Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

Sadiq and Zac agree for once: Caroline Pidgeon is “great” and “impressive”

By The Voice | Sat 9th April 2016 - 1:25 pm

We know that Caroline Pidgeon is making a very positive impact on London’s mayoral race. In virtually very debate, she is judged to be the winner, with even arch-Tory Iain Dale, now of the LBC parish, saying that the two women were eclipsing the men in the debate.

Caroline was featured in the Standard and the first paragraph of that article had praise from her two biggest rivals. They don’t often agree, but they are clearly both bowled over by her talents.

If the mayoral election was decided on a candidate’s grasp of policy, there’s a good chance Caroline Pidgeon would win it. The Lib-Dem hopeful — who has eight years on the London Assembly under her belt — has impressed even her better-known rivals with her inside knowledge of the City Hall empire.

Zac Goldsmith tells me “she’s great”, before glancing at his media adviser and asking, “Am I allowed to say that?” Sadiq Khan agrees that her handle on London policy is impressive.

Those two get more like Stadtler and Waldorf from the Muppets every day and this is about the only thing they agree on. Why would Londoners want either of them when they could have Caroline?

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The Voice

The world of puppet politicians

By The Voice | Fri 8th April 2016 - 1:20 pm

Here is last night’s Welsh Liberal Democrats’ election broadcast:

The world of puppet politicians

We've all heard the hot air of puppet politicians… but who will get the basics right and create a Wales that works for you?

Posted by Welsh Liberal Democrats on Thursday, 7 April 2016

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The Voice

Caroline Pidgeon judged winner of ITV/LBC mayoral debate

By The Voice | Wed 6th April 2016 - 2:15 pm

Mike Smithson had no doubt about the winner of last night’s ITV London/LBC mayoral debate.

And he wasn’t alone. Caroline’s strong performance attracted praise from unexpected quarters.

You can watch the whole thing here:

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The Voice

Caroline Pidgeon taking Twitter questions this afternoon #AskCaroline

By The Voice | Wed 6th April 2016 - 11:45 am

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon will be answering questions on Twitter this afternoon:

This comes the day after her manifesto launch and a successful mayoral debate last night where her performance attracted widespread praise.

Yesterday, she launched her manifesto, which you can read here.

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The Voice

Kirsty Williams slams Tories and Labour over steel failures

By The Voice | Sun 3rd April 2016 - 9:45 am

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams has slated the Conservative Government at Westminster and the Labour Government in Wales for its failures over the steel industry. She says it’s time to put British industry first.

She said that the Conservative Government had allowed the UK steel industry to “shrivel on its watch”, in response to the announcement that councils must now consider UK providers when when carrying out procurement for steel. She also blasted the Labour Government for doing nothing to ensure Welsh steel was used on infrastructure projects.

Once again the UK Government is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. It’s no good asking councils to use UK steel now after letting the industry shrivel on their watch.

Of course councils and the UK Government should always be considering UK steel, but this is just a basic requirement to support our industry. It’s time this Tory Government put British industry first, rather than just kowtowing to the Chinese Government.

Labour’s record is no better. The Labour Government in Wales has completely failed to support Welsh steel. Time and time again Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for an audit of Welsh procurement, yet the Labour Government has done nothing. We called on Labour to publish new guidance when investing in steel, again nothing has happened. For 18 months we’ve called for reduced business rates on heavy machinery, again nothing. People are absolutely fed up of governments that offer warm words, but seem incompetent to realise how serious this crisis is.

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The Voice

What’s being debated in our members’ forum this week?

By The Voice | Sat 2nd April 2016 - 1:55 pm

members forum wordleLibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you’re reading now. The second is our private members’ forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access.

If you’re a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that’s on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you’ll be included in our regular surveys’ of party members’ views.

Here’s some of the most active discussions this past 10 days:

Local Elections 2016: The Liberal Democrat battleground

TTIP

Military intervention in Libya

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The Voice

Willie Rennie issues Living Wage challenge

By The Voice | Sat 2nd April 2016 - 11:30 am

Willie Rennie has challenged the other parties to commit to ending government bonuses for companies which fail to pay their employees the Scottish living wage.

He was speaking as the so-called living wage proposed by George Osborne came into force. The Tory living wage of £7.20 is £1.05 an hour less than the Scottish living wage of £8.25 an hour, which is calculated independently by the Living Wage Foundation. It’s also worth noting that the Scottish Liberal Democrats are the only party in Scotland to be accredited as Living Wage employers.

Last month, Willie called for the SNP to stop the payment of state aid to firms who fail to pay at least the national living wage.

Yesterday he broadened that challenge to all the other parties:

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The Voice

Exciting new venue for Spring Conference

By The Voice | Fri 1st April 2016 - 8:31 am

 

A party source has exclusively revealed to LDV that the Federal Conference Committee is seriously considering holding the 2020 Spring Conference in the Isles of Scilly.

As a first priority, after complaints about the lack of real ales in the Novotel at York, members of the Committee have rigorously checked the quality of the cask ale on offer in the conference hotel and can reassure party members on that score.

Travel to the venue will be memorable. Inspired by the razzle-dazzle ferries in Liverpool, the Conference Office is discussing with a ferry company the possibility of painting one for the occasion in a variety of Lib Dem shades of yellow and orange; there will also be an aqua-coloured rowing boat with sufficient capacity for that colour’s fans.

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The Voice

“A Wales that works for you”: Kirsty Williams launches Welsh Assembly campaign

By The Voice | Thu 31st March 2016 - 5:54 pm

Today, Kirsty Williams launched the Welsh Liberal Democrat campaign for the Assembly elections on 5th May. The theme is A Wales that works for you.”

She unveiled three key priorities:

  • More Nurses – extending the More Nurses Bill to include mental health wards, maternity wards and community nurses
  • Smaller class sizes – establishing an Infant Class Size Reduction Grant, with funding prioritised towards the largest classes
  • Opportunity Economy – promoting a package supporting people’s aspirations by increasing the number of apprenticeships, supporting small businesses, helping people buy their first home, and delivering a childcare package that enables people to get back to work if they choose to.
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The Voice

Purvis slams Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson over disability benefit cuts

By The Voice | Thu 31st March 2016 - 2:55 pm

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson  had a really bad interview on Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland today. She struggled on her plans to re-introduce prescription charges, to abolish free university tuition (which was secured by the Scottish Liberal Democrats in coalition with Labour back in 2001) and over free schools. She didn’t get grilled enough for our liking on her plans to do all that while cutting taxes for the richest, but you can’t have everything.

At around 2 hours 18 minutes in, the subject turned to cuts to disability benefits. Ruth says she opposed them before Iain Duncan Smith resigned although there is no record of her having done so. In fact, she praised George Osborne’s budget the day it came out. When pressed on exactly how she had expressed her opposition, she laughed. It was a nervous. hollow laugh, but, just as when Willie Rennie pursued this same point with her during the tv debate on Tuesday, it was clear that she was struggling to answer.

Jeremy Purvis, the Scottish Lib Dems’ campaign chair, said of her interview:

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The Voice

Farron and Williams say UK Government must intervene on steel

By The Voice | Wed 30th March 2016 - 1:15 pm

Tim Farron and Kirsty Williams have said that the UK Government must intervene to be the lender of last resort for Tata Steel.

The Liberal Democrat leader said that the Westminster Government should be prepared to step in and act as a temporary buyer for the plant if required, and also offer financial support to ensure key staff are retained during any sales process.

Tim Farron said:

The Conservative Government in Westminster has let down Port Talbot, not least because of Sajid Javid’s disgraceful veto of measures at an EU level to stop the dumping of cheap Chinese steel that is destroying the UK steel industry. Their actions have helped escalate this crisis while the Labour Government in Cardiff bay has failed to stand up for steelworkers in their own backyard. It’s now time that both Governments started acting in the best interests of workers at the plant and our steel industry.

The Port Talbot plant is the crucible of the British steel industry. It is a proud beacon of our industrial heritage and part of the reason we are a world leader in manufacturing. Generations of families have worked at the South Wales steelworks which still employs thousands of people and provides work for thousands more in supply industries.

That is why the Government should be prepared to step in as an investor of last resort, to bridge any gap between Tata’s ownership of the plant and a future buyer. Our steel industry is of strategic interest to Wales and the whole of the UK and if temporary nationalisation is needed to protect it then the Government should be prepared to act.

Kirsty WIlliams highlighted the importance of Wales’ steel industry:

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The Voice

Tim Farron launches John Leech’s campaign to take on Labour in Manchester

By The Voice | Wed 30th March 2016 - 10:45 am

John Leech and Tim FarronOn Monday night, Tim Farron went to Manchester to launch former MP John Leech’s campaign to win the Didsbury West Council ward in Manchester. The Lib Dems missed out by just 162 votes last May. The Labour Council is desperately in need of opposition. At the moment, Labour holds all the seats which is not a healthy situation in any democracy.

John was MP for Manchester Withington from 2005-15.

He told the packed meeting:

Fear has won where liberalism, hope and hard work has been trampled on by politics wreaked by division, complacency and the attitude of ‘that’ll do’. Well it doesn’t. It’s not good enough for me. And it’s not good enough for Manchester.

Nothing keeps me and the Liberal Democrats fighting more than an unjust system. And as long as residents in Manchester aren’t getting the best deal I’ll be here fighting and challenging that every step of the way.

I promised not to give up on the residents of Manchester Withington, and I’m not going to. I will continue to fight for south Manchester as I always have done. I’m not going anywhere.

We will rebuild. We will start making a difference again. We offer a fresh and strong voice on an often complacent council.

Tim Farron said in support of his friend:

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The Voice

Lib Dems call for Welsh Assembly to be reconvened over Port Talbot steel decision

By The Voice | Wed 30th March 2016 - 9:23 am

Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Finance Minister, has e-mailed First Minister Carwyn Jones calling on him to ask the Presiding Officer to reconvene the Assembly over the announcement that Tata Steel is to sell its UK interests including the plant at Port Talbot. 5,500 jobs are at risk in Wales.

The Assembly’s Standing Order 12.3 states:

If no plenary meeting is timetabled for a particular date or time, the Presiding Officer may, at the request of the First Minister, summon the Assembly to consider a matter of urgent public importance.

Peter Black AM said late last night before Tata confirmed their plans:

If true, these reports are truly devastating and our thoughts go out to Tata employees and their families.

This is clearly a matter of urgent public importance and therefore it is inconceivable that the Assembly doesn’t reconvene.

Ministers in both governments need to act fast. Simply holding up their hands and saying they are out of ideas is simply not good enough.

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 27th March 2016 - 1:55 pm

7 bestMany thanks to the 10,500 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

The Nitty Gritty: Evidence of the #libdemfightback (20 comments) by John B Grout

David Laws on Marr: I want to expose how NHS chief was leant on to encourage debate on NHS funding (20 comments) by Caron Lindsay

David Laws’ “Coalition”: the Coverage (18 comments) by Nick Thornsby

Tom Brake MP writes…Do you support military intervention in Libya? (56 comments) by Tom Brake MP

How are you getting on with Tim Farron’s membership recruitment challenge? (17 comments) by Caron Lindsay)

We already have the Social Liberal Forum, so why do we need a Social Democratic Group? (33 comments) by George Kendall

Disability is nothing to hide, so let’s not act like it is (22 comments) by Henry Foulds

 

 

 

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The Voice

WATCH: Willie Rennie in last night’s Scottish leaders’ debate

By The Voice | Fri 25th March 2016 - 6:30 pm

Last night, the  day that Scotland could have been declaring independence and have been facing a very uncertain future, the leaders of 6 political parties debated the issues of the Scottish election. You can see Willie Rennie’s contributions here.

Watch him outline his vision for a transformative investment in education to give kids the best chance in life and boost the economy by ensuring that we have the skills we need for the future.

The First Leader’s debateLast night,was the first #LeadersDebate of the Scottish Parliament election. Just incase you missed it, here are some of the highlights from last night’s debate, including our plans for education, Scotland’s new tax powers and what I’d say to President Trump:

The First Leader's debate

Last night,was the first #LeadersDebate of the Scottish Parliament election. Just incase you missed it, here are some of the highlights from last night's debate, including our plans for education, Scotland's new tax powers and what I'd say to President Trump:

Posted by Willie Rennie on Friday, 25 March 2016

If you want to watch the whole debate, you an do so  via the magic of iPlayer.

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The Voice

Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough by-elections set for May 5th

By The Voice | Thu 24th March 2016 - 6:56 pm

In news that will surprise nobody, Labour today moved the writ for the Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough by-elections. It is defending the two seats following the resignation of Huw Irranca-Davies to stand for the Welsh Assembly and the death of Harry Harpham.

This news comes on the day a very welcome poll puts us at 10%, just 1% behind UKIP:

One poll is nothing to get too excited about, but, combined with the trends in local by-elections, it is an encouraging sign. There are certainly worse ways to kick off election season. The fieldwork was conducted in the aftermath of the budget, and may suggest that people are starting to see how much we reined the Tories in when we were in Government.

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The Voice

Former Lib Dem councillor enstooled (enthroned) as prince and chief advisor in Ghana

By The Voice | Tue 22nd March 2016 - 9:20 am

Gotfried Gyechie

Godfried Gyechie was a Lib Councillor in Lewisham from 2006 to 2010. In a ceremony in Akwamufie in Ghana earlier this month he was formally installed as the Tufohene (Chief advisor) to the Osomanyawa of the Akwamu state.  The Osomanyawa is the second in command to the paramount King of the Akwamu.  Akwamufie is the capital of the Akwamu state, which was once a great empire and ran from the Ivory Coast, through Ghana to Togo in its height.

As the Tufohene, Godfried has the responsibility of settling disputes across the area. He is Head of the Armed Forces and leader of the asafo companies (the warrior groups in Akan culture).

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The Voice

Willie Rennie banned from discussing working conditions with Amazon employees

By The Voice | Mon 21st March 2016 - 10:35 am

Willie Rennie values

Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has been banned from meeting staff at Amazon’s base in Dunfermline today. He was planning to meet staff there to discuss their working conditions, but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute  by Amazon bosses in London.

Willie is campaigning to stop the Scottish Government from giving hand-outs to companies which do not pay their staff at least at the Scottish Living Wage rate of £8.25 an hour. Under the current arrangements, over £5 million has been paid to Amazon in Scotland even though the company is only paying staff £7.20 an hour.

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The Voice

Willie Rennie: The way we tackle drug addiction is broken

By The Voice | Sun 20th March 2016 - 5:30 pm

drugsWillie Rennie has called for a sea-change in drugs policy after new analysis showed that 1,000 people in possession of drugs for personal use have been imprisoned in the last five years instead of being sent for treatment or education.

The figures, compiled by Scottish Government analysts at the request of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, revealed an average of 200 people in Scotland were incarcerated for drug offences between 2010 and 2015. In contrast, an average of just 55 Scots per year were handed drug treatment and testing orders.

Our  manifesto for the Holyrood election proposes to end the use of imprisonment for vulnerable people addicted to drugs, calling for it to be treated as a health issue instead. Drug dealers would still face tough criminal sanctions and people failing to abide by treatment or education plans would be subject to additional penalties.

Willie spoke to Liberal Democrat campaigners in Glasgow, where 189 people died as a result of drug misuse in 2014.

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 20th March 2016 - 1:55 pm

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

Sexual harassment reports from Conference (53 comments) by Baroness Sal Brinton

Why culture change is a necessary pre-requisite for gender balance (68 comments) by Rachel Edwards

 Liberal Leave campaign (50 comments) by Paul Walter

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The Voice

Shas Sheehan talks to the heroes of Calais and Dunkirk

By The Voice | Sun 20th March 2016 - 12:25 pm

Baroness Shas Sheehan went to Calais and Dunkirk with some supplies a few weeks ago. She is going again this week and invites you to help her get supplies together.

On her last visit, she spoke to some of those heroic volunteers who have given up months of their time to help the refugees survive the Winter. Here’s the video she made.

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The Voice

Bold and ambitious childcare plans on offer from Lib Dems in London and Wales

By The Voice | Sat 19th March 2016 - 8:55 am

The cost and availability of childcare is one of the most important things affecting working parents these days. This week, Liberal Democrats in London and Wales have launched plans to improve affordability and choices.

In London, Caroline Pidgeon has said it’s time to “end the brain drain of talented young women from London’s workforce.” Her plan includes:

  • The GLA and other organisations in the wider GLA Group (TfL, Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Service) should offer interest free loans for employees to meet the initial costs of childcare registration at a nursery which can cost up to £1500. The adoption of this policy should become an example of good practice amongst businesses across London.
  • When GLA land is released for schools it should be standard practice that nursery provision is also provided
  • London Boroughs should be encouraged to extend business rate relief to childcare providers
  • The Mayor of London should establish a Childcare Fund with support targeted at improving wraparound and childcare options covering the longer hours many London employees have to work. One potential way of financing the fund would be through a hotel levy.
  • More childminders should be trained to help support families with wraparound flexible childcare.

Caroline said:

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The Voice

Good news: Another Lib Dem by-election gain from the Tories

By The Voice | Thu 17th March 2016 - 11:27 pm

It’s Thursday night, so this means we’re awaiting by-election results with bated breath.

Liberal Democrats were hopeful of a gain in the Aylsham ward of Broadlands Council in Norfolk – and they did it!

A Labour vote well squeezed.

Here’s the vote numbers:

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The Voice

WATCH: Tim Farron’s response to the “sweet and sour” budget

By The Voice | Wed 16th March 2016 - 9:00 pm

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The Voice

Lib Dems respond to the budget

By The Voice | Wed 16th March 2016 - 2:21 pm

As Lib Dems respond to the Budget, we will update this post:

Kirsty Williams was first off the mark as she slammed Osborne’s halving of the Severn Bridge tolls as “pathetic.”

Frankly, the proposed cut in the tolls is pathetic. Once back in public ownership, there is no need whatsoever for there to be tolls on these bridges. The Chancellor is cynically acting as if he is doing commuters a favour, but the fact is that he wants to keep this unfair tax on entering Wales. Only the Liberal Democrats will completely scrap these tolls.

The lack of any real progress on the Swansea Tidal Lagoon is yet another nail in the coffin of the Tories’ green credentials. The Liberal Democrats ensured that the Coalition Government fully backed the Swansea Tidal Lagoon project. With the Tories on their own, all we have seen is minister after minister talking this project down. The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon must go ahead. It will lead to thousands of new green jobs and supply energy for 120 years – over three times as long as a nuclear plant.

The Port Talbot enterprise zone is good news and I hope will go a long way in helping rejuvenate the area. The Labour Government must pull its weight and set up an urban regeneration company for Port Talbot to help counter the impacts of the decline in heavy industry and manufacturing.

It’s clear for all to see that North Wales has been neglected for too long and has not been getting its fair share of infrastructure projects. I welcome any progress in improving transport links in the area, however the people of North Wales need more than a sentence of warm words ahead of an election.

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The Voice

York’s best pubs for Conference attendees

By The Voice | Thu 10th March 2016 - 4:02 pm

Nick Love, the former Parliamentary candidate for York Central, has put together an indispensable guide to the best watering holes in York.

You can download his recommendations and a useful map:

York Pubs for Lib Dem Conference 2016

York A-Z Pubs Map

 

 

 

 

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The Voice

LibLink: Olly Grender on protecting tenants from wrongful eviction

By The Voice | Thu 10th March 2016 - 1:01 pm

olly grenderOlly Grender has been writing on this subject on Huffington Post. She writes:

The Lib Dems have a good track record on fighting for tenants against wrongful evictions. Sarah Teather successfully pushed for legal protections against ‘revenge evictions’ when we were in Government, to stop tenants losing their home if they asked for safety repairs to be done.

We got that law passed despite determined attempts from Tory backbenchers to keep the power firmly in the hands of landlords.

Now there is another opportunity to protect tenants. The Government is attempting to give landlords the power to evict tenants on the basis that they have ‘abandoned’ the property, if they have not paid rent for eight weeks or responded to three notices. If those conditions are met, the landlord could reclaim possession within 12 weeks.

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The Voice

WATCH: Why we are #INtogether this International Women’s Day

By The Voice | Tue 8th March 2016 - 5:45 pm

Liberal Democrat women explain why women are better off in the EU

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The Voice

Alison McInnes’ speech in the Scottish diversity debate: Positive action is a realignment to break the mould that society has been using for too long

By The Voice | Tue 8th March 2016 - 4:45 pm

This is the speech that Alison McInnes gave to the Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference. It’s quite direct and points out our own failings, saying that we have to take action to resolve our lack of diversity.

I’ve been a member of our party for a quarter of a century.  One disappointing constant has been the gender imbalance in our parliamentary groups.

I have had plenty of opportunity to observe the dynamics of our party, locally and nationally, and to identify through the party’s own myriad actions what it actually values and honours.

Despite being the party that claims it cherishes equality and women’s rights, its actions often reveal a clear preference for adherence to a single, male patent pattern.  And that creates a feedback loop that means members when asked to choose are most  likely to opt for what they know the party values above all, and so it goes on.

There is a societal, ingrained implicit bias that leads us all, women and men, to value a particular set of attributes above others. There is no need to be outraged or defensive – no one is saying it is deliberate or malicious, but it is real.  

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The Voice

Willie Rennie’s message for International Women’s Day: We will give women the same advantages that men have had for generations

By The Voice | Tue 8th March 2016 - 8:55 am

On International Women’s Day it is right that we celebrate the achievements of all those who have broken through the glass ceiling that still restricts opportunity.

We have made big strides towards gender parity in recent years. We have a female First Minister and I am in a minority of one as the only male leader of a larger Scottish political party. But the hard fact is that women are under-represented at the top level in business and politics alike. This needs to change. Scotland cannot be the best if the life chances of half of the population are restricted.

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