Category Archives: LDV meme

The Independent this week reported that Nick Clegg is holding an “away day” for all 57 Liberal Democrat MPs when he will urge them to hold their nerve and show discipline when faced with public anger over the coalition government’s austerity measures:

They have all been called to next Thursday’s away day at the Local Government Association headquarters in Westminster, where they will be joined by Liberal Democrat peers, council leaders and party officials.

Mr Clegg’s aim to reassure them the party is achieving concrete results from the power-sharing deal, citing the commitment to hold a referendum on electoral reform next

…

Okay, so here’s a parlour game full of fun and frolics for all the family – name your top Lib Dem (or predecessor parties) MPs, living or dead, to fill your dream liberal cabinet. Here’s the tougher criterion: your choices must also be team players, capable of hanging together rather than separately, rather than simply brilliantly egotistical individuals (hence my exclusion of Winston Churchill, for example). Feel free to suggest their perfect cabinet positions.

My attempt is below. I’ve doubtless missed out some obvious choices, and misplaced some I’ve chosen. But, still, I can’t help feeling my fantasy liberal cabinet …

It’s Sunday, sunny and the elections are over – so why not indulge in the latest LDV meme: what’s your favourite political TV drama? Mine, in reverse order:

5. State of Play – tense and taut, journalism mixed with politics. Fab writer (Paul Abbott), wonderful cast (David Morrissey, John Simm, Kelly McDonald, Bill Nighy), great drama.

4. A Very British Coup – slightly dated, but still enjoyable, Chris Mullin’s story of a socialist Labour government doing battle with the British establishment in the ’80s is both funny and plausible. Sublime performance by Ray McAnally as Sheffield steel-worker Harry Perkins.

3. The House of Cards – the famous coincidence of the first series airing simultaneously with Margaret Thatcher’s dramatic downfall earned the show’s place in telly folklore; but it stands the test of time, and Ian Richardson’s menacing portrayal and asides to camera (“You might very well think that, I couldn’t possibly comment”) is mesmerising.

2. GBH – fantastically written by Alan Bleasdale and quite superbly acted by Robert Lindsay, Michael Palin and Lindsay Duncan, this is the definitive British political drama, capturing perfectly the interplay of cock-up and conspiracy, high and low politics, and good and bad intentions which govern this country.

Twas the week before polling day, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

Well, we can scarcely complain that this election campaign has been dull. Far from. Trouble is, the single issue which has dominated the campaign for the forthcoming local and European elections has very little to do with either. There’s no doubting that the row over MPs’ expenses is a live issue on the doorstep.

On the basis of my doorstep canvassing experiences this year (more limited than in previous years), I’ve found it hard to discern how far it’s made a …

Welcome to the second in our series of LDV Friday memes coming to you today, erm, Saturday. Ahem. Anyway, here goes…

First political memory
I can recall waving an old-fashioned white dishmop from the window of my grandparents’ house, and calling out, “Look, it’s Michael Foot!” I’d have been about four. After that, the next memory is the miners’ strike, and my parents impressing on me the importance of turning out the lights “so that Arthur Scargill doesn’t win”.

First time you voted
Local elections, May 1995 – Church Ward, Sefton Borough Council, Liverpool. (I voted Labour.)

First party election broadcast you remember watching
This one:

Welcome to the first of what we intend to be the first in a series of LDV Friday memes to amuse you at the end of the week, and for Lib Dem bloggers (should they so choose) to pick up and run with over the weekend.

I’m starting with a simple one: the top seven reasons I joined the Lib Dems:

1. I was a Labour party member for five years (1994-99). Then I realised Labour was interested only in being in power, not in giving power away.
2. I would far rather be in a party whose ‘extreme wings’ are – supposedly – represented

…