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Category Archives: Op-eds

Opinion: Labour needs to be honest with its core supporters

By Matt Gallagher | Wed 27th October 2010 - 2:03 pm

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. This quote, usually attributed to Abraham Lincoln, goes to prove that some things in politics never change.

After thirteen years of spin, media manipulation and bare-faced lies (don’t believe the rumours folks, Gordon and Tony really do have a very good working relationship), one might be forgiven for thinking that there was no one left who believed a word the Labour party had to say on anything. Nevertheless, they …

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Tagged labour party | 26 Comments

Opinion: the IFS, the buts and the maybes – questions of fairness and the CSR

By Oranjepan | Wed 27th October 2010 - 10:25 am

Last week Nick Clegg and the Institute of Fiscal studies squared up over the issue of whether the cuts proposed in the Comprehensive Spending Review are fair.

It is a debate which strikes at the heart of Lib Dems in the coalition government and it will determine the shape of politics in this country for next decade.

For the first time ever the Treasury included an impact analysis of the announced changes within the CSR, the effect of pressure from Lib Dems. These were calculated according to the sections of society that will bear the burden of the changes (ie how …

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Tagged david cameron, ed miliband, institute for fiscal studies and nick clegg | 55 Comments

Role reversal for the Liberal Democrats

By Mark Pack | Wed 27th October 2010 - 8:55 am

Hopi Sen has blogged thoughtfully several times recently about the risk to Labour of slipping into focusing on the tactics without getting the strategy right. In Labour’s case that means, for example, an undue focus on how to next best shout – “those cuts are awful!” rather than working out how to deal with the public mostly blaming Labour for the need to cut in the first place. Tactical triumphs at PMQs only gets you so far; rebuilding a reputation for economic competence is what is needed to win – as William Hague found in his time as Conservative …

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Tagged featured, mark thompson, paddy ashdown and vince cable | 10 Comments

Don Foster writes…the BBC licence fee settlement is a win for the Lib Dems

By Don Foster MP | Tue 26th October 2010 - 1:13 pm

The BBC is at the centre of a continuous storm of criticism over everything from pay to politics. Some of it is even contradictory – it sometimes seems like everyone on every side of every debate is convinced that the BBC is biased in favour of the other side. This is a symptom of the BBC’s situation, unique amongst broadcasters: because it is funded by everyone, it is in the unenviable position of having to please everyone.

It should not be immune to criticism. The detractors are correct in that the BBC isn’t perfect and doesn’t always get it right. But …

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Tagged bbc and licence fee | 24 Comments

I agree with Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs

By Mark Pack | Tue 26th October 2010 - 10:27 am

Yesterday in Parliament Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs voted to reduce the maximum number of ministers allowed in the Commons in line with the forthcoming reduction in the number of MPs:

If the number of constituencies in the United Kingdom decreases below 650, the limit on the number of holders of Ministerial offices entitled to sit and vote in the House of Commons referred to in section 2(1) must be decreased by at least a proportionate amount.

Reducing the number of ministers is something I’ve supported …

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Also posted in Parliament | Tagged adrian sanders, anthony king, charles walker, david heath, featured, john major, lord norton, lord turnbull and nick clegg | 10 Comments

Opinion: the Coalition Government is protecting fair trial rights in Europe

By Julia Bateman | Mon 25th October 2010 - 5:20 pm

The Coalition Government has today announced that it will take part in EU legislation on the right to information in criminal proceedings. The so-called “Letter of Rights”. This is one of a number of steps in the “Roadmap” designed to protect individual rights and raise fair trial standards in Europe. It is a much needed counter-balance to the powers police and prosecutors have when working across-borders.

This Letter of Rights is designed to be a short, standard written statement of basic rights given to a suspect when they are arrested and, importantly, before they are questioned. …

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Also posted in Europe / International | 7 Comments

Dee Doocey writes… Just the ticket?

By Dee Doocey | Mon 25th October 2010 - 2:25 pm

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics promised the most inclusive Games ever. We were told that the Games would be “highly affordable” and that “half the tickets would cost £20 or less”.

On 15th October, we discovered what is really going to happen.

Of the 8.8 million tickets that will go on sale, only 2.5 million (about a third) will cost £20 or less. Of this 2.5 million, 1.3 million will be reserved primarily for schoolchildren, leaving just 1.2 million £20 tickets for everyone else in London, the UK and the rest of the world. And of those 1.2 million …

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Also posted in London | Tagged olympics | Leave a comment

One point that underpins much of the tax debate

By Mark Pack | Mon 25th October 2010 - 12:32 pm

Over on the IEA blog, Mark Littlewood recently repeated a very commonly made point by those of a more low tax persuasion:

It’s worth noting that the relatively affluent in Britain pay a very high proportion of the overall tax take. In terms of income tax, the highest earning 1% contribute nearly a quarter of all receipts and the top 10% account for well over half.

There’s no prizes for guessing what conclusion Mark drew from this, but turn the point on its head and it serves just as well for the opposite political perspective.

It’s worth noting that the very affluent

…

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Tagged mark littlewood and tax | 21 Comments

Any treasures in Nick Clegg’s Desert Island Discs?

By Helen Duffett | Sun 24th October 2010 - 6:02 pm

Nick Clegg appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs this morning, and revealed his eight essential tunes, as well as a book and a luxury item with which to be marooned.

You can listen to the whole programme on iPlayer here but for the record, here’s Nick’s list:

Chopin’s Waltz in A Minor (played by Idil Biret)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Johnny Cash)
The Cross (Prince)
Petit Pays (Cesaria Evora)
Street Spirit (Radiohead)
Life on Mars (David Bowie)
Waka Waka – the theme to the 2010 World Cup (Shakira)
Schubert’s Impromptu No.3 in G Flat Major (played by Alfred Brendel)

Book: The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Luxury: A stash of cigarettes

As guilty pleasures go, it’s a pretty safe list; Desert Island Discs is a chance for famous people to judiciously bury treasure for the listeners to find, and from there to form their impression.

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Also posted in LibLink | Tagged desert island discs and kirsty young | 43 Comments

Opinion: Power to the people, freedom for the city

By Lembit Öpik | Sun 24th October 2010 - 2:25 pm

I just wanted to update everyone on where we stand with the Lib Dem campaign for Mayor.

I’m pleased to confirm that, having passed the selection procedure to be eligible to be on the short list, I will be standing in the selection of Lib Dem candidate for Mayor. I’m doing this for two reasons: Firstly, I want to see liberal policies put into practice in the nation’s capital. Secondly, I believe that I can help maximise our mayoral and list vote and, ultimately, have the best chance of winning.

Many believe that we cannot win this Mayoral election. They …

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Also posted in London | Tagged london mayoral selection | 25 Comments

Opinion: New Labour, New Machiavelli?

By David Rundle | Sat 23rd October 2010 - 4:55 pm

What has already become the best-known anecdote in Jonathan Powell’s The New Machiavelli is a snippet of conversation he had with his then master, Tony Blair. Powell asked him how he could put up with having a three-hour conversation with Gordon Brown, to which Blair responded by asking him whether he had ever been in love. ‘“Not with a man”, I replied’ — and we know he was lying. This book is testimony to his devotion to Blair.

It is, for sure, a curious billet doux -– less like a bunch of roses than a handful of thorns. Comparing, however …

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Also posted in Books | Tagged featured, gordon brown, jonathan powell, machiavelli, new labour and tony blair | 8 Comments

Have your say – diversity opportunities in political reform

By Dinti Batstone | Sat 23rd October 2010 - 11:25 am

In the wider debate around BAME issues in Liverpool, one aspect of the Diversity Motion seems to have slipped through largely unnoticed. The motion, as amended, called for the Federal Executive to commission a review into “structural” barriers to participation in politics faced by under-represented groups.

As the drafter of this part of the motion, my thinking was simple. With Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of political reform, Liberal Democrats have a once in a generation opportunity to change the way we do politics- and widen the political talent pool.

Because the case for diversity is not just about equality …

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8 Comments

Opinion: A Mayoral candidate in waiting?‏

By Richard Morris | Sat 23rd October 2010 - 9:23 am

With the launch of the shortlist of candidates for the London Assembly top up list, every good (London) Lib Dem’s thoughts should be turning to the Mayoral election – and who can we get to stand.

While there are probably excellent reasons why we’ve postponed the process for up to a year (leaving any approved candidates feeling – well, bruised at best), our two main rivals have their candidates in place and are already slugging it out. So I’m feeling a little left in the cold. And with the party polling 4% (!!!) in the latest Mayoral polling we probably need to name a candidate sooner rather than later.

The criteria seem clear:

Someone who can actually win (wouldn’t that be nice?)
A name that’s as well known as his/her rivals
Someone who already represents Londoners and understands their issues
A candidate who gets the City of London – but isn’t in their pockets.
Perhaps someone who isn’t 100% happy in their current post – maybe someone who finds himself having to present policies he doesn’t 100% believe in and work with colleagues he doesn’t 100% trust? And is probably getting a little fed up with all the mudslinging going on at the moment, with much of it aimed at them.

It’s Vince isn’t it?

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Also posted in London | Tagged london mayoral selection and vince cable | 29 Comments

Opinion: cuts in welfare are the hallmark of a selfish society

By Tom King | Fri 22nd October 2010 - 10:45 am

During the Conservative Party Conference, George Osborne announced a simple change to child benefit. He took a difficult and historic decision to remove payments to households with at least one higher rate taxpayer, saving an estimated £1 billion of public money from going directly to the highest paid 12% in our society.

In what turned out to be my last blog post, I railed – somewhat hysterically – against the reaction to this modest cut. It was clear that the right wing press would oppose such a move. But what was less clear, and more galling, was the way the …

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Tagged Danny Alexander, david cameron, george osborne, nick clegg, spending cuts and welfare reform | 44 Comments

Opinion: self-denying … and self-defeating?

By Alex Marsh | Thu 21st October 2010 - 5:45 pm

It may have been a “miserable little compromise” back in April but AV would now appear to be the big prize. The coalition has to hold together, whatever the cost, at least long enough to allow a vote on electoral reform. But will the way we get from here to there impact significantly upon what happens when we get there?

Only those on the inside know what’s actually happening, but there are many competing readings of how things are playing out coalition-wise.

The most challenging reading for many Lib Dems is that the displays of unity between the coalition partners are …

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Tagged av referendum and coalition | 25 Comments

Opinion: why we need a European Public Prosecutor

By Antony Hook | Thu 21st October 2010 - 4:21 pm

There are serious cross-border criminals at large in Europe damaging the lives of innocent people. A certain numbers of them are more likely to be dealt with when a European Public Prosecutor is created. The British Government needs to escape the defensive dug-out epitomised by Blair’s “red lines” and fight for the good that co-operation in Europe can bring for all our people. This is a time for leadership.

A federal public prosecutor is provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon with a distinct emphasis on financial crime. I use the f-word, federal, because while it has …

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Also posted in Europe / International | Tagged european union | 4 Comments

Opinion: Chris Bryant is right, though he doesn’t know why

By Jonathan Featonby | Thu 21st October 2010 - 2:43 pm

As I write, Chris Bryant is arguing during the Whole House committee for the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill that a method for drawing up constituency boundaries that is severely confined by a mathematical formula is misguided.

I completely agree, although possibly for a different reason to the one he uses to support his argument.

Mr Bryant has been arguing that a strict mathematical formula will have to ignore natural geographical and physical boundaries.

It’s true: to bring in the Bill as it stands will create constituencies that are almost constantly shifting and where previously combined communities may very well find themselves …

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Tagged alternative vote, single transferable vote and voting reform | 1 Comment

Opinion: deficit reduction or political dogma?

By John Fraser | Thu 21st October 2010 - 1:14 pm

The effect of the ‘savage’ cuts as Nick Clegg called them last September are gradually becoming apparent over the course of the week. What both parts of the coalition insist is that these cuts are about deficit reduction and not a deliberate effort to roll back the state. There is a major aspect to these cuts however which are making this very difficult to believe.

If cuts were purely to balance the books, and the economic forecasts of the coalition were correct, there would come a time possibly during a hypothetical second parliament when some of the cuts could …

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Tagged deficit | 73 Comments

Opinion: Quantitative Easing would be a grave mistake

By David Thorpe | Thu 21st October 2010 - 11:03 am

The recent comments from Bank Of England Governor Mevyn King , regarding the possibility of quantitative easing make little sense in the context of the Coalition’s current economic strategy and are contrary to broad Lib Dem principals.

The pre-election debate on the economy centred on whether the recovery was strong enough at present to sustain cuts, it is the opinion of Lib Dems, and a view I agree with, that the economy is strong enough to sustain such an action.

This view can be boiled down to believing that the level of aggregate demand in the economy has reached a point …

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Tagged quantitative easing | 29 Comments

Opinion: 108 Not Out – why do we need so many Ministers?

By David Thorpe | Wed 20th October 2010 - 4:25 pm

In the heated pre election days when a Lib Dem and Tory Coalition seemed a remote possibility, there appeared to be few areas of ideological common ground between the parties.

But one area where the parties seemed to agree, and not just the leadership of the parties, but all apparent wings contained within both the future coalition parties, was that there was a need to shrink the size of government.

The recession has given this ideological standpoint a root in pragmatism, and as the Comprehensive Spending review announces cuts to everything from quangos to benefits and prisons, the question must surely be …

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Also posted in News | 17 Comments

Opinion: we shouldn’t blame the banks

By George Kendall | Wed 20th October 2010 - 3:17 pm

Conventional wisdom says that the deficit is all the fault of dodgy lending by the banks. But is it? If there had been no financial crisis, just a correction at the end of a credit bubble, would the deficit have disappeared?

The recession has certainly caused a temporary deficit. We’ve seen a reduction in GDP of about six per cent, and unemployment up to two and a half million. The temporary effects of the recession, a higher spending on benefits and reduced tax revenue, account for around £50bn of the deficit. But this will disappear as the economy recovers.

In response …

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Tagged banking and deficit | 117 Comments

The Independent View: Party funding: yes, another review really is necessary

By Stuart Wilks-Heeg | Wed 20th October 2010 - 11:20 am

The next 12 months will be crucial to the coalition’s promise to reform party funding and ‘take big money out of politics’. An inquiry, to be conducted under the auspices of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, is already underway and will report in spring 2011, to be followed by inter-party talks.

It could be asked whether we need yet another review. Between 2005 and 2007, three separate reviews highlighted the need for reform, with the inter-party talks which followed the Hayden Phillips review in late 2007 coming close to securing agreement. Some, including Phillips himself, have argued …

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Also posted in The Independent View | Tagged hayden phillips and party funding | 7 Comments

Cutting spending back to 2006 levels will be tough, but it has to be done

By Iain Roberts | Wed 20th October 2010 - 11:12 am

The cuts that will be proposed today by the Coalition Government will not reduce the national debt. Over the next four years, the debt will continue to grow. After four years, if all goes according to plan, it will stop growing. By that time it will already be a lot higher than it is today.

We, as a country, are currently adding £400 million a day to that national debt. That’s £400 million that we, and our children, will need to cover the interest payments on until it’s paid off. For every three pounds the Government raises in tax, it currently …

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Tagged spending cuts | 38 Comments

Opinion: Browne review is a perfect opportunity

By Dawn Barnes | Tue 19th October 2010 - 5:04 pm

At conference I spoke about the importance of retaining our character in coalition and the importance of having distinctive policies to ensure that, come the next election, people remain clear about the Liberal Democrats and what we stand for.

The Browne review on university funding and tuition fees gives us the perfect opportunity to differentiate ourselves from the other parties.

We have campaigned against tuition fees for years, while Labour introduced them and raised them and the Conservatives seek to create a free market model for our universities.

Part of the coalition agreement included allowing the Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain from …

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Tagged browne report, higher education, tuition fees and universities | 28 Comments

Opinion: can the Pupil Premium only ever score 23%?

By Simon de Deney | Tue 19th October 2010 - 4:15 pm

This may come as a shock if you’re a dedicated school governor. You see, I have a confession. I was in a governors’ conference last year and my attention wandered. During the keynote speech, no less. In fact, it didn’t just wander; I found the speaker so baffling that I resorted to doing maths.

I’ve been fascinated – obsessed even – with how you help children from disadvantaged, sometimes chaotic, homes make the progress they should at primary school (I’m Chair of Governors at a Hackney primary school with a culturally rich, but, on the whole, economically challenged intake). Now, obviously, …

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Tagged pupil premium | 13 Comments

Opinion: Let’s put the C back in the FCO (in celebration of Black History Month)

By Merlene Emerson | Tue 19th October 2010 - 2:10 pm

The Commonwealth Games ended last week. This probably means that the Commonwealth will not be mentioned in the media for another 4 years. But surely there should be more to the vestiges of the British empire than mere staging of the Commonwealth Games? What does the Commonwealth actually do in this day and age and is it still relevant?

Representing a quarter of the world’s governments, a third of its population and a fifth of global trade, this network of 54 countries is a diverse community. Yet we share many common traits, not least the use of …

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Tagged black history month, commonwealth and foreign and commonwealth office | 12 Comments

Phil Willis writes: fighting the right battles over Higher Education

By Phil Willis | Tue 19th October 2010 - 1:15 pm

That Lord Browne’s conveniently delayed report ‘SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION’ recommends a significant shift for the funding of university teaching from the state to the student or graduate is hardly surprising. Indeed in January 2004 when the introduction of ‘variable fees’ was pushed through the House by Alan Johnson I stated ‘the reality is that by 2009 it will not be possible to go back to a system of state funding our universities with flat-rate fees’.

I genuinely believed that to be the case then and despite the most noble of efforts by the Liberal Democrats to …

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Tagged browne report, higher education, phil willis, tuition fees, universities and vince cable | 21 Comments

Chris White reports: a radical approach to localism

By Chris White | Tue 19th October 2010 - 12:27 pm

I have long thought that Party policy making has tended to be elitist and untransparent. In my own little universe – FPC’s Localism working group – I am keen to change this.

So the papers of the group are now being shared with anyone who put a card in for the Localism debate in Liverpool.

And I will update party members and activists in places like Lib Dem Voice.

We met on 6 October and looked at a new draft of the paper. Our previous thinking is now deeply influenced by the change in the political landscape, not least the Localism Bill due …

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Tagged fpc and Local government | 3 Comments

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