Author Archives: The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 11th October 2014 - 1:20 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:

People should not be MPs until they

…

Posted in Site news | 5 Comments

In the next month 27 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 11th October 2014 - 11:25 am

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 | 1 Comment

UKIP breakthrough, Labour scrape through

By The Voice | Fri 10th October 2014 - 8:35 am

The overnight news is that Douglas Carswell has been elected as a UKIP MP in Clacton with a majority of 12,068 over the Conservatives and 60% of the total vote. Liberal Democrats lost our deposit in 5th place, the 10th lost deposit this parliament.

Meanwhile in Heywood and Middleton, a Labour seat since its creation in 1983, Labour clung on with a majority of 617 votes over UKIP. This time, however, the Liberal Democrats did a little better, coming 4th with 5% and saving our deposit.

Here are the full results:

Posted in News | 257 Comments

Praise for Norman Lamb’s work on mental health

By The Voice | Wed 8th October 2014 - 7:18 pm

Here is the video shown to Conference showcasing the work that Norman Lamb has done on mental health which was shown before his speech.

Posted in News | Tagged mental health and norman lamb | 6 Comments

IN FULL: Nick Clegg’s leader’s speech to conference

By The Voice | Wed 8th October 2014 - 1:30 pm

Here’s the text of Nick Clegg’s speech to the Lib Dems’ autumn 2014 conference:

Before I say anything else, I’m sure I speak on behalf of all Liberal Democrats when I say that our hearts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Alan Henning and David Haines for their tragic loss.

These were good men. In the work they did they stood for hope and compassion – the things that everyone in this room believes are more important than anything else. We have to take on the cowards who

…

Posted in News | Tagged featured and leader's speech | 25 Comments

BBC: “Nick Clegg not executed on stage until 1320”

By The Voice | Wed 8th October 2014 - 1:15 pm

That was the rather startling tweet from BBC South-East reporter Louise Stewart:

Nick Clegg not executed on stage until 1320 #libdem14

— Louise Stewart (@BBCLouise) October 8, 2014

But it turned out to be a typo rather than a stay of execution:

Posted in Conference | Tagged louise stewart and nick clegg | 7 Comments

Nick Clegg on the “great liberal cause” to boost mental health care: “I want this smack bang on the front page of our next manifesto”

By The Voice | Wed 8th October 2014 - 10:00 am

Nick Clegg will announce a new Coalition Government policy in his leader’s speech to the Glasgow conference today – putting mental health provision on a par with physical health by announcing waiting time targets for people with mental health problems in England for the first time.

He’s expected to say later that “Mental health conditions are one of the last remaining taboos in our society, and yet they will affect one in four people” and to make three commitments:

“if you are waiting for talking therapies to help

…

Posted in Conference | Tagged mental health, nick clegg and nick triggle | 11 Comments

Wednesday debates open thread: Nick Clegg’s speech

By The Voice | Wed 8th October 2014 - 8:30 am

Traditionally not many people turn up first thing on the last day – most are sleeping off Glee Club – but it would be a shame to miss the second emergency motion. After that the day builds up to the Leader’s speech, with, unusually, no break for lunch and no lunchtime fringes. (I wonder how many of us will be finding ways of wasting our time in Glasgow because we had assumed it wouldn’t be over until 3.30pm at the earliest?)

So for the last time this year, do add your comments about any debates and speeches in the auditorium.

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 16 Comments

Conference Speeches: Tim Farron: Time for ambitious, active, liberal government

By The Voice | Tue 7th October 2014 - 5:20 pm

Tim Farron’s final speech to Conference was a cracker. Continuing the theme from his lecture to Social Liberal Forum Conference in the Summer – in fact he may have used some of the same lines – he made the case for a bold, distinctive liberal party to rebuild the country’s infrastructure for the 21st century.

He also made a powerful challenge to the Tories on human rights, asking Cameron directly to explain what it was about the right to life or freedom from torture that he found quite so frustrating.

He is trying to map out a way in which we can acknowledge the concerns of those tempted by the likes of UKIP without pandering to them. Here is the speech in full:

Posted in News | 24 Comments

Conference Speeches: Kavya Kaushik from Saturday’s Rally

By The Voice | Tue 7th October 2014 - 12:48 pm

We have managed to get hold of a wonderful speech given by former Liberal Youth co-Chair Kavya Kaushik at Saturday’s rally in which she talked of the joy of campaigning across the country and of the importance of defending our liberal values. Here it is in full:

Posted in News | Tagged autumn conference 2014, conference speeches and kavya kaushik | 3 Comments

Tall and Lindsay make the Liberal Democrat “power list”

By The Voice | Tue 7th October 2014 - 11:45 am

The Times (£) today publishes its list of the Top 50 most influential Liberal Democrats which has been compiled by blogger turned LBC presenter Iain Dale. This site’s two co-editors and our Associate Editor are both in it.

At 33, Stephen Tall is described thus:

Last year Tall replaced Mark Pack as co-editor of the hugely successful Liberal Democrat Voice, the must-read site for party activists. A research associate at CentreForum, he is usually more at home with the politics of David Laws than of Simon Hughes, but rarely picks factional fights as a critical friend of the party who prefers to talk up its achievements rather than knock them down.

This is all fine except its not accurate that he replaced Mark Pack. They worked together for several years.

Posted in News | Tagged caron lindsay, helen duffett, iain dale, Mark Pack, power lists, stephen tall and the times | 10 Comments

Tuesday extras open thread: Ending in Glee

By The Voice | Tue 7th October 2014 - 10:30 am

This is almost your last chance to fit in some fringe experiences this year – there are no lunchtime fringes tomorrow, and only six early ones.

Tuesday begins with Britain’s global economic recovery and ends with Glee Club – make what you will of that. In between you can update yourself on such diverse topics as residential care, criminal justice, rail, disability employment, welfare, immigration, tourism, food security, tax avoidance, garden cities and devo-max for Manchester.

Tell us how your day is panning out.

How to find out what is happening

You can view or download the directory, which lists all the fringe …

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 1 Comment

Tuesday debates open thread: The big one – our pre-manifesto

By The Voice | Tue 7th October 2014 - 8:30 am

The main event of the day is the pre-Manifesto debate which will take up most of the morning, giving way only for football.

The first emergency motion will take place this afternoon. Delegates have been voting on which two motions to take. In between there is a chance to hear Norman Lamb, Edward Davey and Tim Farron, and to discuss our aging society.

So what ‘s does the agenda look like?

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 31 Comments

Monday extras open thread: Breakfast, lunch and party

By The Voice | Mon 6th October 2014 - 10:30 am

Today is the day to do breakfast. Let us know if it was worth getting up early to attend one of the many breakfast fringe meetings.

There is much going on throughout the rest of the day – have you noticed that fringe meetings have crept into the business day now? Whether you want to hear about good parking management, drink driving, end-of-life priorities, aviation, experiments on animals, mental health, farming, trams, police constables or internships, you may want to end the evening celebrating the UK music industry at a party with Danny Alexander.

Here’s a photo of Stephen Tall not paying attention …

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | Leave a comment

Monday debates open thread: Flooding and equal marriage (unconnected, of course)

By The Voice | Mon 6th October 2014 - 8:30 am

There is a definite theme to this morning’s agenda – climate change, flooding and housing – while the afternoon highlights core Lib Dem values with a presentation on equal marriage followed by a debate on equalities. In between we hear from some of the heavyweights in the party (in the non-literal sense) and we throw questions at Nick Clegg.

Please adds your comments on anything that is happening today in the main hall.

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | Leave a comment

Conference Speeches: Steve Webb: “We spend £37 billion on pensions tax relief, mostly on well-off. Next Government will need to address the unfairness

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 9:15 pm

Continuing our series of Conference speeches reproduced in full, here is Steve Webb’s from this afternoon. He said that he wants the next Government to look at tax relief on pensions and he looked back on the work that he had been doing on pensions over the last four years. He also revealed that the donor who gave £1 million to UKIP is standing against him in May. If this bothers you, If this bothers you in any way, you can donate to his local party here.

Those of you who were paying attention to the news last week will have seen the story of the former Tory party donor who has now given a million pounds to UKIP. What you may have missed is that he has announced that he will be standing against me at the next General Election.

This sort of announcement certainly focuses your mind on the issue of fund-raising, and our next jumble sale will have to be a real corker! Indeed, if anyone in the hall would like to help us level the playing field in Thornbury and Yate, I will be available to receive donations, but nothing over £100,000 please..

Posted in News | Tagged autumn conference 2014, conference speeches and steve webb | 20 Comments

Conference Speeches: Willie Rennie – “If you want to stop the talk of ‘the 45’ or ‘the 55’ and talk about ‘One Scotland’, to take forward a programme of reform to unite the country, then we are your party.”

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 8:15 pm

Willie Rennie challenged Nicola Sturgeon to reveal whether she is a Borgen Liberal or a Salmond Nationalist. He was also keen to emphasise that more powers must be delivered. He said that Labour and the Tories must not be timid in their approach:

For the first time ever the people of Scotland were given the power.

The democratic power to decide whether to continue our relationship with our friends in the rest of the United Kingdom.

With ballots not bullets.

By the people not the Lairds.

After open debate not behind closed doors.

I am so proud that people quietly, but with confidence, said no to independence.

And in numbers now rarely seen in democracies they said yes – yes to partnership, yes to sharing, yes to our common endeavour and yes with an open hand;

Comfortable in our own skin, generous in our compassion, proud of who we are.

Posted in News | Tagged autumn conference 2014, conference speeches and willie rennie | Leave a comment

Conference speeches: Alistair Carmichael – Coalition with Tories is like having a cat

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 7:45 pm

Here is Alistair Carmichael’s speech to Conference morning, strangely devoid of news of his victory at the Lib Dem Disco last night.

Good morning conference and welcome back to Glasgow.

It has been quite a year since we last met here.

Last November this was a city united in grief when Police Scotland’s helicopter fell from the sky and crashed into the Clutha Vaults pub at the other end of Argyle Street, killing ten people. The response from the people of Glasgow at that time was remarkable. They showed the truth of the slogan that is on the lanyards most of you are wearing today – People Make Glasgow.

In July we hosted the best Commonwealth Games ever.

We saw some truly memorable world class performances.

No sooner was that over than we led the nation and the Commonwealth in commemorating the outbreak of World War One in 1914.

And then we had a referendum.

I confess I am speaking from a text this morning but I think that even without it I might have managed not to do a Miliband and forget to mention it.

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael and conference speeches | 4 Comments

Conference Speeches: Paddy Ashdown “You were never this nice when I was leader”

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 6:45 pm

Here is Paddy’s speech from the rally last night.

OK – now it begins.

What comes next is the fight of our lives.

And it’s going to be tough.

But I am up for it and I know you are too.

As a liberal I am used to fighting against the odds – tell you what, I relish it

And taking a small band of trained and dedicated insurgents onto enemy territory against the odds – its what I was trained for – what I am used to

-its what we have had to do before

-and I am immensely proud, this time, to be doing it with you.

We all know what we have to do.

You’re the best street campaigners in British politics

– now you are going to have to prove it – again.

Now, we have a message – A STRONG ECONOMY, A FAIR SOCIETY; OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.

Posted in News | Tagged paddy ashdown | 30 Comments

Conference Speeches: Jo Swinson to Conference rally

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 5:43 pm

Here is Jo Swinson’s speech to the rally last night:

Conference – hello and a very warm welcome back to Glasgow!

It may still be a bit wet and chilly, but it’s still the friendliest city, and most importantly, still in the United Kingdom.

A lot has happened since we met here last year.

Fantastic year for sport:

Winter Olympics, record medal haul for the UK

Huge success of the Commonwealth Games here in Glasgow this summer – inspiring athletes from 13year old swimmer Erraid Davies to Jo Pavey’s fantastic gold medal at 40

England won the World Cup – obviously in women’s rugby

We’ve seen some key political milestones:

No one pays income tax on the first £10,000 they earn

Posted in News | Tagged conference speeches and Jo Swinson | Leave a comment

Sunday extras open thread: From Christian humanism to live jazz

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 10:30 am

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the LDV Awards evening yesterday. So what will be the fun events today?

There is a very full programme on the fringe today – from promoting healthy lifestyles to the Gibraltar reception, from cycling to the future of the BBC, with several sessions on various environmental issues. The RSPCA is offering beer and curry, and there will be live jazz at the Azerbaijan reception.

Do let us all know about any events you went to, or any worth dropping in for.

How to find out what is happening

You can view or download the directory, which …

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 3 Comments

Nick Clegg’s conference rally speech: “We may be the underdogs but we have the values, beliefs and resilience to win”

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 9:00 am

“This is the fight of our lives” – that was the message from Nick Clegg at last night’s conference rally. You can watch it here:

Posted in Conference and YouTube | Tagged autumn conference 2014, Jo Swinson, kavya kaushik, nick clegg, paddy ashdown and the other guys | 30 Comments

Sunday debates open thread: From first aid to child abuse via crime and public services

By The Voice | Sun 5th October 2014 - 8:30 am

Thanks to everyone who contributed to yesterday’s open thread. Please add your reports, comments and recommendations on today’s business in the main hall below, sticking to things that are happening today.

This will be the first full day of action in the splendid auditorium here at the SECC. Expect a full house for the debates on Welfare Reform and Public Services. In between, why not check out today’s Extras thread (fringes and everything else) which we will be posting at 10.30am?

So what is happening today at Conference?

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 1 Comment

Saturday extras open thread: Conference Rally and the LDV Awards

By The Voice | Sat 4th October 2014 - 10:30 am

We hope you’ve spotted the open thread on the action taking place in the main auditorium today. In comparison, this thread is for you to talk about fringe meetings, the exhibition and all the other things going on around the main business.

The fringe kicks off today with a few events at lunchtime organised by CentreForum, Liberal Democrats for Seekers of Sanctuary and Liberal Left. But the main events follow the Conference Rally which starts at 6.30pm in the main auditorium. After that you have a fairly limited choice of fringe meetings, probably because people tend to spend the early part of …

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 1 Comment

Saturday debates open thread: Welcome to Glasgow

By The Voice | Sat 4th October 2014 - 8:30 am

Whether you are physically in Glasgow or are following what is happening from home, this is your place to talk about the public face of the Conference – in other words, all the debates and speeches that are going on in the main auditorium. Please use the comments below to add your reports on policy and constitutional debates or to draw readers’ attention to ones in the pipeline.

We will be running a similar thread each day, so please confine your comments today to what is actually happening today. Tomorrow’s instalment will appear at 8.30am tomorrow morning.

We will also be running a thread each day on fringes, so use that one for anything going on outside the main show.

So what is happening today at Conference?

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2014 | 4 Comments

Clegg: May’s comms data claim “one of most misleading and outrageous platform speeches I’ve heard”

By The Voice | Thu 2nd October 2014 - 11:15 am

On Call Clegg this morning, Nick Clegg said he’d written a strongly worded letter to Theresa May demanding an apology after her claim in her speech to the Conservative Conference that the Liberal Democrats had put children at risk by vetoing the Communications Data Bill.

Posted in News | Tagged call clegg, nick clegg and theresa may | 11 Comments

Lib Dem Voice at Conference: our events and what else we’re up to…

By The Voice | Thu 2nd October 2014 - 10:30 am

As well as covering the Lib Dem conference, we’re hosting a handful of events in Glasgow. We hope readers who are there will want to come along and enjoy the following…

LibDemVoice Awards 2014

Saturday 4th October, from 10pm (Crowne Plaza, Castle 3)
The nominations are in – check out the array of awards on offer here – voting will be decided by party members through our pre-conference survey. Put on your glad rags and enjoy the relaxed rivalry of our annual awards.

“Who Wants to be Party President?”

Sunday 5th October, 1-2pm (Crowne Plaza, Castle 2)
Your chance to hear from and quiz the candidates in the contest to succeed Tim Farron as Party President. Chaired by former Party President Baroness Diana Maddock, all four candidates – Sal Brinton, Daisy Cooper, Linda Jack and Liz Lynne – will be there to make their pitch for your vote and to field your questions.

Posted in Conference | Tagged autumn conference 2015 and featured | 8 Comments

Hannah Thompson interviewed on Sky News about revenge porn

By The Voice | Tue 30th September 2014 - 3:59 pm

Sky News covered the issue of revenge porn.One of the most prominent campaigners for a change in the law is our own Hannah Thompson. At 7:17 this morning, she found herself sitting on the sofa talking to Eamonn Holmes about her experience. Her advice to anyone else who had been abused in this way? To realise it’s not their fault.

Posted in News | Tagged hannah thompson and revenge porn | 1 Comment

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

By The Voice | Sun 28th September 2014 - 1:03 pm

Many thanks to the 16,100 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

English devolution – with maps (95 comments) by George Potter

Salmond’s bizarre public dig at critical commentator Torrance shows Scotland had a lucky escape (22 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Paddy Ashdown warns of national civil unrest as gap between Westminster elite and people grows (61 comments) by Caron Lindsay

By-election update: 47.2% swing in Guildford (45 comments) by ALDC

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrats have coalition “wobble”

By The Voice | Sat 27th September 2014 - 4:16 pm

That got your attention, didn’t it?

The Liberal Democrats nearly walked out of the coalition this week.

That would be the Coalition that runs Highland Council, where we are currently have 13 Councillors and share power in a rainbow coalition with 31 SNP and 8 Labour members. This week, there was a possibility for a while that we would walk away from that Coalition and form a new one with the independents, with whom we had been in power before the previous council election.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader David Alston explained to the Inverness Courier what it was all about:

Posted in News | Tagged highland council. scotland and Local government | 3 Comments

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