Author Archives: The Voice

Nick Clegg and Colombian leader to build pressure for drugs reform

By The Voice | Mon 10th November 2014 - 5:15 pm

Nick Clegg might not be having much luck with the Conservatives on drugs reform, but he’s trying to build an international consensus. He’s agreed a joint approach with Colombian leader Juan Manuel Santos according to the Observer:

Posted in News | Tagged drugs policy, juan manuel santos and nick clegg | 12 Comments

Brian Paddick on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “We need a change of attitude in society and across the political spectrum”

By The Voice | Mon 10th November 2014 - 9:15 am

Brian Paddick — former Deputy Assistant Commissioner in London’s Metropolitan Police Service, twice Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of London and now a Lib Dem peer — spoke in this week’s House of Lords debate, ‘Women: Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion’. Here’s what he said…

Lord Paddick (LD): … As the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Leicester has already said, the issues of homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion of women are linked. In particular, it is male violence against women that lies behind many of these problems. For example, as my noble friend Lady Tyler of Enfield said, the homeless charity, St Mungo’s, reports that half of its female clients have experienced domestic violence compared with only 5% of its male clients. Research already referred to by the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, shows that between 50% and 80% of women in prison have experienced domestic or sexual violence. Two-thirds of domestic violence survivors say that their problematic substance misuse began following domestic violence. The evidence is compelling, not only that women are disproportionately victims of domestic violence and abuse, almost always but not exclusively perpetrated by men, but that violence and abuse lies behind much of the homelessness and social exclusion faced by women.

Posted in Parliament | Tagged brian paddick, domestic violence, homelessness, house of lords, sexual violence and women | 1 Comment

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

By The Voice | Sun 9th November 2014 - 2:15 pm

Many thanks to the 14,100 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Norman Baker quits as Home Office Minister (29 comments) by Stephen Tall

“Lib Dems have made majority Conservative rule in Britain less likely for perhaps a generation” (40 comments) by Stephen Tall

Six months from 7th May 2015: how the polls are looking and what to look out for (67 comments) by Stephen Tall

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg’s message for Remembrance Day 2014

By The Voice | Sun 9th November 2014 - 10:07 am

Posted in News | Tagged remembrance day 2014 | 1 Comment

In the next month 37 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 5:00 pm

Here’s the full list of selection contests in the coming month available for Lib Dems on the approved parliamentary candidates’ list, together with the closing date for applications.

The following seats have selections in progress and are currently advertising for candidates:

Posted in Selection news | Tagged general election 2015 | 3 Comments

Olly Grender on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “Housing supply lies at the heart of the solution of some of these complex issues”

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 3:15 pm

Olly Grender — former director of communications for housing charity Shelter, now a Lib Dem peer — spoke in this week’s House of Lords debate, ‘Women: Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion’. Here’s what she said…

Baroness Grender (LD): My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady King of Bow, for initiating this debate. I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Rebuck, and the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, on their moving and inspirational speeches. We look forward to many more. I also take this opportunity to congratulate my noble friend Lady Garden of Frognal on her return to the government Benches. It will not surprise her to hear me, as a woman on these Benches, say the more the merrier—more please.

The noble Baroness, Lady King, has managed to take three complex areas of social policy and combine them in one impressive debate. They are complex in part because the reasons behind the homelessness of women are sometimes hard to detect and far too often hidden away. They are complex indeed, but at the heart of this debate is a very simple truth, which is that there is a terrible cost when a woman has no home, no escape from violence and no apparent way back from social exclusion, as was so movingly described by the noble Baroness, Lady Newlove. It is likely that the cost is not just to her but to the children she may have with her, and to us as a nation as they grow up.

Posted in Parliament | Tagged domestic violence, homelessness, house of lords, olly grender, sexual violence and women | 3 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 1:30 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 7 days:

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Eluned Parrott selected to fight Welsh Assembly Cardiff Central seat

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 9:26 am

In 2011, one of the most heartbreaking results in Wales was losing Jenny Randerson’s former constituency of Cardiff Central by just 38 votes Losing by such a small amount is horrible. Welsh Liberal Democrats hope to win it back in 2015. They’ve now chosen their candidate, South Wales Central list AM Eluned Parrott, who has made a significant impact since she was elected in 2011.

In 2012, she wrote about her experience of Post-Natal Depression for Time to Change Wales as one of four AMs who decided to be open about their own experiences. A year later, she followed that up with an article about the impact that decision had had on her life:

Posted in News | Tagged eluned parrot, time to change wales, Wales, welsh assembly elections 2016 and welsh liberal democrats | Leave a comment

Willott and Hunter stand down as Assistant Government Whips, Burt and Brake take over

By The Voice | Tue 4th November 2014 - 1:48 pm

Jenny Willott has stepped down as Assistant Government Whip to free herself up to concentrate on her constituency and to be able to speak in the House of Commons. Here are the letters exchanged between Jenny and Nick Clegg in full:

Posted in News | Tagged jenny willott and nick clegg | 29 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 2nd November 2014 - 2:53 pm

Many thanks to the 15,700 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

On making LDV more inclusive (100 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Paddy Ashdown on Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 comments) by The Voice

Botswana elections: Liberal Democrats help sister party and “calm revolutionary of our time” (99 comments) by Caron Lindsay

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Presidential Candidates’ Emails to party members

By The Voice | Sun 2nd November 2014 - 11:55 am

Last night, emails from all 3 candidates for party president were sent to party members. Ballot papers have started arriving on the doorsteps of the party’s 44,000 members. Members have the choice of either sending their ballot paper back in the reply paid envelope provided or voting online. You can’t do both, obviously. Checks are in place to ensure that people only vote once.

Here are the emails in full with links to the candidates’ websites:

Posted in News | Tagged daisy cooper, liz lynne, presidential election 2014 and sal brinton | 45 Comments

A trio of awards ceremonies for Lynne Featherstone

By The Voice | Sun 2nd November 2014 - 10:25 am

It’s a busy week for Lynne Featherstone. Last Tuesday, she won Pink News’s Ally of the Year award as the Minister responsible for setting the same sex marriage process in motion. She’s responsible for a great deal of happiness. She said of her win:

I’d like to thank Pink News for giving me this award, and everyone who was at the event for the reception they gave me – it’s so heart-warming.

Bringing about this positive social change is one of the greatest achievements of our generation, and I’m so thankful to all the organisations, politicians, civil servants and people who supported the successful campaign for Equal Marriage law from start to finish.

Posted in News | Tagged lynne featherstone and same sex marriage | 3 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sat 1st November 2014 - 4:45 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.

Here’s some of the most active discussions this past 7 days:

When are the federal election ballots being

…

Posted in Site news | 7 Comments

REMINDER: Helena Morrissey’s call for feedback: reply by 7th November

By The Voice | Sat 1st November 2014 - 3:05 pm

Just a gentle reminder about Helena Morrissey’s call for feedback on progress since her report was published in June last year. She wants your comments by this coming Friday, 7th November. Here’s what she wrote on 13th October:

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged featured | 5 Comments

Birmingham Post: “MP John Hemming is often a beacon of truth”

By The Voice | Sat 1st November 2014 - 12:05 pm

That’s the glowing verdict of the Birmingham Post’s Jonathan Walker on the city’s Yardley Lib Dem MP, John Hemming:

Let’s give credit where it’s due and celebrate one of the mavericks of the House of Commons. He’s a little eccentric and if he’s blessed with a brain the size of a planet he might just have an ego to match. But he’s frequently championed unfashionable causes – and eventually been proved right.

The trigger for this bout of praise was his role as chairman of a campaign group called Parents Want a …

Posted in News | Tagged birmingham post, birmingham yardley, john hemming and jonathan walker | 2 Comments

Kirsty Williams: For Labour and the Tories, Welsh patients are just collateral damage in NHS War

By The Voice | Tue 28th October 2014 - 3:55 pm

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams emailed Welsh members yesterday about the current war of words over the Welsh NHS. Here’s what she said:

Posted in News | Tagged kirsty williams, NHS and Wales | 4 Comments

Federal Committee candidate lists announced

By The Voice | Tue 28th October 2014 - 10:25 am

If you are a party member, you might want to head to this thread on our Members’ Forum to see the lists of people standing for the Party Committees. The ballot will be conducted predominantly online with links to the ballot being provided to those Conference Representatives for whom the party has an email address. Those emails will be being despatched imminently. Ballots will be sent by post to those for whom there is no email address. The postie will be struggling up the path with the weight of the mailing – there are over 100 candidates for the 42 places on the three committees.

Posted in News | Tagged federal conference committee, federal executive, federal policy committee, party elections 2014 and party organisation | 13 Comments

Carmichael talks green investment, energy and renewables

By The Voice | Tue 28th October 2014 - 8:55 am

Yesterday, Alistair Carmichael spoke at a Green investment conference in Edinburgh, which is, of course, home to the Green Investment Bank.

It was a strong pitch to persuade those attending that the Liberal Democrats are delivering in Government on policies that are both green and pro-businesss. Here are some of the highlights.

Being Scotland, there had to be a bit on the constitution, though, and the Smith Commission:

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, climate change, green investment bank and renewable energy | 4 Comments

LibLink: Ed Davey promises no blackouts this winter

By The Voice | Mon 27th October 2014 - 4:03 pm

Interviewed in the Sunday Telgraph, Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, said that he had asked the energy regulators for extra contingency measures to cut consumption in event of a cold winter or more power station failures.

Emergency plans will be announced tomorrow in which hotels will be paid to turn down refrigerators and factories paid to make staff work overnight to cut energy consumption and prevent blackouts this winter.

Posted in News | Tagged energy and energy security | 34 Comments

LibLink: What Nick Clegg wrote on Mumsnet about shared parental leave – and he didn’t mince his words

By The Voice | Mon 27th October 2014 - 2:31 pm

Let’s bankrupt Britain’s businesses and, once we’re done, burn the buildings to the ground.

This is what you might have thought I’d said last week, if you saw some of the reaction to my plans to increase fathers’ rights when it comes to shared parental leave.

Nick Clegg was writing on Mumsnet at the weekend, dealing with some of the misleading and downright misogynistic claims made in the media about the scheme. As he made clear:

Posted in LibLink | Tagged mumsnet, nick clegg and shared parental leave | 11 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 26th October 2014 - 5:00 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 7 days:

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Sal Brinton on how Liberal Democrats helped change law on revenge porn

By The Voice | Sun 26th October 2014 - 3:30 pm

If you have half an hour today, make sure you listen to the Week in Westminster, available here on iPlayer.

In it, Tom Brake debates the merits of fixed term Parliaments. The Tory argument against them seems to be more based in self interest and “we are sick fed up of the coalition and these pesky Liberal Democrats” than anything that actually matters.

Sal Brinton is also on talking about revenge porn which was made illegal in moves driven by Liberal Democrats including Sal, Olly Grender, Jonathan Marks and Liz Barker. Presenter Helen Lewis had initially said that the move was part of Chris Grayling’s move to combat internet abuse. Sal put her right, explaining that the impetus actually came from Liberal Democrats on the back of Hannah Thompson’s campaign. She was very diplomatic about the process of getting Government support for the move. You’ll have to listen to see how, in the last few minutes of the programme.

Posted in News | Tagged helen lewis, olly grender, radio 4, revenge porn, sal brinton, tom brake and week at westminster | 8 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 26th October 2014 - 1:55 pm

Many thanks to the 15,700 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Confused Britain (60 comments) by Scott Stables

Linda Jack drops out of race for party president (58 comments) by Mary Reid

Is this the front page of the next Lib Dem manifesto? (88 comments) by Stephen Tall

10 years on from the Orange Book, what should authentic liberalism look like? (78 comments) by Stephen Tall

“Duraàntezmania: that has legs” and other compliments for Miriam (74 comments) by The Voice

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

In the next month 22 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 25th October 2014 - 6:00 pm

Here’s the full list of selection contests in the coming month available for Lib Dems on the approved parliamentary candidates’ list, together with the closing date for applications. They include Taunton Deane, Jeremy Browne’s seat since 2005, and which he held at the last election with a majority of 3,993 (6.9%) over the Conservatves.

The following seats have selections in progress and are currently advertising for candidates:

Posted in Selection news | Tagged general election 2015 and taunton deane | 6 Comments

Paddy Ashdown on Bosnia and Herzegovina: “These are dangerous times; they are very dangerous times indeed”

By The Voice | Sat 25th October 2014 - 3:55 pm

Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, former international High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2002 to 2006, led this week’s House of Lords debate on the situation in the country following its recent election. Here’s what he had to say…

Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon (LD): My Lords, a few months before the last election in the last months of 2009, my right honourable friend William Hague and I—well, at least he was not my right honourable friend then, but he is today; he was then the shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs—wrote a joint article for the British and foreign press on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We complained bitterly that Bosnia was stuck, that the progress that we had made during the previous 10 years had gone backwards, that the tone of nationalistic rhetoric had risen, that this was dangerous and that Bosnia remained stuck in a mire of dysfunctionality and corruption.

Posted in Europe / International and Parliament | Tagged bosnia herzegovina and paddy ashdown | 9 Comments

Nick Clegg’s message for Diwali 2014

By The Voice | Sat 25th October 2014 - 1:25 pm

Here is Nick Clegg’s message for Diwali. The full transcript is below for those who have difficulty with hearing.

Posted in News | Tagged diwali 2014 and nick clegg | 2 Comments

A powerful message from Canada’s Liberal leader in response to Wednesday’s shootings

By The Voice | Fri 24th October 2014 - 1:33 pm

What would you want a liberal to say in the wake of shocking and violent events in your country? It must be something pretty close to Justin Trudeau’s words, full of dignity, wisdom and empathy.

Watch the video and see the excerpt below:

Posted in News | Tagged canada, international and Justin Trudeau | 11 Comments

Roundtable talks on new mental health waiting time standards

By The Voice | Fri 24th October 2014 - 12:01 pm

Today Nick Clegg and Norman Lamb held roundtable talks on mental health services in Sheffield.

Representatives from the local NHS discussed the impact of mental health conditions being brought into line with other NHS services, with the introduction of the first ever waiting time standards.

For the first time, from April 2015, most patients needing talking therapies – for conditions like depression – will be guaranteed the treatment they need in as little as six weeks, with a maximum wait of 18 weeks.

Posted in News | Tagged mental health | 1 Comment

Clare Campion-Smith Selected as Lib Dem PPC for Bristol North West

By The Voice | Fri 24th October 2014 - 8:49 am

At a well-attended meeting in St Edyth’s Hall, Sea Mills, Liberal Democrats selected Cllr Clare Campion-Smith to be their prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for the Bristol North West parliamentary seat.

Cllr Campion-Smith was first elected to represent the Henleaze ward in May 2006. She was re-elected earlier this year, beating her nearest rival by over 500 votes. From February 2009 to November 2012, Clare was the lead member for Children’s Services and she is now the Vice-Chair of the Business Change & Resources Scrutiny Committee. She has previously worked as a mathematics teacher and currently lives with her husband in Redland. They have two children, one daughter-in-law and one grandson.

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Horwood and Burstow take part in Westminster Dog of the Year

By The Voice | Thu 23rd October 2014 - 10:02 am

This year’s Westminster Dog of the Year gets underway shortly. The aim is to celebrate that great bond between dog and human and to promote responsible dog ownership.

Last year, the Liberal Democrats were represented by Tessa Munt and Poppy. This year Paul Burstow and Martin Horwood are taking part.

Paul takes part with his dog Indy, who came to them as a rescue dog 4 years ago:

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged martin horwood, paul burstow and westminster dog of the year | Leave a comment

Actually, this Summer of Strategy could be quite good…

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

Author Archives: The Voice

Nick Clegg and Colombian leader to build pressure for drugs reform

Brian Paddick on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “We need a change of attitude in society and across the political spectrum”

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

Nick Clegg’s message for Remembrance Day 2014

In the next month 37 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

Olly Grender on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “Housing supply lies at the heart of the solution of some of these complex issues”

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

Eluned Parrott selected to fight Welsh Assembly Cardiff Central seat

Willott and Hunter stand down as Assistant Government Whips, Burt and Brake take over

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

Presidential Candidates’ Emails to party members

A trio of awards ceremonies for Lynne Featherstone

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

REMINDER: Helena Morrissey’s call for feedback: reply by 7th November

Birmingham Post: “MP John Hemming is often a beacon of truth”

Kirsty Williams: For Labour and the Tories, Welsh patients are just collateral damage in NHS War

Federal Committee candidate lists announced

Carmichael talks green investment, energy and renewables

LibLink: Ed Davey promises no blackouts this winter

LibLink: What Nick Clegg wrote on Mumsnet about shared parental leave – and he didn’t mince his words

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

Sal Brinton on how Liberal Democrats helped change law on revenge porn

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

In the next month 22 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

Paddy Ashdown on Bosnia and Herzegovina: “These are dangerous times; they are very dangerous times indeed”

Nick Clegg’s message for Diwali 2014

A powerful message from Canada’s Liberal leader in response to Wednesday’s shootings

Roundtable talks on new mental health waiting time standards

Clare Campion-Smith Selected as Lib Dem PPC for Bristol North West

Horwood and Burstow take part in Westminster Dog of the Year

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Actually, this Summer of Strategy could be quite good…

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

Author Archives: The Voice

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