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

By The Voice | Sun 7th February 2016 - 6:00 pm

7 best Many thanks to the visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

The shocking truth about FGM

By The Voice | Fri 5th February 2016 - 5:21 pm

Responding to reports that a case of FGM is reported in England every 109 minutes, former Liberal Democrat DfID Minister Lynne Featherstone said:

The Liberal Democrats in Coalition ensured the NHS must report cases of FGM , it is vital that we shine a light on this barbaric practice.

It is shocking how many cases are now coming forward but we must see this as a positive. Without knowing the true extent of the problems we do not face a hope of stopping it. The rate in which cases are reported shows how much work is still left to do. We must highlight the issue in schools, ensuring that young girls are educated about the issue at a young age.

Tomorrow is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and the fight is far from over. The more we increase awareness of the horrific nature of FGM the easier it will be to end it.

Posted in News | Tagged fgm | 24 Comments

Willie Rennie: Why I need you to back me on diversity

By The Voice | Thu 4th February 2016 - 4:47 pm

Willie Rennie has made clear that he wants to see a more diverse team of parliamentarians elected at all levels over the next 5 years. Today, he has emailed Scottish Party members to set out the case for them to back his plans at Scottish Party Conference in three weeks’ time.

His email is copied below:

In periods of adversity organisations have opportunities to renew, refresh and reorganise to prepare for future successes. For the Scottish Liberal Democrats that opportunity is to build a team of candidates in winnable seats that is more reflective of society.

It cannot be a mark of a system of equality and opportunity that only five of the thirty six new parliamentarians in the last twenty years were women. Yet that is what our current system has produced and I am determined to change it.

Our conference in Edinburgh later this month will have a choice. We can try, yet again, to achieve more balance amongst our future parliamentarians with the same system that has delivered white, male dominated parliamentary groups since the war (No, I’m wrong. It’s forever).

Or we can back the proposals that I have developed with a group of wise and experienced campaigners. These campaigners were sceptical but have now developed a package that will get results. Sheila Ritchie, Sophie Bridger, Fred Macintosh and Jo Swinson were all against such action in the past. In fact many spoke up at conferences against such measures. The motion we will debate has been crafted by them and has their endorsement.

Posted in News | Tagged diversity, scottish spring conference 2016 and willie rennie | 15 Comments

Kirsty Williams’ More Nurses Bill passes penultimate Assembly stage

By The Voice | Wed 3rd February 2016 - 7:54 pm

Good news from Cardiff tonight as Kirsty Williams’ Bill to ensure appropriate numbers of nurses in Welsh hospitals cleared its penultimate parliamentary hurdle. The Bill would see Wales become the first country in the UK with a legal duty to have safe nurse staffing levels on hospital wards.

The final stage will take place next week.

Kirsty can deliver her Leader’s speech to Welsh Conference on Saturday knowing that she is only the second AM to have got a Private Bill to this stage. The first was her Liberal Democrat colleague Peter Black with his Mobile Homes Bill.

Over 4,500 members of the public have signed petitions in support of the bill which, if it passes stage 4 next week, could receive royal assent in March.

Kirsty said:

Posted in News | Tagged kirsty williams, more nurses bill and Wales | 1 Comment

Farron: Britain deserves better than Tory MPs fighting like rats in a sack

By The Voice | Wed 3rd February 2016 - 6:52 pm

Tim Farron has missed Cameron’s “Deal or no deal” performance today as he’s been away in Manchester and Edinburgh, but he’s been keeping an eye on developments. This is what he had to say:

The Prime Minister’s draft deal means the first stage of the campaign to keep Britain at the heart of Europe and global affairs is complete. Now, the Liberal Democrats will play a leading role in working and campaigning to deliver a ‘Remain’ result that will safeguard our economy.

Next Wednesday we will be launching our Liberal Democrat campaign to keep Britain in Europe. Our unity contrasts with the Tories.

Posted in News | Tagged eu referendum, house of commons and tim farron | 13 Comments

Farron challenges Scottish Tory Leader over EU Referendum

By The Voice | Wed 3rd February 2016 - 10:55 am

Way back in September last year, Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson made some positive noises on the idea that Britain should remain in the EU. She’s been pretty quiet since, presumably not wanting to scare the many Eurosceptic horses in her own party. Her Twitter feed was silent on the issue yesterday as news broke of the draft deal

Tim Farron is up in Edinburgh today (and so far the weather is very sunny for him) and, ahead of his visit, he challenged Ruth to take on those in her party who want to take Britain out of the EU.

He said she should stop being scared of her right wing:

In England, the Tories have been hopelessly split on the issue of Europe for a generation. Now it seems that Ruth Davidson is running scared of her right wing in Scotland too.

The Prime Minister has come back with his deal. The phony war is over. It is time for people to take a stand.

Posted in News | Tagged eu referendum, ruth davidson, scottish conservatives and tim farron | 4 Comments

Mulholland hails victory for tenant landlords after Government u-turn

By The Voice | Wed 3rd February 2016 - 9:19 am

Remember back in 2014, Greg Mulholland and others secured a Government defeat to give tenant landlords the right to request a fair rent and end the beer tie?

Unsurprisingly, the Government did what it could to put as many obstacles in the way of landlords seeking that fair rent as it could. Sure, they could have it, as long as the pubco could increase the rent at the end of the year. They’ve had to u-turn on that now.

Pub champion Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland (known in some quarters as the Casked Crusader) has long fought for the Market Rent Only (MRO) option, said that the u-turn was a major victory against a Government which has consistently refused to support landlords to get a fair deal.

Posted in News | Tagged fair deal for your local, greg mulhollland, pubcos and pubs | 4 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 30th January 2016 - 3:45 pm

LibDemVoice 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:

Things that cheer you up;

Tables are turned in the Lords;

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Lib Dem Peer John Roper dies at 80

By The Voice | Sat 30th January 2016 - 2:45 pm

The Manchester Evening News reports that Liberal Democrat peer John Roper, who retired last year, has died at the age of 80:

Lord Roper started his career as an economics lecturer at the University of Manchester before standing for Parliament in High Peak, near Stockport, for Labour in 1964.

He was elected Member of Parliament for Farnworth in 1970.

He sat as a Labour Co-operative MP from 1970 to 1981 and for the SDP for the following two years.

His Farnworth seat was subsequently abolished, and he contested Worsley at the 1983 general election, finishing third in a three-way marginal.

In 2000, he was created a life peer as Baron Roper.

Dick Newby, his successor as the party’s chief whip in the upper chamber, said: “John was, throughout his life, a great servant to social democracy and liberal politics in Britain.

Posted in News | Tagged house of lords and john roper | 3 Comments

Lib Dem Lords’ maiden speeches: Dorothy Thornhill on housing and planning

By The Voice | Sat 30th January 2016 - 1:45 pm

Last Tuesday, Dorothy Thornhill, Mayor of Watford, made her maiden speech in the House of Lords. She spoke in the debate on the Housing and Planning Bill. Here it is in full:

When I mentioned to my noble friends that I was excited but concerned about my maiden speech

Posted in Parliament | Tagged dorothy thornhill and house of lords | 2 Comments

Welsh version of the new “Community” PPB – different running order and added Kirsty

By The Voice | Thu 28th January 2016 - 3:15 pm

Here is the Welsh version of the new Community party political broadcast. It has Kirsty Williams instead of Tim Farron, talking about the warmth and vitality of Welsh communities and how everyone wants good health services and for kids to have great schools to go to.

Welsh Liberal Democrats care about their communities – that's why so many of them are effective community champions. Watch this video to find out why.

Posted by Welsh Liberal Democrats on Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Posted in News | Tagged kirsty williams, party political broadcasts and Wales | 1 Comment

Another day, another time Labour doesn’t bother turning up to defeat Government in Lords

By The Voice | Wed 27th January 2016 - 9:45 pm

You would think, wouldn’t you, that if there was a chance to defeat the Government, especially if it was to do with helping out low paid workers, Labour Lords would show up, wouldn’t you?

Certainly that would be a triumph of hope over experience in this Parliament, given that they never bothered to kill of the tax credit rise when they had the chance. Nor, of course, did they turn up to secure votes at 16.

Again tonight, they failed to show up to vote for a Liberal Democrat motion to get rid of the cuts to Universal Credit from April 2017. These are exactly the same cuts that were going to happen to tax credits.

Speaking after the defeat of the Lib Dem motion (by 91 votes to 202, which is a pretty spectacular turnout for our peers, Lords Chief Whip Dick Newby said:

Posted in News | Tagged house of lords, labour and universal credit | 39 Comments

Tim Farron’s message for Holocaust Memorial Day

By The Voice | Wed 27th January 2016 - 12:43 pm

From Facebook, here is Tim’s message for Holocaust Memorial Day:

My reflections on this year's Holocaust Memorial Day. This is a day for everyone to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of people killed by Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. The years theme of ‘Don’t Stand By’ highlights the choice we have in not tolerating unacceptable behaviour. It is vital that we remember and reflect upon these horrors of the past, and honour those who survived.

Posted by Tim Farron on Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Posted by Tim Farron on Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Posted in News | Tagged holocaust memorial day and tim farron | 3 Comments

Willie Rennie’s penny on tax for biggest investment in Scottish education since devolution

By The Voice | Wed 27th January 2016 - 11:51 am

Finally, someone is actually planning on using the new tax-varying powers given to Scotland. Willie Rennie has made a big announcement on education this morning. He intends cleaning up the mess the SNP have made in education with 4 radical measures, paid for by a modest rise in income tax which will not affect anyone who earns £19,000 a year or less.

That £475 million investment will include the Lib Dem Pupil Premium, already successful in England and, thanks to Kirsty Williams, in Wales. That’s all about giving extra money to disadvantaged kids in school. Then there’s investment in nurseries and colleges, as well as a reversal of the SNP’s education cuts.

Posted in News | Tagged education, featured, Scotland, tax and willie rennie | 16 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 24th January 2016 - 2:31 pm

7 best Many thanks to the 12,500 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Farron’s strategy to tackle Corbyn is all wrong (71 comments) by George Potter

A long, slow goodbye…a warm hello (30 comments) by Tod Sullivan

What do you do when you see a disastrous exit poll? Eat your hat, of course. (82 comments) by Caron Lindsay

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Lib Dem Job watch – lots of campaigning jobs going across the country

By The Voice | Sun 24th January 2016 - 12:10 pm

Embed from Getty Images

There are some excellent jobs going in the Liberal Democrats at the moment. The most prestigious is the Head of Press. The party is seeking someone to:

lead a small but effective media team to promote the Liberal Democrats and the party Leader Tim Farron in regional and national media. You will be expected to lead the party’s mission to secure daily coverage in national and regional print, broadcast and online news media.

As a key player in the wider Liberal Democrat team, the Head of Press will take a significant role in the rebuilding and fightback of Liberal Democrats, offering creative and engaging ideas, and take a leading role in interacting with journalists and key influencers on social media.

This role will be focused on delivering positive coverage for the party and for candidates of all levels across the United Kingdom, as well as be able to inspire best practice to help volunteers support the party’s media operation.

The Head of Press will also take a lead in managing crisis communications, and have a clear ability to work well under pressure.

The master of understatement, don’t you think?

If you are good at design and political messaging, you might be interested in the content designer post based at LDHQ in London:

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged jobs | 3 Comments

What does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today? Choose the Agenda 2020 Essay competition winner

By The Voice | Sun 24th January 2016 - 9:45 am

Embed from Getty Images

As part of the Agenda 2020 project to restate our values in a way that’s relevant to the modern world, the party ran an essay competition in the Autumn. Members were asked to submit 1000 words on the subject “What does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today?”

Out of what is described as a “huge” number of entries, the party has shortlisted nine.

You can read them and vote for your favourite here.

We don’t know who the shortlisted applicants are – we just have their words to choose from. So, if you’re on the shortlist, no cryptic clues in the comments, please.

What’s in it for the winner?

The competition winner will be invited to speak to our Agenda 2020 consultation session at spring conference, have their essay published on the party website and in our party magazine, and be presented with a copy of John Stuart Mill’s ‘On Liberty’, signed by Tim Farron.

Posted in News | Tagged agenda 2020 essay competition and featured | 2 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 23rd January 2016 - 4:55 pm

LibDemVoice 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.

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

Local elections 2016: the Liberal Democrat battleground

Electoral expenses by party

Clegg commission: educational inequality by geography

Posted in Site news | Tagged members' forum | Leave a comment

Farron: Don’t train people from countries with bad human rights records at Sandhurst

By The Voice | Sat 23rd January 2016 - 12:30 pm

Tim Farron has called on the Government to stop taking money from states with poor human rights records to train their military officers at the elite Sandhurst training college. He said to the Guardian:

These Sandhurst sheikhs are sitting in our military academies, learning from our best and then taking these things back to regimes that repress their population and trample all over human rights. People will look at this and think why are we selling weapons to Saudi, training Bahrainis and then sitting there while they oppress their population.

Shared military training with our allies is a fantastic resource, but it is time to stand up for the values we talk about so much – democracy and human rights. British forces provide some of the best military training in the world, but the privilege to train with our top class troops should be reserved to those foreign armed forces who share our values and our strict adherence to humanitarian law in combat. I believe we need to end to the training of overseas royals from regimes with terrible human rights records at Sandhurst.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged human rights, the guardian and tim farron | 5 Comments

Kate Parminter: There should be compulsory community engagement before planning process begins

By The Voice | Sat 23rd January 2016 - 9:45 am

This week, Liberal Democrat peer Kate Parminter took place in a debate organised by the Town and Country Planning Association on the subject of planning for people. She emphasised the importance of engaging communities at every stage in the planning process:

Parminter said a number of local authorities still have a problem with local plans and with giving planning permission by appeal. This does not, she said, offer any incentive or encouragement to local communities to “think that a neighbourhood plan is going to work for them because they see in so many areas that it about planning by appeal. Therefore, the mood is not conducive to more planning”.

Parminter said Liberal Democrats are “struck by the need” for formal community engagement early in the planning process. While neighbourhood planning is something that can be built on, it isn’t a formal enough way to engage the community in a large development to ensure that the design is right, that the needs of the community are met, not just the need for more housing.

Posted in News | Tagged community engagement, Local government and planning | 4 Comments

‘Make the case for Europe yourself and stop hiding behind business’ – Farron

By The Voice | Fri 22nd January 2016 - 12:00 pm

Embed from Getty Images

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s European referendum speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said yesterday:

The Prime Minister is calling on businesses to step up and join the campaign to remain within the European Union. I call on him to step up and make the case himself and not hide behind businesses. He needs to lead, not follow.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party united in the case to remain. Together the EU has created the world’s largest free trade area, delivered peace, and continues to give the British people the opportunity to live, work and travel freely. History shows that Britain is better when it is united with Europe.

Posted in News | Tagged european union and tim farron | 8 Comments

Lamb says Government needs to ‘see sense’ over commission for future of NHS

By The Voice | Fri 22nd January 2016 - 11:30 am

Embed from Getty Images

Posted in News | Tagged NHS and norman lamb | 3 Comments

London Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon welcomes TfL takeover of suburban trains

By The Voice | Thu 21st January 2016 - 8:27 pm

Today it was announced that the Transport for London would take over London’s suburban rail network. From the BBC:

Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will be taking over the running of the capital’s suburban rail network.

It will take over the routes as the various rail franchises come up for renewal.

The new partnership between the Department for Transport and TfL says it aims to ensure there are more frequent trains and increased capacity.

The first rail franchise up for renewal is South West in 2017.

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon welcomed this move, although she did say that it really wasn’t happening fast enough:

Posted in News | Tagged Caroline Pidgeon, london, rail and transport | 15 Comments

Farron and Brake say that those who killed Alexander Litvinenko must be held to account

By The Voice | Thu 21st January 2016 - 2:20 pm

Tim Farron and Tom Brake have reacted to this morning’s publication of the report into the nurder of Alexander Litvinenko which concluded that Andrei Lugovoi, a key ally of Vladimir Putin, and Dmitri Kovtun killed Litvinenko and that Putin probably authorised it.

Tim Farron said that those responsible must be held to account:

A UK citizen was killed on the streets of London with polonium. It was an attack on the heart of Britain, our values and our society.

I call for EU travel bans, asset freezes and coordinated action to deal with those who committed this evil assassination. I have called for a new Magnitsky Law to make sure that these people are held to account for what they did.

These assassins trampled over British sovereignty and we cannot let this go unanswered.

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged alexander litvinenko, tim farron and tom brake | 14 Comments

Government defeated by 93 votes in Lords over party funding element of Trade Union Bill

By The Voice | Wed 20th January 2016 - 8:48 pm

Good cross-party work in the Lords today as an amendment written by Liberal Democrat Paul Tyler and tabled by Labour won the day. This sets up a select committee to oversee party funding and make a fairer playing field. The vote was won by 327 to 234.

It remains to be seen what the Government will do with this. The Parliamentary ping pong could delay it for a year. That’s an important time in which we should try to have a proper public debate on the issue of party funding.

After the vote, Paul Tyler said:

Posted in News | Tagged house of lords, party funding and paul tyler | 16 Comments

Simon Hughes calls for CPS and Police to look again at Poppi Worthington case

By The Voice | Wed 20th January 2016 - 4:30 pm

Former Liberal Democrat Justice Minister Simon Hughes has called for the Police and CPS to look again at the investigation into the death of 13 month old Poppi Worthington. He said:

There is an investigation by the IPCC about whether police did their job properly in this case and due to be a second inquest into Poppi’s death. I’m sure Cumbria Police and the CPS will now also want to look again at the evidence in the public domain.
“In the light of the public judgment in the family court case, police and the CPS should now reopen and review this case. If our justice system is about justice for the deceased as well as the living and above all about the welfare of children still alive, then it must be in the general interests of justice that there is a further review of this case.

Posted in News | Tagged cps, legal, police, poppi worthington and simon hughes | Leave a comment

Jo Swinson has new role at advertising watchdog

By The Voice | Wed 20th January 2016 - 11:45 am

Former Liberal Democrat Business and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson has been appointed as one of four new appointees to the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice. From Marketing Magazine:

As one of four new appointees to the BCAP (Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice) committee, Swinson will be responsible for advising on broadcast advertising codes of conduct.

Swinson is no stranger to advertising regulation, particularly surrounding the marketing industry’s portrayal of women, having in the past objected to ads.

Posted in News | Tagged advertising, body image and Jo Swinson | 1 Comment

Tom Brake’s bill to strengthen Freedom of Information

By The Voice | Tue 19th January 2016 - 2:42 pm

Today Tom Brake introduced a bill under the 10 minute rule to limit the powers of ministers to block freedom of information requests and extend the coverage of the Freedom of Information Act to contractors carrying out duties commissioned by the public sector.

Today I've introduced a 10 minute rule bill that aims to extend the remit of the Freedom of Information Act #extendfoi

— Tom Brake MP (@thomasbrake) January 19, 2016

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Featherstone: Lib Dems will fight to protect renewables sector

By The Voice | Sun 17th January 2016 - 2:55 pm

Energy and Climate Change spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has accused the government (perfectly reasonably) of making “ideological cuts” to the renewables sector. Speaking ahead of a Lords debate on the Energy Bill tomorrow, she said:

Liberal Democrats have made changes to the Government’s Energy Bill in the House of Lords, and will be fighting to protect onshore wind subsidies in the debate.

We will be fighting to keep these changes, which will help protect our renewable energy industry in the face of brutal Conservative cuts.

Posted in News | Tagged climate change, energy and lynne featherstone | 2 Comments