Here’s the speech in full:

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Sal Brinton slams Farage sex-attacks comments

So, Nigel Farage has brought out his dog whistle again. Quelle surprise. He told the Sunday Telegraph:

The nuclear bomb this time would be about Cologne,” he told the Telegraph. Women may be at a particular risk from the “cultural” differences between British society and migrants, after gangs of migrant men allegedly launched a mass sexual attack against hundreds of women in Germany last New Year’s Eve.

It’s not as if he and his party have any sort of record of being in favour even of gender equality. Remember Godfrey Bloom and his comments about women not cleaning behind the fridge? Farage himself thinks that women who take maternity leave are of less value to employers, and of course his party took money from someone who thought that women were being hostile for the simple act of wearing trousers . The same guy thinks women can’t be raped by their husbands. The vast majority of sexual assaults and attacks happen in the home by someone known to the victim, so the UKIPpers have some way to go to understanding the reality of the situation.

You can take any claim of concern for women with a pinch of salt. All Farage is trying to do is to stoke up fear and division.

Sal Brinton was deeply unimpressed, saying:

Nigel Farage’s comments are disgraceful. He has sunk to new depths in his scaremongering with these remarks which are completely unacceptable. The debate about whether Britain is better off in Europe is hugely important and should be based on the facts, not shameful attempts to stir up hatred and fear with smears like this.

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Farron: Britain’s position in the world is in the hands of its youngest voters

Tim Farron has launched a campaign to persuade young people to register to vote in the EU referendum, saying that this country’s position in the world is in the hands of these young voters. He also called on the Electoral Commission to do more to encourage young people to register before Monday’s deadline. He said:

In these next few short weeks, the post-war European project of peace, co-operation and prosperity lies in Britain’s hands. This vote will hinge on young people and them getting out and making their voice heard.

The Electoral Commission have a responsibility to help people vote, at the moment they are in dereliction of that duty when it comes to students and younger people.

I am today launching a campaign to urge young people to register to vote in the last 96 hours. Britain’s position in the world is in the hands of the youngest voters, I am urging them to take 10 minutes, sign up and make their voices heard, loudly and clearly.

But should it be this way? Why should it be up to people to register for what is effectively their right as a citizen of the country?

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Rennie: We need to keep access to EU markets easy for business

Willie Rennie argues today that we need to make sure that we keep access to EU markets easy for business. We don’t want to be putting borders up, creating more red tape, which could cause problems and cut jobs. He says:

At the heart of the argument for remaining in Europe is a single market, making trade easier, and allowing businesses based on innovation and excellence to thrive is going to underpin our future success.

That was the argument that won the independence referendum and is just as powerful now.

Three million jobs in Britain depend on Europe. We need to make Europe easy for business.

As part of Europe we are part of an economic market worth trillions. There are 500 million customers.

It means that a Scottish company that is good and efficient at its job can expand across the continent.

Easy access to 500 million customers is worth millions of jobs in Britain.

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Vince Cable: European single market represents a British vision of an open Europe

Britain has attracted the world’s top companies to invest here, creating jobs, on the basis of access to the European single market. That’s what Vince Cable told an audience in Bristol earlier this week. Far from being an invention of straight-banana obsessed bureaucrats, the EU represents a British vision of an open Europe, he added. Here is his speech in full.

It is great to be here in Bristol celebrating the best in British manufacturing with the leaders of our top manufacturing companies.

Manufacturing still provides half of our exports, three quarters of scientific innovation and two and a half million relatively

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Liberal Democrats GAIN Dorset county council seat from the Conservatives

Good news from Sherborne in Dorset, where Liberal Democrat Matt Hall has gained a county council seat from the Conservatives.

Last week, some bloke from up north went to help his campaign:

The margin of victory was slim enough to show how critical it is to have a good polling day operation:

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WATCH: Alex Cole-Hamilton on the EU’s key role in securing peace and freedom

This is not the first time we’re going to show this in the run-up to the EU Referendum, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Alex Cole-Hamilton sums up why he is such a passionate pro-European:

It would do the Remain campaign no harm at all to have this on continuous loop for the next few weeks.

Here is the text in full.

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

7 bestMany thanks to the 10,300 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

The Independent View: Neal Lawson’s letter to the Liberal Democrats (72 comments) by Neal Lawson

A liberal path towards a basic income (47 comments) by Richard Flowers

The dark side of Leave upsets even the Mail on Sunday (33 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Manchester Labour don’t like Leech up them (8 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Is it the BBC’s fault that Bargain Hunt is so popular? (120 comments) by Paul Walter

Why I’ve

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Willie Rennie announces Lib Dem leadership team – with a majority of women

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has announced his leadership team which contains the 5 MSPs and 7 women from outside Parliament. Some of them will be well known to LDV readers.

Willie said:

Scottish Liberal Democrats have punched above our weight over the last five years at the Scottish Parliament and the team announced today will help ensure that we continue to lead the agenda.

Our party is full of talented people and I am delighted that senior party figures outside of Holyrood will play a leading role in driving our policy agenda forwards for the next five years. They have contributed a huge amount to the communities they serve, from councillors to campaigners, and bring a wealth of experience to the team.

This gender balanced team will provide strong liberal voices inside and outside parliament. These appointments will put the Liberal Democrats in the strongest possible position to grow over the next five years.

The team includes:

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Elaine Bagshaw: Don’t let your opportunities be snatched away: Register to vote

The young Liberal Democrat who has led such a strong effort in East London, Elaine Bagshaw, today urged young people to register to vote so that they could make sure Britain stays in the European Union. Speaking at a Stronger In event in London, she said:

We have nothing to gain from leaving Europe. We have everything to lose. We’ll have a privilege that we have enjoyed and benefitted from taken away from us and the generations that will follow us.

If you don’t want that snatched away, you need to speak up and use your voice.

If you haven’t already, register to vote here. Here’s her speech in full:

Voting in this referendum is incredibly important because this time every vote counts. Whether you’re in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Liverpool. Whether you’re 19 or 90. Your votes are equal. Your vote and your voice is powerful and it matters.
It’s so important to have your say because this vote really matters. We won’t get another crack at this in 5 years like a general election. This is it.

I’m really passionate about opportunity. About everyone having the chance to succeed regardless of where you’re born, the colour of your skin, who you love and anything else that makes you, you.

Staying in Europe gives us so many opportunities. To live and work in other countries, experience different cultures, to live alongside people from Europe and to learn about them and ourselves.

If we vote to leave, we lose all of that. Those opportunities that you and I have now, and that our younger relatives, friends and siblings have will be quickly and cruelly snatched away.

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Friday night fun with Farron and Forde

Tim Farron went on Matt Forde’s Political Party the other night and the recording has been released today. It is hilarious. Tim is very funny, but also shows the substance and the principles behind everything he does.

Pour yourself a wee glass of something nice, put your feet up and enjoy. This is just what you need on a bank holiday weekend, if it is one where you live.

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Jonny Oates tells House of Lords about his experience of depression

In a speech to the House of Lords yesterday, Liberal Democrat peer Jonny Oates talked about his experience of depression as a young man.

This experience was not unrelated to the times in which he was growing up. As a young gay man, having the government legislate against him was not easy to deal with. He also suggests that the churches should reflect on the impact they can have on people’s mental health, referring to Archbishop Michael Ramsey who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time homosexuality was legalised and who was supportive of that change in the law.

Here is the speech in full:

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to take part in this important debate on the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health initiated by my noble friend Lady Brinton. As my noble friend said, mental health is a topic which touches almost everyone in this country, whether through direct personal experience or through families and friends who have suffered from mental ill-health.

For much of the time when I was growing up, it was pretty much a taboo subject. Few people talked openly about mental illness; it was too often a personal burden not to be shared, understood or tackled but to be hidden away even from those closest to one. In recent years there has been a welcome shift in our attitudes, and I pay tribute to the mental health charities and the many activists and campaigners, such as Alastair Campbell, who have helped break down taboos and get mental health on the agenda, but I also pay a real and heartfelt tribute to Norman Lamb in particular who, as a Health Minister in the previous Government, strongly supported by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, did so much to push the issue of mental health right up the government agenda, placing mental health literally on the front page of the Liberal Democrat manifesto.

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Farron: Brexit threatens farmers and consumers

Tim Farron was in the west country yesterday.

He went to Yeovil for a spot of EU referendum campaigning:

While he was there, he visited a dairy farm whose owner is keen to remain in the EU.

Tim said:

Brexit is a real threat to our farming industry, and the many families that rely on exports for their livelihoods.

Our free access to 500m customers is invaluable, with 73% of UK agricultural and food exports going to the EU. Leaving would hit jobs and devastate rural communities.

The survival of rural businesses – and the precious environment they protect – is a fragile thing, and should not be put at risk by leaving.

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ICYMI: Shirley Williams speaking on the EU at the National Liberal Club

On Monday, Shirley Williams came out of retirement to give a speech on why Britain should remain in the EU at the National Liberal Club.

The party made very good use of Facebook Live to broadcast the event – and you can watch the speech again here.

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Competition: How has the EU helped your area?

Dunfermline Liberal Democrats have come up with a way of highlighting how every town has benefitted from Britain’s membership of the EU. As you are out and about, keep your eyes peeled for signs that show that projects have been funded by the EU. Tweet them to @dunflibdems and whoever provides the most will get “a fantastic prize.”

This is the brainchild of local member Aude Boubaker and it’s a great way of understanding how the EU affects our daily lives.

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Yesterday in the Lords, 3 on the #EURef

The other day, a very senior German Minister said to me, “Whenever I go into a European Union meeting with my British colleagues, their very first question is: ‘Excuse me, please tell me the way to the exit?’”. They are spending so much energy trying to get out that they spend none building the alliances to try to win the things that we want. Canning and Castlereagh would be spinning in their graves. The truth of it is that there ​are things we can win in the European Union, but we will not win them by removing ourselves from it.

So said Paddy Ashdown yesterday in the Queens speech debate which touched on the imminent EU referendum. You can read the full speech here.

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LibLink: Alistair Carmichael on the Extremism Bill

 

We have just caught up with an article by Alistair Carmichael in The Independent. The headline itself offers a jolt: “The Extremism Bill means that the Queen’s speech might be the only one you hear from now on”. Writing just before the Queen’s Speech last week he claimed:

This Government still seems wedded to the notion that if you ban something it will go away.They banned psychoactive substances, despite zero evidence that it would reduce harm. They tried banning encryption, making all of our data less secure. Now they are trying to ban “extremist speech” via an Extremism Bill which they will introduce in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow.

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Lib Dem Jobwatch – Do you fancy working in Scotland or Somerset?

Two very different jobs working for the Liberal Democrats are on offer over at W4MP

The Scottish Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament are looking for a Press Officer who will be based at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

The primary responsibilities of the postholder will be to work in a leading role in the small staff team at Holyrood to ensure that the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ media relations are delivered in a professional manner. This will provide Liberal Democrat MSPs, and to a more limited extent the wider Scottish Liberal Democrat party, with press and media support.

The post-holder will be expected to demonstrate an ability to understand and promote political positions and policy; they will be expected to build credibility with journalist and commentators; they will be expected to work quickly and accurately under pressure; and they should demonstrate an affinity with the aims and values of the Liberal Democrats.

Responsibilities include:

Timely drafting and distribution of reactive lines to breaking news and the issues of the day;
Working with other staff to produce pro-active media initiatives;
Alerting MSPs, staff and, where appropriate, other senior Scottish Liberal Democrat figures to significant news stories;
Maintaining the news content of the Scottish Liberal Democrat website;
Filling broadcasting bids for radio and television;
Drafting articles for campaign leaders and MSPs;
Accompanying MSPs on visits away from Parliament when a media presence is anticipated;
Working with other staff to ensure that MSPs are fully briefed before media appearances;
Providing on-call cover at the weekends and in the evening as part of a rota;
Pro-actively seeking slots on broadcast media for campaign leaders;
Developing a professional working relationship with Scottish based political and specialist journalists;
Representing the views and outlook of the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs – and wider party – to journalists;
Maintaining an up to date distribution list for journalists, stakeholders and Liberal Democrats;
Working with party staff to support party conferences and other events;
Working with other staff and MSPs to develop and implement a media strategy;
Maintaining an overview and awareness of political and policy developments in Scotland and elsewhere by different parties and governments;
Other duties as may be required to support the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

A previous holder of that job was seen to say on Facebook last night how much she loved it. The closing date is 31st May.

In Somerset, Wells Liberal Democrats are looking for an organiser.

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

7 bestMany thanks to the 12,000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

+++Breaking: Welsh Special Conference to decide whether Kirsty Williams should enter Cabinet as Education Secretary (45 comments) by Caron Lindsay

David Rendel 1949-2016 (6 comments) by Paul Walter

Tim Farron on BBC Question Time tonight (22 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Clegg speaks at #libdempint anniversary (37 comments) by The Voice

Facts on immigration (41 comments) by Antony Hook

Former Liberal Democrat MP David Rendel dies (5 comments) by The Voice

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Register for the Lib Dem Summer webinar series – refugees, EU campaign briefing and same sex marriage

The Lib Dems are holding a series of monthly webinars. Last month saw the first, on the election campaigns. On Wednesday, the second, on the refugee crisis, takes place at 6:30 pm.

If you are a party member, you will have had an email from Sal Brinton on 26th April which will have all the links to register at the entire Summer series. Those links are unique to you.

Next month’s, on Wednesday 8th June, is a briefing as we head into the last fortnight of the referendum campaign.

And on July 27th, we celebrate 3 years since we introduced same …

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ICYMI: Tim on Question Time

Tim Farron was on Question Time the other night and was everything you would want a Liberal Democrat to be – positive, optimistic, passionately internationalist and pro-NHS, progressive and practical.

Here is why he is voting to Remain:

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National Liberal Club elects its first ever woman chairman

Word reaches us that the National Liberal Club has, for the first time ever, elected a woman take over its running. Janet Berridge is its new chairman.

We do have to wonder what took it so long, but we’re happy to see this development.

Janet said, on her election:

I am tremendously honoured to have been elected the new chairman of the National Liberal Club. Situated in the heart of London, the club appeals to a wide variety of professions and age groups and provides an environment to suit different interests and requirements. There is no such thing as a “typical club member” at the NLC – the diversity that has been nurtured over many years is reflected by its members. My aim in the coming years is to make sure that our club’s foundations are fit for the 21st century while maintaining its traditions and much-loved customs. By embracing the values of Liberalism espoused by the club’s founders and their successors, I am confident that this challenge can be met and achieved.

And a little bit about Janet and the history of the NLC from the club:

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The man who braved the Bradford riots & was slated by a Tory secretary of State is now Lib Dem Lord Mayor of Bradford

Geoff ReidThis week, Liberal Democrat Councillor Geoff Reid became Lord Mayor of Bradford. He was proposed for the office by fellow Councillor Jeanette Sunderland. Extracts from her speech follow. It’s longer than our usual articles, but it’s a fascinating read.

Geoff has a lifelong record of community service as a Methodist minister and Councillor. He has spoken truth to power and provoked the ire of a Conservative Cabinet Minister. He played a pivotal role in providing support and healing for communities in Bradford after the riots.

You can read more about him on the Telegraph and Argus site here.

It is with great pleasure that I ask for the support for the nomination of Councillor Geoff Reid to be the Lord Mayor of Bradford for the municipal year 2016-2017.

Geoff Reid will bring a depth to the role of Lord Mayor which finds it roots in his history as a Methodist Minister, a politician, a collaborative write, a visitor to pubs and his love of public transport.
Geoff Reid born on the same day in 1946 as Freddie Mercury, in a two room flat in the Scotswood Road area of Newcastle upon Tyne. His parents wanted a council house but having only one child failed to qualify.

His father, who had returned from five years as a Prisoner of War to become a leading light of the Tyneside Anglo-German Friendship Society, joined a self-build group of 32 men who completed 32 houses in their spare time. Geoff moved across the city to North Heaton, eventually attending Heaton Grammar School. In the 1950s he came on an early visit to Ilkley with Newcastle Methodist Mission Poor Children’s Summer Camp.

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Wounded Liberal Democrats – roll of honour

DSCF0088Earlier this month, we reported, tongue-in-cheek, on two Wounded Liberal Democrats nursing dog bitten fingers.

We’ve now been contacted with news of two Liberal Democrats who have recently sustained broken bones in the course of campaigning for the party.

We’d like to send these virtual flowers to the two members as well as listing them on this roll of honour.

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WATCH: In full: Tim Farron on the Queen’s Speech

Here is Tim Farron’s speech in full from the Queen’s Speech debate. He cracks some pretty decent jokes, maybe a couple that aren’t quite as funny, and sets out what we would have done differently.

He also took time to pay tribute to David Rendel.

The text follows.

Mr Speaker, may I first start by commending the Honourable Member for Meriden and the Honourable Member for Bracknell for the grace and humour with which they moved and seconded the humble address.

These occasions often show the House at its best and its worst and I think we would all agree that their speeches were examples of the former.

And as the Prime Minister did, may I pay tribute to Harry Harpham and Michael Meacher whose contributions here will be missed.

Can I also take this opportunity to remember my former colleague, David Rendel, who died just this week, and whose by-election victory was transformational to the fortunes of our party.

Those of us who knew him will remember his phenomenal hard work and absolute commitment to the people of Newbury that continued long after he ceased to be the Member of Parliament. He will be sadly missed by many of us.

Spaceport
Mr Speaker, may I start by saying I was most excited to learn that the Modern Transport Bill will enable the development of the UK’s first commercial spaceports, just like Mos Eisley, the spaceport in Star Wars.

I don’t know what inspired the Prime Minister to invest in something that Obi Wan Kenobi said was ‘no greater hive of scum and villainy’… But I’m sure it was definitely… probably… nothing to do with the emergence of the Leave Campaign whatsoever.

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Lib Dems condemn Gove’s prison reforms

So the Government thinks the solution to the crisis in our prisons is to give governors more power rather than have a more strategic sense of what the prison system is for and how best to lessen re-offending and properly rehabilitate offenders.

Liberal Democrat peer Jonathan Marks is unimpressed with the Government’s plans. He said:

It is a scary thought that the grand architect who oversaw the dismantling of the school system as we knew it is now getting his hands all over the nation’s prisons.

It is no secret that our prison system is in crisis. We lock up far too many people each year with inadequate facilities and staffing.

These reforms might tackle the problems at the surface but without root and branch reform of our criminal justice system the whole process will be built to fail.

The academy model for schools is falling apart as we speak so why the Government feels that this template is appropriate for prisons is incomprehensible.

Instead we should be focusing on ensuring that our criminal justice system is centred on rehabilitation and diverting people away from prisons wherever possible rather than this continued obsession with locking them up.

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Tim Farron and Paddy Ashdown pay tribute to David Rendel

David Rendel on Newbury Town Hall steps - Some rights reserved  by Martin TodPaying tribute to David Rendel, former Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury who passed away last night, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

I am hugely saddened by the loss of David Rendel. He was a committed, selfless individual who I will remember particularly for his unyielding campaigning over so many years. I will miss him.

He won a stunning by-election victory in Newbury where he and his team showed the Liberal Democrats had the fight and passion to deliver a fantastic result in a challenging political climate. It was inspirational then, and is inspirational today as Liberal Democrats fight to rebuild.

His continuing work with the party, standing again as a candidate in the 2010 and 2015 elections, and serving on the party’s Federal Executive typified the resilience, commitment and resolve with which he approached politics.

He was a friend and colleague who I know will be sorely missed by his friends, family and the party.

Posted in Obituaries | Tagged , and | 7 Comments

Former Liberal Democrat MP David Rendel dies

We’re very sorry to report that former Liberal Democrat MP David Rendel has died. Our sincere thoughts are with David’s family at this very sad time.

Party leader, Tim Farron has tweeted:

Posted in Obituaries | 5 Comments

Clegg speaks at #libdempint’s first birthday – on the Lib Dem recovery and the stark choice we have on EU

After 20,000 people joined us in the wake of the horrific election result last year, a few of them had the idea of trying to get a few of them together in London for a drink. A few hundred turned up, Nick Clegg came to speak and the #libdempint phenomenon was born. They’ve spread across the country and are characterised by a few speeches from ordinary members as well as the occasional appearance from the great and the good.

#libdempint celebrates its first birthday today. It was obvious that the guest of honour had to be Nick Clegg. For the next 22 hours or so, you can watch his speech, thanks to Jon Ball putting it up on Periscope. Enjoy.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 38 Comments

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

7 bestMany thanks to the 13,200  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

The Liberal case for Leave (121 comments) by Anne Cremin

John Pugh MP writes…2 lessons from Thursday (15 comments) by John Pugh MP

Election expenses: Nine of the Tory MPs being investigated named (7 comments) by The Voice

Tim Pickstone writes…45 gains must only be the start (23 comments) by Tim Pickstone

Liberal Democrats for free trade (59 comments) by Richard Flowers

Progress for Lib Dems in local elections (31 comments) by Thomas Shakespeare

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