Author Archives: The Voice

Manifesto front page: Welsh and Scottish versions

As we said in our post about the front page of the manifesto, the Welsh and the Scots would have slightly different versions. Here they are:

The Welsh version says we’ll deliver a stronger Wales, with more powers, home rule and fair funding. Devolution means that our priorities on health and education need to be tailored. We’ve already ensured that the Pupil Premium, which delivers extra money to help disadvantaged kids in school, has been implemented in Wales and say we’ll deliver continued investment. On health the priority is more resources and safe staffing levels, consistent with Kirsty Williams’ bill to put staffing levels on a statutory footing.

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Liberal Democrats publish their election manifesto front page

Manifesto_Covers_2015The Liberal Democrats are today launching the front page of their General Election manifesto. The front-page will set out the five Liberal Democrat priorities for forming a government after May 7th. The Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats will also today unveil their manifesto priorities, including greater devolution of power to Scotland and Wales. Nick Clegg will launch the campaign on a visit to a primary school in the Conservative-held constituency of Oxford West and Abingdon.

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++Lib Dems to publish election manifesto front page tonight

At one minute past midnight tonight, the Liberal Democrats will publish the front page of their 2015 election manifesto, outlining their main priorities for governing the UK.

This is a great move by the party, capturing the voter’s attention with our main focus areas, up-front in the campaign.

We’ll carry the full details here on Liberal Democrat Voice from one minute past midnight tonight.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 8 Comments

Liberal Democrat Spring Conference agenda published

The Agenda has been published for the final conference before the General Election. Besides the main debate on the election manifesto, there are policy debates planned on

  • Mental Health
  • Five Green Laws
  • A better deal for Britain’s workforce
  • Freedom of expression in Europe and Beyond
  • Education Funding

and speeches from Danny Alexander, Jo Swinson, Vince Cable and Norman Lamb.

Nick Clegg as usual is doing a Q&A session with members as well as delivering the closing speech.

For more details including the fringe programme, training and ministerial Q&As see the agenda and directory here.

Posted in Conference | 2 Comments

In Full: Nick Clegg’s speech to the British Chambers of Commerce Conference today

Nick Clegg spoke to the British Chambers of Commerce conference in central London today. He spoke about creating opportunities for women, about the Liberal Democrats’ role in bringing about the recovery and about our plans for the future to boost business and the economy. Questioned afterwards, he also added that he wanted to see much more help for childcare in the future. Here is his speech in full:

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 14 Comments

Jo Swinson to take part in Marie-Claire election debate at 10am tomorrow

jo_swinsonAt 10am tomorrow, 11 February, our Jo Swinson will be one of five panellists taking part in an hour long Twitter election debate run by Marie Claire magazine. Here’s an extract from their blog about it:

A third of us still have no idea who to vote for in the general election in May, so many of us won’t vote at all. To help us work out who should get our valuable, individual votes, Marie Claire has invited five of the most powerful women in politics to take part in a live Twitter Election Debate. Gloria de PieroJustine GreeningJo SwinsonCaroline Lucas and Suzanne Evans will explain what their parties can do for us. In turn, we want you to fire your toughest questions at them, via a live Twitter Election Debate. If it matters to you, it matters to them.

Their profile of Jo says:

The Minister for Women and Equalities and Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs has been the MP for East Dunbartonshire since 2005. Last year, she garnered publicity for criticising a rule banning women from breastfeeding in the House of Commons. As part of her role, she oversees women and growth, women on boards and LGBT strategy. Jo was instrumental in delivering the upcoming introduction of shared paternity leave.

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Lib Dem Spin Doctor feels ‘Disenfranchised’

Dominic Raab MP by the Freedom AssociationWe have been asked to publish this post, unedited, by Dominic Raab, the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton (pictured right).

On Sunday morning, I was made aware of a blog-post by Roisin Miller on Liberal Democrat Voice, an independent website for Lib Dem supporters, entitled: ‘An MP who takes me for granted has left me feeling disenfranchised’. What followed was a nebulous – but direct – attack on me as an MP, saying that I took my so-called ’safe seat’ for granted. In particular, apparently my responses to Ms Miller’s communiqués were ‘half-hearted’, I’m not ‘a particularly good MP’, she hasn’t received any literature from me in 3 years, and locally Conservatives are failing to ‘engage with the electorate’. I think Ms Miller deserves a response.

Posted in Op-eds | 45 Comments

LibLink: Maajid Nawaz … Parliament needs an Arabic-speaking liberal like me

maajid-navazThe Ham & High has been interviewing Maajid Nawaz, PPC for Hampstead and Kilburn, which is the country’s most marginal seat – and a three-way contest at that.

The article begins by describing the time when he was a recuiting officer for Hizb ut-Tahrir, then imprisoned in Egypt  and adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. His subsequent transformation into a campaigner for counter-extremism through his think tank, the Quilliam Foundation, has not been without controversy, but Liberal Democrats have taken him to their hearts.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 28 Comments

LibLink: Ian Swales on why he is standing down from Parliament

Photo by Keith Edkins - 640px-Ian_Swales_at_Sheffield_2011Ian Swales has been explaining to the Telegraph why he is standing down as MP for Redcar.

There are two types of MP, there are those that retire at the election they turn pension age, like me, and there are those that stay here until forever, and I’m one of the former. It was never my intention to take on a full time, full-on job again at this stage.

He tells the story about how he campaigned from an apparently hopeless position 19,000 votes behind Labour, reducing the difference to 12,000 in 2005 and moving into second place. Five years later he achieved the biggest swing since WW2 winning the seat with a majority of 3000.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 5 Comments

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

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 15,800 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Oops! 15 Scottish Ashcroft polls published early by mistake (82 comments) by Paul Walter

LibLink: Vince Cable – Why is Labour planning changes to tuition fees that benefit higher earning graduates before lower earners? (189 comments) by Paul Walter

Electoral forecast puts Lib Dems on 48 seats (43 comments) by The Voice

Posted in Site news | 5 Comments

Thank you for your contributions to the #timetotalk theme yesterday

Time to talk 2015Thank you to everyone who wrote on the #timetotalk theme yesterday. We published 14 posts on the subject, with others added to the comments. You gave us some amazing contributions, some of which must have been really difficult to write.

Time to Talk was an opportunity to give a human face to mental health, so that some of the taboos and myths could be knocked on the head. It was particularly appropriate this year, given that the Liberal Democrats are giving such a high prominence to mental health in our manifesto and election campaign.  So we were pleased that Norman Lamb, the Health Minister, gave us his own relections and Paul Burstow provided some background about mental health services for children and young people.

Posted in News | Tagged | 4 Comments

After the Rose Garden: Nick Harvey’s lessons from coalition

The Institute for Government launches today former Lib Dem defence minister Nick Harvey’s report After the Rose Garden, on the workings of the coalition and lessons to draw for the future,

Some of these issues have been debated on Lib Dem Voice before. Nick observes that more “bums on seats”, even at the expense of policies in the coalition agreement may have had greater impact.

Posted in News | Tagged | 18 Comments

LibLink: Tim Farron on Chilcot

At the Huffington Post, Tim Farron is decrying the delay to the Chilcot report into the Iraq war.

The publication of the Chilcot report is crucial and the delays are unacceptable – we cannot afford to continue walking in the dark.

The underlying issue which we need to understand and question is the alignment of British foreign policy with American priorities. Has Blair and Thatcher’s determination to maintain “the special relationship” benefitted our country? Should we continue in this vein? The Chilcot report, when it is eventually published, must force us to learn lessons for the years ahead: at the moment we are in limbo. In a year when the country will decide who rules for the next five, this is unacceptable.

Posted in LibLink | Tagged , and | 3 Comments

Electoral forecast puts Lib Dems on 48 seats

Ballot paperThe Guardian reports the predictions of Prof Paul Whiteley of the University of Essex. His study forecasts Labour with 291 seats,  Conservatives 281, Lib Dems 48 and others 30.  The study is based on a model used by the British Election Study which came up with some pretty accurate predictions for 2005 and 2010.

The article explains:

The Essex forecasting model works by combining the number of seats won by parties in the previous election with voting intentions data from polls conducted six months prior to the election.

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 46 Comments

Nick Clegg on Sky News Ask the Leaders event today

AsktheleadersUpdate: After some confusion it seems that Nick will now be appearing later. David Cameron has also agreed to appear later today.

Sky News is running an Ask the Leaders event today, with young people asking the questions. The Q&A sessions with each leader (Miliband, Clegg and Bennett, but not Cameron, it seems) will be shown live on Sky News for 30 minutes followed by 15 minutes on Facebook. Nick Clegg’s turn comes at 12 noon.

You can watch live updates or get involved on #AskTheLeaders or on the Stand Up Be Counted

Posted in News | Tagged and | 4 Comments

Today’s workers, tomorrow’s retirement problem

 

Here at LDV Towers we’ve received an invitation to an event organised by the Resolution Foundation on Wednesday 11th February, when Steve Webb will be speaking. Most of us are unable to attend, so we are passing the invitation on to you, our dear readers.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 5 Comments

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

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 16,800  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Surely it’s time for the Liberal Democrats to part company with Alex Carlile (100 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Clegg on The Last Leg – first thoughts (14 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Open Doors: All 3 versions of the first Lib Dem broadcast of the year (71 comments) by The Voice

Posted in Site news | 5 Comments

Lib Dems raise £50k for General Election in just one day

Good news from Lib Dem Chief Exec Tim Gordon in our inbox this morning. Yesterday, the party raised £50,000 in just one day from members and supporters. That’s half as much as it raised during the whole of January. Nick Clegg’s appearance on The Last Leg may well have stimulated a good old shot in the bank balance for the party.

What’s particularly good is that the £150,000 raised from members and supporters will be matched by major donors, giving the campaign a £300,000 boost.

This news, combined with the recent news that Liberal Democrat membership rose for the sixth quarter in a row shows steady progress.

Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 9 Comments

Lib Dem campaigners in the snow #2

Following on from our post on Thursday night, here are some more pictures of Liberal Democrats campaigning in the snow. Keep sending them in.

Danny Alexander went for a walk (remember #dannyswalks) in the streets of Aviemore:

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , and | 3 Comments

Edgbaston PPC Lee Dargue takes part in debate with Birmingham University students

Lee Dargue, Lib Dem PPC for Edgbaston, recently met students from the University of Birmingham to discuss the party’s policies and their concerns. The student website Redbrick described him as an MP. We can but wish. It would not be a bad thing to have the chair of the Lib Dem Mental Health Association in Parliament.

It was inevitable that tuition fees would come up:

Dargue stated, ‘It has caused us a lot of damage.’ He did highlight the fact that ‘not all Lib Dem MPs voted in favour of the tuition fee rise.’ However, he stressed the positive realities of the new system, comparing it to a ‘Graduate Tax’ and reminded students that these loans are ‘no longer tied to your credit rating.’

To continue the discussion, a student asked what the Lib Dems believe is the greatest student problem. In response, Dargue stated that ‘Tuition fees are a red herring.’ He added that his party were more concerned about ‘the cost of student accommodation and transport’ since these are more immediate factors that affect students.

Redbrick also has a report of the event as it happened. Lee said he wanted to see  16 year olds and prisoners have the right to vote, he questioned the need for LGBT only schools, saying:

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 8 Comments

A first glance at the agenda for Spring Conference

The outline agenda for the Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference in Liverpool has been published.

Spring Conference outline agenda

 

On Friday, a series of policy consultations, and a consultation on the plans to take forward One Member One Vote take up the afternoon before the rally.

On Saturday, there are speeches by Danny Alexander, Vince Cable and Jo Swinson with a question and answer session with Nick Clegg. Policy debates include mental health, the manifesto (surprisingly titled Stronger Economy and Fairer Society), green laws and workforce rights.

Posted in News | 4 Comments

Open Doors: All 3 versions of the first Lib Dem broadcast of the year

The Liberal Democrats’ first crack at the General Election broadcasts is being shown as you read this.

With the theme of Open Doors, it’s about listening to voters and majors on how the Liberal Democrats would make a difference compared to Labour and the Conservatives.You may not be surprised to find that the phrases “stronger economy”, “fairer society” and “opportunity for everyone” feature.

Here is the English version. The Scottish and Welsh will follow below when they are available.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , and | 74 Comments

100 Days until polling day

Today, 100 days before polling day, sees a new poster launched by the Liberal Democrats, offering a straight road between the reckless borrowing offered by Labour and the reckless cuts of the Conservatives.
General Election Poster 270115s

Posted in News | 63 Comments

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

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 15,800 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

 The Greens: The Lib Dem fightback begins (178 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Britain’s greenest party, the Green Party and environmentalism (99 comments) by Simon Oliver

The Green Party: should we be panicking? (22 comments) by Paul Walter

Posted in Site news | 1 Comment

Shirley Williams on A life in politics

The Daily Politics has been running a series of interviews with political figures in their A Life in Politics series.

This week it was Shirley Williams talking about her varied career and personal life. Look back not he formation of the SDP, her passion for education reform and the prospects for the Liberal Democrats in the election, saying “we’re bound to be a main factor in another coalition.” Oh, and don’t call her indecisive.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 11 Comments

Welsh Lib Dems get good media coverage for new website launch

Welsh Lib Dems weibsiteNew websites put Welsh Lib Dems at forefront of web campaigning” screams the headline on Wales Online. Not bad coverage for the launch of a website, albeit one using the new .wales and .cymru domain names.

Kirsty Williams is quoted as saying:

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 5 Comments

Brent Central’s Ibrahim Taguri appointed as Liberal Democrat Race Equality Champion

Ibrahim Taguri selected for Brent Central
Ibrahim Taguri was born and raised in Brent not far from the office he wants to take over from Sarah Teather in May. Last Summer he wrote of his ambition for the area:

Yet I was lucky. My mother was single minded when it came to our education as children. That was our route out of poverty. I was also lucky in many ways, so when I had opportunities I was able to make the most of them. That’s why when Sarah Teather announced she was standing down as MP, I knew I had to take the opportunity to represent my community. My job as an MP will be to challenge those structural barriers that prevent people getting on in life as well as to support the most vulnerable in our society on a day to day basis, helping them to escape a cycle of despair.

That’s why, if I’m fortunate enough to be elected, I will be dedicating my first term in parliament to eradicating child poverty in the UK by 2020. A goal set out but the last administration and continued by the coalition. Yet the target is in serious danger of being missed as political parties continue to embroil themselves in blame games and semantics.

I believe that focusing on this issue we can tackle many of the great challenges of our time; improving life chances no matter where someone was born, integrating physical and mental health services; increasing housing stock to not uproot families; providing more educational opportunities and making work pay.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 10 Comments

Nick Clegg tells Chilcot: People will think your report is being “sexed down”

Following tonight’s news about the further delay in the publication of the Chilcot Report until after the election, Nick Clegg has written to Sir John Chilcott to ask him to get on with it.

Here’s his letter in full 

Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 24 Comments

Now, about those secret party elections we told you about the other week…

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about those important party elections, details of which were hidden in an obscure corner of the party website. Well, our stirring did generate a few nominations which meant that there were a good few contested positions.

Federal Executive members voted over last weekend and the results were declared last night. Here they are in full:

Posted in News | Tagged | 7 Comments

“What I need is what I think the Liberal Democrats are proposing” says Labour’s Peter Mandelson on Mansion Tax

Well, well. Who would have thought Peter Mandelson of all people would back a Liberal Democrat policy over a Labour one?

The Guardian has the story:

Speaking on Newsnight on BBC2, Mandelson said he favoured finding new ways of taxing property in Britain. But he added: “I don’t happen to think that the mansion tax is the right policy response to that. I think it’s sort of crude, it’s sort of short-termist.

“What we need is what I think the Liberal Democrats are proposing and that is the introduction of further bands that relate to different values of property within the council tax system. That’s what I would like to see. It will take longer to introduce, that’s true, but it will be more effective and efficient in the longer term than simply clobbering people with a rather sort of crude short term mansion tax.”

Mandelson is the latest senior Labour figure to criticise the party’s plan to impose a tax on properties worth more than £2m to help raise £1.2bn towards the £2.5bn costs of a new “Time to Care” NHS fund. This is designed to support 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs and 5,000 more care workers by 2020.

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 52 Comments
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