Category Archives: Leadership Election

The Economist: Lib Dems “are lucky in their candidates”

By Stephen Tall | Thu 29th November 2007 - 5:44 pm

No endorsement of any one candidate, but a fairly decent (though by no means uncritical) write-up of the Lib Dem leadership candidates in this week’s Economist, which is well worth reading in full. Here’s the conclusion:

There are reasons to be cautious about both candidates. Mr Clegg has run a flat campaign, and was rattled when his rival attacked him. He is the more natural communicator, but comparisons with David Cameron, the Conservative leader, are not yet justified. His promise of a “new kind of politics” echoes similar pledges by politicians who went on to revert to partisan point-scoring, including

…

Also posted in News | 14 Comments

BBC Q&A with the leadership contenders

By Stephen Tall | Thu 29th November 2007 - 10:15 am

The Lib Dem leadership contenders – Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne – have been answering BBC.co.uk readers’ questions: Nick by e-mail and Chris on video.

Here’s the link.

1 Comment

London hustings – views from the blogs

By Stephen Tall | Wed 28th November 2007 - 12:53 pm

Yesterday’s London leadership hustings has produced a fair few insta-reactions across the blogosphere – all judiciously fair-minded, too.

(An outbreak of civility among the blogging community! – what’s happening to us? It’s almost as if we’ve come to the conclusion we have two excellent candidates for the leadership, either one of whom could do a sterling job if elected.)

Anyway, here are the links:

Rob Fenwick on A Posh-Sounding Northumbrian: London hustings: my verdict
Gavin Whenman on The Whiskey Priest: EXCLUSIVE: London LibDem Leadership Hustings Report and my Voting Intentions
Tom Papworth on Liberal Polemic: Not candidates but …

Also posted in Best of the blogs | 4 Comments

Strictly Come Voting

By Simon Titley | Tue 27th November 2007 - 1:43 pm

Those of you who subscribe to Liberator magazine will have already seen it – but for the rest of you, Liberator’s question-and-answer session with the two leadership candidates, published in our November edition, is now available online.

We asked both candidates the same six questions on the same terms, enabling you to compare and contrast their answers.

4 Comments

Opinion: Uninspired? Don’t blame Nick or Chris. It’s our fault

By Stephen Tall | Tue 27th November 2007 - 7:45 am

I remain resolutely undecided, reliant on today’s London leadership hustings finally to make up my mind. But one thing I am sure about: I hope it’s the last time we as Lib Dems hold a leadership contest to such an abbreviated timetable.

Now some of you might be thinking, “What?! It’s already been twice as long as it needed to be.” And I have some sympathy with those who reckon the contest has failed to catch fire, except for a brief, phosphorescent flash on last week’s Politics Show.

Partly, that’s because some well-qualified MPs chose not to stand, instead throwing …

Also posted in Op-eds | 12 Comments

Old Heroes for a New Leader: Chris Huhne

By Duncan Brack | Mon 26th November 2007 - 12:25 pm

As we have done in each of the last two Liberal Democrat leadership elections, in 1999 and 2006, the Liberal Democrat History Group has asked both candidates for the Liberal Democrat leadership to write a short article on their favourite historical figure or figures – the ones they felt had influenced their own political beliefs most, and why they had proved important and relevant. Their replies are being posted up here, and are also posted on our website. Earlier today, Nick Clegg’s were posted up; now it is the turn of Chris Huhne.

Chris Huhne MP – David Lloyd George

My …

18 Comments

Lib Dem membership: who will reverse the decline?

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th November 2007 - 8:55 pm

Mark Littlewood’s latest ‘diary’ for the BBC’s Politics Show highlights one of the less welcome stats exposed by the current leadership contest:

The number of ballot papers issued – less than 65,000 – shows the party has lost more than 10% of its members since Ming Campbell was elected last Spring and now has less than 100 members per Parliamentary constituency.

Protestations from the Liberal Democrats that all political parties are witnessing declining membership and that last year’s total was artificially boosted – because it came so soon after a General Election – are not wholly convincing.

Back in 1999,

…

Tagged charles kennedy and mark littlewood | 37 Comments

Peter Riddell: “the contest is tightening”

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th November 2007 - 7:20 pm

Thank goodness for Peter Riddell, the senior Times political columnist, and one of the few (only?) newspaper journalists who is both watching the Lib Dem leadership contest, and reporting it intelligently. His latest analysis appeared yesterday – do read it in full here, but for those who always skip to the end for the conclusion:

Mr Clegg is still the favourite, but only just, and there is a sense – more a mood – among leading Lib Dems that the contest is tightening and could be close.

The Times also carried interviews-cum-profiles with both candidates, which can be read here …

9 Comments

Leadership Platform 5: Nick Clegg writes…

By Nick Clegg MP | Sun 25th November 2007 - 12:55 pm

Another extremely busy – but very exciting – week.

On Monday, children, parents and teachers from an excellent local school, Dobcroft, came to visit. The trip – for the kids at least – finished with a dusk flight on the London Eye and pizza on the way home, while I went to a local cafe to brief journalists on my plans for primary education and childcare.

On Tuesday, I went up to Luton to see the fascinating Marsh Farm Estate project – a real vision of community empowerment – and then dashed back to London where Chris and I …

5 Comments

Leadership Platform 5: Chris Huhne – Let’s make the Economy OUR Issue

By Chris Huhne MP | Sun 25th November 2007 - 11:55 am

The ballots have now gone out, and the choice is yours as to who will succeed Ming Campbell as Leader of our party.

It is clear from today’s article in the Guardian that the contest is wide open, with many members still deciding who to support.

I wanted to write to you today to make clear why I believe that I am the candidate who can best lead this party to future success.

First, vision. I am a Liberal Democrat because the values of this party are my personal values: liberty, fairness and equality.

I believe in empowering communities to work together …

Tagged charles kennedy | 10 Comments

Hustings webcast: Clegg and Huhne answer members’ questions

By Mark Pack | Sat 24th November 2007 - 8:49 pm

On Thursday Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne took part in a webcast hustings, run in conjunction with the University of Westminster. They spent 45 minutes answering questions emailed in by party members from around the country.

3 Comments

How close is the Lib Dem leadership race?

By Stephen Tall | Fri 23rd November 2007 - 9:15 am

The short answer is: no-one knows.* And don’t expect to become any the wiser today as a result of The Guardian’s ‘sample of members’, despite the paper’s assertions of its significance.

The Guardian asked c.200 of the 300 Lib Dem members present at Wednesday night’s Cambridge hustings how they would vote. Here’s what they said: 85 backed Chris Huhne; 42 backed Nick Clegg; and 83 did not express a preference.

To be fair to the Guardian, they do enter some major caveats: this isn’t a representative sample of members; the east of England is, they say, a strong area for …

3 Comments

In the eye of the beholder

By Stephen Tall | Thu 22nd November 2007 - 2:10 pm

The two Lib Dem leadership candidates could be found last night in Cambridge, husting for the top job.

Sal Brinton’s account can be found at Lib Dems for Chris;

Linda Jack’s take is over at her Lindyloo’s Muze blog.

Also posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

How the MPs are lining up (UPDATED)

By Stephen Tall | Thu 22nd November 2007 - 11:25 am

By popular request, here’s the current list of which Lib Dem MPs have declared for which leadership candidate so far. (Originally compiled with the help of Jonathan Isaby of The Daily Telegraph.)

The list shows that Nick has attracted two MPs who supported Chris as leader in 2006: Greg Mulholland and Stephen Williams; and eight who supported Simon Hughes (all listed below). Chris has attracted one former Ming Campbell backer – Tom Brake – and three MPs who supported Simon Hughes last time.

Eight MPs have stated they will not declare for any candidate; four have yet – so far as I’m aware – to state their intentions.

As we continue to note, the number of MPs who declare for any one candidate is, in one sense, irrelevant: we are a one-member-one-vote party. Clearly, however, MPs’ endorsements will carry some influence with party members, especially among non-activists.

The full list appears below:

Also posted in News | Tagged annette brooke, charles kennedy, colin breed, Jo Swinson, john hemming, john leech, john pugh, julia goldsworthy, lorley burt, mike hancock, Ming Campbell, norman baker, norman lamb and stephen williams | 4 Comments

Today’s leadership links

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st November 2007 - 8:12 pm

Chris Huhne answers Daily Telegraph readers’ questions here (prompting this story, Chris Huhne backs UK constitution referendum).

Nick Clegg writes in The Guardian here about Labour’s lost data crisis, and the impact on ID cards.

And Lib Dem blogger of the year, James Graham, finally ends the mystery of who he’s going to vote for on the Guardian’s Comment Is Free blog here.

Also posted in News | 2 Comments

Daily Telegraph publishes second leadership Q+A session

By The Voice | Wed 21st November 2007 - 8:00 pm

The Daily Telegraph has published a Q+A session with Chris Huhne, with matters ranging from Europe and referendums to fruit drops. The Telegraph’s news report also includes a link to watch Chris answering a different set of questions.

(The previous Q+A with Nick Clegg is here).

Newsnight leadership hustings: open thread

By Stephen Tall | Wed 21st November 2007 - 1:21 am

Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne are standing at their podia waiting for Jeremy Paxman’s grilling on Tuesday’s BBC2 Newsnight. After last Sunday’s fireworks, I imagine we can expect a love-in tonight…

Update: a good performance from both candidates. Interesting to see the fall-out from Sunday’s Politics Show… Nick Clegg was able to lead on the front foot, and looked at perhaps his most comfortable and authoritative of the campaign to date; a somewhat chastened Chris Huhne started on the back foot – apologising for the ‘Calamity Clegg’ briefing – but remained as articulate and in control of his …

89 Comments

Leadership Platform 4: Chris Huhne speaks…

By Chris Huhne MP | Tue 20th November 2007 - 10:52 pm

Please find below a video I’ve recorded explaining my vision for our public services.

Thanks for watching!

Yours sincerely,

Chris

Also posted in Op-eds | 6 Comments

Leadership Platform 4: Nick Clegg writes…

By Nick Clegg MP | Tue 20th November 2007 - 6:23 pm

Dear all,

Over the last few weeks, Chris and I have been travelling around the country, speaking at hustings meetings of every shape and size. It’s been a pleasure and honour to meet so many members. But sadly, only a small proportion of members get to a hustings. So today I thought I’d take the opportunity to post a video from the latest – held in Plymouth on Saturday.

As I say in the video, it may be you who have the votes, but it’s Britain that’s watching. So I’ve tried to be positive and outward facing in this campaign …

Also posted in Op-eds | 16 Comments

Clegg, Huhne and Paxman all together in one TV studio

By Mark Pack | Mon 19th November 2007 - 10:38 pm

Newsnight, Tuesday, 10:30pm.

18 Comments

Opinion: Let’s stop talking about policy!

By Martin Land | Mon 19th November 2007 - 12:50 pm

This leadership election is, inevitably, getting a little messy. Why inevitably? Because attempts are being made to create massive policy differences where they simply don’t exist, on matters which are important to activists, but far less so to electors.

In case the advisors to Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne don’t know, the key talking points in my town are the middle classes bemoaning the price of petrol and pensioners and families, rightly, concerned about the rising price of staple foods. I wonder how many members of the two campaign teams are aware that bread has more than doubled in …

Also posted in Op-eds | 29 Comments

Opinion: Calamity, Conspiracy & Clegg

By John Pugh | Mon 19th November 2007 - 10:42 am

I can claim to have encouraged Chris Huhne to stand for the leadership when Charles Kennedy stepped down, while simultaneously believing and saying for some time that Nick Clegg will be/should be the next party leader.

I can also claim to have opposed both of them over the anodyne and partly mistaken views of the Huhne Commission – remember when PFI was thought to be a good idea?

In backing Nick I have had my credentials as a definitely left-of-centre Liberal questioned by a few parliamentary and non-parliamentary colleagues – along the lines of, “Dont you realise he is a …

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged charles kennedy and john pugh | 16 Comments

The morning after the lunch-time before

By Stephen Tall | Mon 19th November 2007 - 10:17 am

Today’s newspaper headlines are unsurprising:

Clegg complains as Lib Dem leadership race turns ugly (The Independent)
Lib Dem leadership contest turns nasty in TV studio clash (The Guardian)
Chris Huhne targets ‘Calamity Clegg’ for Lib Dem leadership (Daily Mail)
Lib Dem leadership rivals clash on TV (The Times)

I hope in the cool, clear light of a Monday morning, both campaign teams will recognize that BBC1’s Politics Show clash generated a lot more heat than light, and act to draw a line under yesterday’s events.

Chris Huhne needs to understand that yesterday’s display was overly belligerent; he’s right to show real …

Also posted in News | 35 Comments

Opinion: Not pretty, but does it matter?

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th November 2007 - 8:52 pm

The Lib Dem leadership contest should be a fantastic opportunity for the party to display its wares, offering its most talented MPs the media spotlight to exhibit their vibrant view of liberalism, and how their leadership will elevate the party. At times – including last Thursday’s Question Time – that’s how it’s been. Today’s BBC1 Politics Show was a sad sight for anyone who wants our two would-be leaders to promenade the party in its Sunday best.

Neither candidate has an unblemished record. Nick Clegg, for example, penned an article for The Guardian in February 2006 in which he levelled …

Also posted in Op-eds | 19 Comments

Opinion: Why I’m supporting Nick Clegg

By The Voice | Sun 18th November 2007 - 3:20 pm

What is the point of the Liberal Democrats? It’s a question leveled at party supporters, in some form or another, time and time again, over and over; one almost always delivered with lashings of self-satisfaction and smugness.

It’s also an odd sort of question. Because in asking it, you are asking: What is the point in the only mainstream political party to oppose the Iraq war and Israels actions in the Middle East? What is the point in the only mainstream political party to oppose tuition fees? The only mainstream political party to propose plans to tackle inequality with radical and …

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged charles kennedy, chris huhne and nick clegg | 20 Comments

Opinion: Why I’m supporting Chris Huhne

By Steve Goddard | Sun 18th November 2007 - 2:20 pm

Having spent the last four weeks or so following the leadership election closely – and having spoken to both Chris and Nick – I was interviewed yesterday lunchtime for The World this Weekend about who should be the next leader of the Liberal Democrats. This gave me the opportunity to crystallise my thinking about which of the candidates I should support (attentive readers of LDV may recall that, at the start of the campaign, I was undecided) – and I’ve come to the decision that Chris Huhne is my preferred candidate. I wanted to write briefly for …

Also posted in Op-eds | 13 Comments

BBC Politics Show: Lib Dem leadership election special – open thread

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th November 2007 - 10:50 am

Are you ready for Round 2 of Clegg v. Huhne? Because today, at 12 noon, the two candidates for the leadership will go head-to-head once again in front of the cameras for BBC1’s Politics Show.

If you’re tuned in, and want to let folk know what you think of the contenders’ performances, feel free to comment below. As ever, please do keep discussion reasoned and reasonable.

Also posted in Lib Dem TV | 142 Comments

Leadership Platform 3: Nick Clegg – Richard Allan writes…

By Nick Clegg Campaign Team | Sat 17th November 2007 - 6:52 pm

We all know from experience that election campaigns are 90% perspiration and 10% Riso ink, and this one is no exception. Bu there are always things that keep you going during these marathon efforts.

In Nick’s campaign this has been the endorsements that people have been pouring in on the website. So for today’s campaign update, I thought I’d share what people are saying about Nick – you can add your own endorsement here!

As for what I think about Nick – and why his nickname used to be Grizzly Fish – you can find out in this video by …

Tagged charles kennedy, nick clegg, paddy ashdown and richard allan | 18 Comments

Leadership platform 3: Chris Huhne on Defence

By Chris Huhne MP | Sat 17th November 2007 - 5:59 pm

I thought I’d use my slot on Lib Dem Voice today to set out clearly my views on defence. I hope you enjoy the video below.

Thanks again to Stephen and the LDV team for this chance to reach more Lib Dem members. I’m delighted at the momentum building in this leadership campaign and I’ll be back with another message for Lib Dem Voice readers on Tuesday.

Yours,

Chris.

13 Comments

Have you asked a YouTube question yet?

By Stephen Tall | Sat 17th November 2007 - 9:20 am

Tens of thousands of folk have already watched Lib Dem chief executive Chris Rennard invite questions to Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne for the party’s YouTube hustings. And, at the time of writing, there have been 17 – how shall I say it? – eclectic responses.

James Graham has posted his question over at his Quaequam Blog! here. Two other bloggers have posed their questions to the candidates:

Paul Walter:

And, erm, me:

You have another week – until 25th November – to film yourself (whether on your phone, webcam, or camera) and post it to YouTube.

Also posted in Lib Dem TV | Tagged paul walter | 1 Comment

Op-eds

As a party we must be better defined for the 2029 general election (Chris Bowers)
From national averages to local realities: inequality in our communities (Tom Walker)
We do have a two tier system, Part 2 (Neil Hickman)
A Federal Britain: 3. Fiscal Federalism and a complete constitutional settlement (Iain Donaldson)
Tom Arms’ World Review (Tom Arms)

Advert

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

A strange but welcome feeling

Observations of an Expat: The Elephant Returns

Category Archives: Leadership Election

The Economist: Lib Dems “are lucky in their candidates”

BBC Q&A with the leadership contenders

London hustings – views from the blogs

Strictly Come Voting

Opinion: Uninspired? Don’t blame Nick or Chris. It’s our fault

Old Heroes for a New Leader: Chris Huhne

Lib Dem membership: who will reverse the decline?

Peter Riddell: “the contest is tightening”

Leadership Platform 5: Nick Clegg writes…

Leadership Platform 5: Chris Huhne – Let’s make the Economy OUR Issue

Hustings webcast: Clegg and Huhne answer members’ questions

How close is the Lib Dem leadership race?

In the eye of the beholder

How the MPs are lining up (UPDATED)

Today’s leadership links

Daily Telegraph publishes second leadership Q+A session

Newsnight leadership hustings: open thread

Leadership Platform 4: Chris Huhne speaks…

Leadership Platform 4: Nick Clegg writes…

Clegg, Huhne and Paxman all together in one TV studio

Opinion: Let’s stop talking about policy!

Opinion: Calamity, Conspiracy & Clegg

The morning after the lunch-time before

Opinion: Not pretty, but does it matter?

Opinion: Why I’m supporting Nick Clegg

Opinion: Why I’m supporting Chris Huhne

BBC Politics Show: Lib Dem leadership election special – open thread

Leadership Platform 3: Nick Clegg – Richard Allan writes…

Leadership platform 3: Chris Huhne on Defence

Have you asked a YouTube question yet?

Most Read

Op-eds

Recent Comments

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

A strange but welcome feeling

Observations of an Expat: The Elephant Returns

Category Archives: Leadership Election

Subscribe

Most Read

Search

Op-eds

Recent Comments