Author Archives: The Voice

The Voice

Josh Mason selected for Redcar

By The Voice | Sat 27th September 2014 - 9:05 am

Josh Mason RedcarRedcar Liberal Democrats have selected their local party Chair and Deputy Leader of their council group Josh Mason to fight the seat at the General Election. Current Liberal Democrat MP Ian Swales announced in July that he was standing down.

From Ian Swales’ website:

Local man Josh, who is chair of the party, has worked very closely with Ian for the past 4 years supporting his campaigns for jobs, on flooding, against intrusive wind turbines, saving post offices and for better use of Redcar Hospital. Josh also sits on the board of Coast and Country Housing, is a local school governor, and represents Redcar’s Zetland Ward as deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Josh has spent the last four years campaigning hard against council waste. He has led calls to freeze council tax for the last three years and called for George Dunning’s resignation. Josh strongly opposed the council’s Draft Local Plan and has repeatedly campaigned for action to be taken on TunedIn, the council’s failing new youth facility.

Ian Swales described 26 year old Josh as “an outstanding talent of the next generation.” He has represented Zetland ward on the Council since 2011 and  is currently the spokesperson on culture, leisure and tourism.

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The Voice

Local campaigner Anthony Smith selected to fight Heywood and Middleton by-election

By The Voice | Thu 25th September 2014 - 9:38 am

Anthony SmithLiberal Democrats in Heywood and Middleton have selected local campaigner Anthony Smith to be the party’s candidate in the by-election on 9 October, brought about by the death of the incumbent Labour MP Jim Dobbin.

Rochdale Online reports:

Mr Smith has lived in Heywood and Middleton for most of his life.

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The Voice

Nick Clegg’s message for Rosh Hashanah 2014

By The Voice | Wed 24th September 2014 - 4:35 pm

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The Voice

Senior Liberal Democrats sign letter praising former FA inclusion adviser Edward Lord after his abrupt sacking

By The Voice | Tue 23rd September 2014 - 2:53 pm

Earlier this month, Edward Lord, who until last Thursday sat on the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, criticised the FA for not taking inclusion and diversity seriously enough. In an interview with the Telegraph on 3rd September, he said:

The public and the rest of the sport industry are getting fed up with football’s inability to tackle discrimination in the game.  Most other governing bodies have really embraced the need for change, to make their sports more inclusive. It always seems as though football is lagging behind. The FA must take action when participants so flagrantly breach their rules against discrimination.

He was referring in part to the fact that the FA took no action against Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore when his highly sexist emails were published.

Last Thursday, the FA sacked him from his role on the Inclusion Advisory Board. You have to wonder what this says about their actual commitment to tackling discrimination. Their statement was uncompromising:

It is not about what Edward has stated publicly, but a matter and question of conduct and respect for colleagues. The group collectively felt that all trust in Edward, due to his repeated failure to work in the spirit of collaboration, had broken down irretrievably.

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 21st September 2014 - 4:30 pm

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 23,200  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

What do you think will be the result of the Scottish independence referendum? Your predictions, please? (68 comments) by Stephen Tall

Yes Scotland is a bit late to realise that Wings over Scotland is bad news (28 comments) by Caron Lindsay AGAIN

++Mike Hancock MP quits Lib Dems (7 comments) by The Voice

Note to agents: do not publish anything you may learn at postal vote opening (6 comments) by Alex Foster. Another oldie from 2010

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The Voice

++Breaking news: Alex Salmond resigns as First Minister of Scotland

By The Voice | Fri 19th September 2014 - 4:29 pm

As I write Alex Salmond is holding a press conference where he is announcing his resignation as First Minister of Scotland and (again) as leader of the Scottish National Party.

While his cause is not one that is endorsed much here on Liberal Democrat Voice, he has clearly brought his party and the independence movement a very long way indeed. That is an achievement to give credit for, even if we rather wish he hadn’t.

So the thread below is open for your comments on Salmond’s contribution to politics, and it wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate to lean more towards tributes than we …

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Posted in News | 18 Comments
The Voice

Senior Liberal Democrats react as Scots vote to stay in UK

By The Voice | Fri 19th September 2014 - 8:31 am

The sovereign will of the Scottish people, by a margin of, give or take a bit, 55%-45 %, is to stay in the UK. In voting No, they put their trust in David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to deliver more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Here’s how senior Liberal Democrats reacted. First,  Nick Clegg:

I’m absolutely delighted the Scottish people have taken this momentous decision to safeguard our family of nations for future generations.

In a dangerous and uncertain world I have no doubt we are stronger, safer, and more prosperous together than we ever could be apart.

But a vote against independence was clearly not a vote against change and we must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland.

At the same time, this referendum north of the border has led to a demand for constitutional reform across the United Kingdom as people south of the border also want more control and freedom in their own hands rather than power being hoarded in Westminster.

So this referendum marks not only a new chapter for Scotland within the UK but also a new chapter of constitutional renewal across the UK.

Willie Rennie:

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The Voice

++ Mike Hancock MP quits Lib Dems

By The Voice | Thu 18th September 2014 - 11:41 pm

mike hancockMike Hancock, elected as Lib Dem MP for Portsmouth South in 2010 but suspended from the party following allegations of sexual harassment made by a constituent, has resigned from the party, according to the Independent:

(Hancock) spent almost five years denying that he had sexually harassed a vulnerable constituent until eventually he admitted in court that he had behaved in a way that made her “feel deeply uncomfortable and discriminated against”.

He was suspended from the Liberal Democrats’ parliamentary group and lost his seat on Portsmouth Council. The party has

…

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The Voice

Scottish independence referendum: open thread…

By The Voice | Thu 18th September 2014 - 11:25 pm

No yes scotland photo by kyoshi masamunePolls closed at 10pm in the referendum which will decide if Scotland remains within the United Kingdom. The final opinion poll of the campaign – YouGov’s, released an hour ago – points to a 54% No, 46% Yes result. Within a few hours we’ll know how accurate that forecast is.

Certainly those involved in the Better Together camp seem confident of victory. After all the tension of the last fortnight, it might all prove to be something of an anti-climax: a narrow but decisive confirmation …

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The Voice

Nick Clegg’s statement on David Haines’ murder: Islamic State an affront to every peace loving Muslim in the world

By The Voice | Sun 14th September 2014 - 1:11 pm

Nick Clegg has made the following statement about David Haines’ murder:

The barbaric murder of David Haines is a crime of the most horrendous kind.

My thoughts at this time are with the family of David Haines who have experienced something no family should ever have to go through.

This murderous organisation calls itself Islamic State.

But it is not a state, it is a brutal terrorist outfit whose actions are an affront to every peace loving Muslim around the world.

No religion could possibly justify such grotesque acts.

The British Government will not rest until these killers face justice.

Posted in News | Tagged and | 42 Comments
The Voice

In the next month 19 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 13th September 2014 - 5:00 pm

Lib Dems winning hereHere’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:

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Posted in Selection news | Tagged | 5 Comments
The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 13th September 2014 - 1:00 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 7 days:

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The Voice

Catch-up LDVideo: Nick Clegg hails “a manifesto for the next generation”

By The Voice | Sat 13th September 2014 - 12:00 pm

It ended up being buried by this week’s news from Scotland and the Royal Baby – but the Lib Dem pre-manifesto was launched this week. You can read Stephen Tall’s initial take on it here and watch Nick Clegg hail it as “a manifesto for the next generation” in this video:

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The Voice

Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder on Lord Hill’s EU appointment: “A victory for British influence in Europe”

By The Voice | Wed 10th September 2014 - 4:00 pm

Catherine Bearder - Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0When David Cameron appointed Lord (Jonathan) Hill, an influential but anonymous Tory peer more used to operating in the background, the fear was he’d be sidelined by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker – especially after David Cameron’s attempt to veto Juncker’s candidacy. The portfolio for paper-clips (or trombones as they’d be known in Brussels) or some such. But, as ITV News reports:

In fact he’s been given one of the big economic jobs, and perhaps the one best suited to a UK Commissioner: financial services. Given London’s dominance and the EU’s known desire to clamp-down on everything from bonuses to a Financial Transaction Tax, this could hardly be better. It has long been the UK’s view that financial services regulation is best, where possible, left to the domestic regulator, and we can expect Lord Hill to take policy very much in that direction.

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Posted in Europe / International | Tagged , , and | 53 Comments
The Voice

LDVideo: “Hypocrites, idealists and liars – can politics be sincere?” – watch Shirley Williams debate with George Galloway and Peter Oborne

By The Voice | Wed 10th September 2014 - 11:58 am

Recently, Shirley Williams took part in a debate held by the Institute of Arts and Ideas, on the subject of sincerity in politics. Also participating were George Galloway, Peter Oborne and Philip Collins, speechwriter to Tony Blair.

We must confess to not yet having had the time to watch the whole thing but we like what we have seen, like the bit when Shirley Williams takes Galloway to task for misquoting her and he, who had been in a massive rant about how politicians were a bunch of liars, was forced to admit he’d been exaggerating to make his point.

Shirley talks about how the media contribute to false perceptions of politicians, giving an example of how someone said to her that they could never vote for her because she was all for state education yet sent her son to Eton. Shirley doesn’t have a son.

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The Voice

Clegg’s pitch to Scotland to say No to independence: “Change is on its way.”

By The Voice | Mon 8th September 2014 - 4:16 pm

nick clegg euThe weekend news of the first poll pointing to a possible Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum has dominated the headlines – and it may prompt those parties campaigning for Scotland to remain within the UK to commit irrevocably to further devolved powers to the Scottish Assembly. That was the strong message today from Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, speaking at a press conference this morning:

For the first time in my political lifetime, there is clear, unwavering unity on this question. Finally, everyone who believes in the United Kingdom believes in more power – more control for Scotland, in Scotland.

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 7th September 2014 - 12:25 pm

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 15,300  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

One from June: Yes Scotland is a bit late to realise that Wings Over Scotland is bad news (24 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Postponed: Lib Dem pre manifesto launch delayed owing to international situation (30 comments) by Stephen Tall

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 6th September 2014 - 11:45 am

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 7 days:

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The Voice

‘Bedroom Tax’: Lib Dem Andrew George’s Affordable Homes Bill wins key Commons vote backed by Lib Dem / Labour MPs

By The Voice | Fri 5th September 2014 - 7:50 pm

andrew georgeA year ago Lib Dem members voted at the party’s conference for an urgent review of the impact of what’s termed by critics the ‘Bedroom Tax’. Two months ago Danny Alexander announced he’d be recommending a major U-turn on the policy. And this afternoon, as the BBC reports, Lib Dem MPs teamed up with Labour to vote through reforms which mean that tenants who cannot be found a smaller home will be exempt from the cuts, as well as disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes:

Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have joined forces to defeat Conservatives in a Commons vote to partly overturn housing benefit changes. MPs backed the Affordable Homes Bill at second reading by 306 votes to 231.

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The Voice

++Vince Cable to vote for Bedroom Tax reform

By The Voice | Fri 5th September 2014 - 1:17 pm

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Posted in News | 34 Comments
The Voice

How to get Lib Dem Voice by email

By The Voice | Thu 4th September 2014 - 3:45 pm

Why not join hundreds of other Lib Dem Voice readers in getting our latest headlines by email?

Some people like regularly visiting a site to see if there’s new stories of interest. Some people like subscribing to its news feed (RSS) and checking that way. But if you prefer email, you can instead sign up to get a daily early morning email with a summary of the previous day’s posts from Lib Dem Voice, complete with a note of how many comments each post has got and convenient links to click on if any take your fancy and you want to take a read.

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The Voice

Former Clacton UKIP candidate ousted by Douglas Carswell resigns and backs local Liberal Democrat Councillor

By The Voice | Wed 3rd September 2014 - 2:03 pm

This time last week, Roger Lord was looking forward to facing Conservative MP Douglas Carswell in the General Election next May. He might not have expected to trouble his majority too much but he was secure in his position.

That didn’t turn out so well for him when he heard that he was being ousted as candidate in the same way that we all did.

He’s not very happy about it and has quit his Council seat. He has given his rather unexpected backing for the ensuing by-election to Liberal Democrat District Councillor Gary Scott whom he described as a “genuine person”. Gary is not putting himself forward for the by-election.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 31 Comments
The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 31st August 2014 - 5:07 pm

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 13,200 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Alison Goldsworthy quits party saying it’s no place for women who “want to deliver change” (78 comments) by The Voice

Nicola Sturgeon challenges Nick Clegg to do the Ice Bucket Challenge (7 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Coup for UKIP as Tory MP Carswell defects, triggers by-election in Clacton (79 comments) by Stephen Tall

Yes Scotland is a bit late to realise that Wings over Scotland is bad news (21 …

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The Voice

In the next month 32 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 30th August 2014 - 5:30 pm

Lib Dems winning hereHere’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:

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Posted in Selection news | Tagged | 5 Comments
The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 30th August 2014 - 3:00 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 7 days:

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The Voice

Gerald Vernon-Jackson selected to contest Portsmouth South

By The Voice | Fri 29th August 2014 - 10:24 am

Gerald Vernon-JacksonPortsmouth Liberal Democrats last night selected Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson for the Portsmouth South seat currently held by independent MP Mike Hancock.

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The Voice

Carmichael and Crockart rock at the Ice Bucket Challenge

By The Voice | Wed 27th August 2014 - 1:35 pm

Two very different but very funny takes on the Ice Bucket Challenge phenomenon from the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West.

Mindful of some concerns of wasting water, Alistair Carmichael did his with iced sea water from the beautiful Tingwall Pier near his Orkney home. He started with a  thinly veiled threat of terrible revenge on those who nominated him and then:

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The Voice

Caron Lindsay on this evening’s referendum debate

By The Voice | Mon 25th August 2014 - 6:04 pm

caron lindsayOver on STV, our own editor, Caron Lindsay, has been making some predictions about the Salmond/Darling debate this evening.

Alex Salmond goes into tonight’s debate as the underdog.

The Yes campaign is behind in the polls and he knows that he failed to make a convincing case for independence three weeks ago.

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Posted in LibLink | Tagged | 17 Comments
The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 24th August 2014 - 4:33 pm

7 ver 4 fullMany thanks to the 13000 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Lord Rennard’s membership of the Liberal Democrats reinstated by Party Committee (61 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Statement from Lord Rennard (51 comments) by The Voice

Post Rennard, what should the party do? (43 comments) by Linda Jack

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The Voice

Alison Goldsworthy quits party saying it’s no place for “women who want to deliver change”

By The Voice | Sun 24th August 2014 - 11:55 am

In an interview with The Times newspaper (£), Alison Goldsworthy said that she had resigned from the Federal Executive of the Liberal Democrats, of which she was Vice Chair. She has since confirmed to us that she had resigned from the Party. This means that none of the four women who made allegations of improper behaviour against Chris Rennard  remains a member of the party. Chris Rennard denies the specific allegations but issued an apology to the women in May in which he expressed his “his regret for any harm or embarrassment caused to them or anythingwhich made them feel uncomfortable.”

Alison described the events which led to her complaint:

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