Category Archives: Op-eds

Iain Roberts

Larger constituencies present a big problem for the Lib Dems

By Iain Roberts | Tue 18th May 2010 - 8:42 am

Both the Lib Dems and Conservatives proposed a reduction in the number of MPs in their manifestos.  The Lib Dems proposed cutting the number of MPs to around 500 as part of a move to PR, whilst the Conservatives want to keep the current voting system, reduce the number of MPs to around 600 and radically redraw constituency boundaries to equalise the number of voters in each.

So over the next five years we are likely to be fighting:

  • a general election in which almost every constituency in the country will be larger than today with different boundaries.
  • European elections fought under the

…

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42 Comments

Opinion: So that’s all settled, then. Now what about the policies?

By David Lawson | Mon 17th May 2010 - 7:30 pm

So: it’s settled. We may not have planned the route together, but if this train crashes we got on it together. Some people asked about the route and some people wondered about the destination but no one suggested that we may as well stay where we were.

By my reckoning well over 1,500 people attended Sunday’s Special Conference. Some dozen or more voted against the motion adopting the coalition agreement. So that’s a 99% vote in favour.

(In fact the coalition agreement seemed to be as popular as proportional representation. A few lost souls voted …

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13 Comments
Marianne Ibbotson

Opinion: Why the Electoral Reform Society are shooting themselves in the foot

By Marianne Ibbotson | Mon 17th May 2010 - 2:20 pm

Recently, the Electoral Reform Society has released a study claiming to show how the recent election would have gone under the Alternative Vote (and the Single Transferable Vote). This study has been picked up by The Guardian, The Telegraph and the BBC, who all seem to be presenting the results as scientific fact. However, there are massive flaws in this study, which apart from making it plain bad “science”, very possibly end up sabotaging the Electoral Reform Society’s efforts to campaign for Proportional Representation.

The first problem with the study is its assumption that how people voted under …

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Iain Roberts

The Lib Dem vote was soft, it can be hardened

By Iain Roberts | Sun 16th May 2010 - 10:25 am

After the excitement of Cleggmania and the eventual disappointment of the election result, polling evidence suggests the Lib Dem vote was a good deal softer than the Conservative and Labour votes.

Overall turnout for the election, although higher than in 2005, was a few percent lower than predicted, and it seems likely that a big chunk of that were people who said they’d vote Lib Dem and then didn’t make it down to the polling station.

Though disappointing, it’s hardly surprising.  The 29% that Labour got can reasonably be described as their core vote – barely higher than they achieved in 1983.  …

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11 Comments
James Staff

Opinion: For those about to defect – we don’t salute you

By James Staff | Sun 16th May 2010 - 9:20 am

As the finishing touches are put to the coalition deal and the Laws-Osborne team begins to tackle public spending, what is becoming apparent is the Lib Dems will lose some members and voters who may never return.

Yet common sense must prevail, we are less than a week into a coalition Government and whilst there will be numerous concessions (nuclear power, the return of legal fox hunting and abstaining on tuition fees will disappoint the core vote), many are already turning their backs on the party now that it has secured the influence that it long campaigned for.

Indeed, it seems that …

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126 Comments
Iain Roberts

Labour’s first PM gained power after a no confidence vote with no dissolution of parliament

By Iain Roberts | Sun 16th May 2010 - 8:20 am

Labour politicians and activists have spent the last few days merrily confusing motions of no confidence and dissolution, as I discussed on Thursday.

Many have stuck to the  easily disproven claim that the coalition government proposes a 55% threshold for a vote of no confidence.  It doesn’t: a vote of no confidence requires 50%+1 MP now and will continue to do so.

The other line of attack has been to suggest that 50% of MPs can currently vote to dissolve parliament.

Those who’ve taken the trouble to check their facts at least don’t claim that MPs can actually vote to dissolve parliament.  …

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64 Comments
Prateek Buch

Opinion: The counterfactuals seal the deal for a Lib-Con coalition

By Prateek Buch | Sat 15th May 2010 - 6:50 pm

Allow me to indulge the personal for a moment. I was brought up in Eccles, a solidly Labour-voting suburb of Manchester (the seat hasn’t changed hands in the post-war era), by Labour-voting parents, and even gave my first vote to the Labour party, although I stopped short of ever becoming a party member. I say this because I want the reader to appreciate that I come to the Liberal Democrats firmly from the left of the political spectrum, which may make what follows a little remarkable.

In recent days I’ve read so many diatribes against a perceived betrayal from those that have …

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Jem Thomas

Opinion: Identity and narrative – ignored at our peril

By Jem Thomas | Sat 15th May 2010 - 3:50 pm

Policy, relationships, practicalities, even thinking about a little bit of governance and leadership – these will all undoubtedly all pre-occupying the minds of many senior LibDems (and no doubt Conservatives). But right from day one of this coalition, the LibDems, probably more than any other party, will need to keep two things clear in their consciousness – those of identify and narrative.

The LibDems for generations have enjoyed an easy identity – the third party, centre-left, progressive even maverick – even though it didn’t feature strongly on the radar of the general public. Well it does now – with …

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Terry Gilbert

Opinion: Silly me! How I was nearly suckered by the promise of Lords Reform

By Terry Gilbert | Sat 15th May 2010 - 3:46 pm

Last Saturday, just after we started to negotiate with the Tories, I asked on these pages:

Is their a grand gesture to Reform which will make a deal with the Tories acceptable?

I concluded by saying that, while Mr Cameron would not give way on Fair Votes for the Commons, it was just possible that, if his back was against the wall, he might be induced to yield ground on Reform of the upper House.

His MP’s own seats would thus, for the time being at least, remain ‘safe’ enough for them to be dragged into line to accept proportionality in the Lords, …

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34 Comments
Tom Papworth

Opinion: Cold comfort for the Lib Dems in the dawn of the new politics

By Tom Papworth | Sat 15th May 2010 - 2:50 pm

On Thursday night we saw the dynamics of the New Politics unfold.

For the first time, advocates of the Lib-Con pact came face to face with opponents and the general public in a very public forum. On Question Time, Simon Hughes MP and Lord Heseltine defended the new government against a tirade of abuse from Lord Falconer, Mehdi Hasan and Melanie Phillips, while the audience expressed exasperation and dismay. Get used to it. This is the New Politics, and if Cameron and Clegg are to be believed, this is what we have to look forward to …

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Mark Clark

Opinion: Social media enhances our campaigns

By Mark Clark | Sat 15th May 2010 - 10:52 am

In one sense I’m disappointed the election is over.

Returning from my own self imposed wilderness at the dismalness of the political scene to the local fold in New Forest East has been a revelation to me to see how social media networks can re energise the election process, and importantly how it has engaged more of our local membership helpers during campaigns – and not just the under 35s. The more active are definitely the silver surfers who have taken to the new technology like a duck to water. So much so, that a regular evening briefing session …

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Alan Pomroy

Opinon: Equality and the new Coalition

By Alan Pomroy | Sat 15th May 2010 - 9:48 am

A glance at the make-up of the new cabinet does not make great reading for equality campaigners. 86% male, 97% white, 59% privately educated and 69% oxbridge educated – hardly a great advert for our diverse and multicultural society, or indeed a state education. In their defence the Lib-Dems and Tories can point to Labour’s final years in office which shows a broadly similar pattern, with the exception of eductional background, in which there has been a definite backward step. Nick Clegg and David Cameron yesterday talking about aspiring to a new way of doing politics – a noble statement …

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Colin Green

Opinion: Speaking up for coalition

By Colin Green | Fri 14th May 2010 - 3:45 pm

Over the few days since the coalition government was announced I’ve been dismayed to hear several Liberal Democrat members say they will rip up their membership cards in protest.  Whilst many are understandably disappointed that we now have a Conservative Prime Minister, or that we don’t have a Liberal Democrat Prime Minister, a coalition government including the Lib Dems is not a bad thing.

Coalition talks with Labour failed.  Of the two remaining viable options, a Conservative minority was the only other choice to a coalition.  We would have a Conservative Prime Minister either way.  Unlike 1974 when the Liberal Party …

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34 Comments
Mark Whiley

Opinion: Stand firm on tuition fees

By Mark Whiley | Fri 14th May 2010 - 1:50 pm

For every vote and every candidate up and down the country that signed the pledge on behalf of the National Union of Students, may I please put this to you – at the Emergency Conference on Sunday, oppose the provision in the coalition agreement which prevents us from voting on the outcome of the Lord Browne review on Higher Education Fees.

As a Party we have consistently been the only party to talk about fees, let alone come up with a costed policy for replacement of the present system where many graduates leave with thousands of pounds of debt. Students …

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Opinion: Justifying the unthinkable

By Kelvin Macdonald Fraser | Fri 14th May 2010 - 12:00 pm

Like all Liberal Democrats, I would never support a Tory government. Most of us have spent many years asking countless people to vote Lib Dem to “keep the Tories out”, but I actually think that’s exactly what we’ve done.

Without the Liberal Democrats the Tories would have a majority now. So many Lib Dems seats are Tory/Lib Dem fights, and it’s because the Lib Dem vote held up in places like the South West that Mr. Cameron did not get the majority he needed to enable him to go ahead with the sort of traditional Tory policies that were in his …

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Steve Cooke

Opinion: We do not belong to Labour!

By Steve Cooke | Fri 14th May 2010 - 10:45 am

Across Britain on May 6th people voted for the Liberal Democrats because they liked our policies, or they liked our values. Some voted for us because we were not ‘the other lot’. No doubt a goodly number voted Lib Dem because they felt (quite rightly) the party they truly wanted to vote for – the Labour Party – has lost its heart and lost its soul. People voted for us hoping, but never ever expecting they’d get a Liberal Democrat government.

After the votes came in it was clear that the Conservatives had won the election, but without a big …

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Iain Roberts

Lib Dems should get used to constant attacks and scrutiny

By Iain Roberts | Fri 14th May 2010 - 8:27 am

One of the joys of being in government is being hated. Thatcher and Blair were both attacked daily by large numbers of people when they were in power (at times I was one of them) – though of course neither ever lost a General Election.

In contrast, being in opposition tends to be easier – people may disagree with you, but it’s not you making the hard decisions, from which there are inevitably losers as well as winners.

For the Lib Dems it’s going to take some getting used to. Our fate has more often to be ignored than hated. …

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45 Comments
Richard Davis

Opinion: The death of partisan politics?

By Richard Davis | Thu 13th May 2010 - 4:20 pm

I think people need to look a little more objectively and put an end to the partisan “we hate the Tories” or “we hate Labour” that I am hearing all the time. It makes us look ridiculous and is the main reason that the average person has come to distrust and ultimately hate the political system we currently have. What we have seen over the last few days is actually a huge leap forwards, when two parties which are so fundamentally opposed can come together and find common ground to try to do the best for the country in what …

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66 Comments
James Elsdon-Baker

Opinion: Securing civil liberties

By James Elsdon-Baker | Thu 13th May 2010 - 2:20 pm

Along with other civil libertarians I’ve dedicated my time to fighting off Labour’s encroachments on our freedoms and liberty. This struggle has found me working with traditional Labour members, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives; everyone from anti-corporate Libertarian Socialist to Euro-sceptic UKIP activists. People of all tribal loyalties and ideological outlooks have come together in non-partisan campaigns like NO2ID, and events like the convention on modern liberty. Not because they have sought to make their ideological explanation of why our liberties have been encroached the dominant one, but because they realised achieving a shared goal required finding the common ground …

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Malcolm Wood

Opinion: Inheriting Tory Tax Plans

By Malcolm Wood | Thu 13th May 2010 - 11:20 am

Nobody likes paying tax. But most of us accept the necessity of paying collectively for public services, and the moral obligation on those of us with good incomes to subsidise these services for those without. Most of us would also accept that, in times of serious budget deficit, any adjustments to the tax system should be made in favour of those who are, firstly, of the most limited means, and, secondly, alive.

It’s easy to make inheritance tax sound unfair. Just describe it as “double taxation”; a second tax on income which has already been taxed. But …

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Chris Jones

Opinion: I’ve joined the Liberal Democrats

By Chris Jones | Wed 12th May 2010 - 8:17 pm

Last night I watched as the helicopter above central London followed and filmed the new Prime Minister David Cameron’s car as it drove from Buckingham Palace back to Downing Street. I watched as Mr. Cameron arrived at number 10, made a speech outlining the difficulties and challenges that were ahead for the country and announced a formal coalition with the Lib Dems. I watched as he walked into his new home, the door opened by an unseen minion as always, turned, waved and crossed the threshold into a new era for British politics. As I watched I was at the same …

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149 Comments
Stephen Tall

The upsides and downsides for Labour of the Lib-Con deal

By Stephen Tall | Wed 12th May 2010 - 6:45 pm

The decision by many Labour MPs during Tuesday to kaibosh any kind of ‘progressive alliance’ deal with the Lib Dems was doubtless motivated by many reasons: some good, some bad.

I’m sure some Labour MPs genuinely felt that, after 13 years of government, and having crashed to their heaviest election defeat in a generation, their party requires a spell in opposition to re-group and refresh. That’s a perfectly understandable and respectable position to hold.

Equally, it’s clear there were those motivated by less pure instincts. For some – the tribal partisans who cleave to the view Labour is always right …

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Helen Duffett

Where’s the coalition of the sexes?

By Helen Duffett | Wed 12th May 2010 - 6:22 pm

With most of the key cabinet posts now announced, and other positions coming at a trickle, the new government so far looks overwhelmingly male.

The exceptions so far are Theresa May (Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality) and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi (Conservative Party Chairman). Reports of a role for Caroline Flint are unconfirmed.

There’s been no word yet about any of the talented female Liberal Democrat MPs being offered a role in the new government. However, I can’t help noticing a correlation with the Lib Dem (all male) negotiating team, with all but Andrew Stunell getting cabinet posts.

I …

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Stephen Tall

I disagreed with Nick. And I was wrong. Maybe.

By Stephen Tall | Wed 12th May 2010 - 11:15 am

It’s two months since I wrote a post here on Lib Dem Voice with the self-explanatory title: 5 reasons Nick Clegg should rule out a coalition now. It’s interesting in the light of the last 24 hours to re-visit my reason number one: “A coalition is a non-starter, so let’s just rule it out now”.

So what’s changed?

The electorate have spoken

Well, the most obvious issue is the election result itself. The voters have spoken, and been quite clear that they don’t trust any one of the parties to govern the country alone. That in itself should give any …

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67 Comments
Ed Maxfield

Opinion: A moment of transformation?

By Ed Maxfield | Wed 12th May 2010 - 9:50 am

My family are a difficult bunch to please. This weekend my mother threatened to give up on the Lib Dems if Nick Clegg kept Gordon Brown in power and my sister threatened to move to Greece if he did a deal with the Tories.

Me? I’ve been fighting the Tories all my adult life, but I’ve been working to get Lib Dems into government all that time too. I am immensely proud and excited that Nick Clegg is Deputy Prime Minister (pinch me!) But I also understand the anguish and pain felt by many in the party. After fifty years …

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Iain Roberts

Welcome to the new politics – risks and all

By Iain Roberts | Wed 12th May 2010 - 8:27 am

A few months ago we were waiting for David Cameron’s stately procession to 10 Downing Street as leader of yet another majority Conservative government. No point voting Lib Dem, we were told – they had no chance of getting power and putting their policies into practice.

And yet here we are, with a Lib/Con coalition after Labour decided they preferred to be in opposition. Those who voted Lib Dem look like they will get Lib Dem policies put into law. Not all of them, but a surprising number of the important ones.

Is it risky? Hell, yes. …

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George Kendall

Opinion: Beware Mandelson bearing gifts

By George Kendall | Tue 11th May 2010 - 1:09 pm

The airwaves are full of siren voices: Ben Bradshaw calls for “a progressive coalition”, Peter Hain for “a new voting system, a new second chamber, a fixed term parliament”, the Prime Minister resigns to make a deal possible.

It’s heady stuff for a Liberal Democrat, so why isn’t Clegg beating down the door of number 10?

Years back I was newly elected to a hung council. The 25 Tories had gone into opposition, so we 24 Lib Dems tried to form a coalition with seven independents, themselves split into three small groups.

The Tories confidently predicted we’d fall apart in …

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32 Comments
Mark Pack

Will it have been a case of “Vote Labour, get Cameron”?

By Mark Pack | Tue 11th May 2010 - 12:53 pm

Having said yesterday that Labour needs to seriously up its game if it wants to woo the Liberal Democrats, Gordon Brown most certainly did that. It’s clear also that many in the Labour Party are willing to consider a major offer that would include very substantial electoral reform. Many, but by no means all – which brings us to the irony of the situation.

Although Labour campaigned in many areas on the claim “Vote Lib Dem, get Cameron”, many in Labour are now willing to make it a case of “Vote Labour, get Cameron”. They are willing to see Cameron …

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20 Comments

Opinion: Lib Dems can make government work

By Eoin O'Malley | Mon 10th May 2010 - 8:45 pm

The recent election must have been a major disappointment to the Liberal Democrats – but that doesn’t matter because they have the ‘whip-hand’ in government formation. The party has ‘walk-away value’.

If they don’t like a deal with the Conservatives they have other options (Labour & LibDems, with SDLP and Alliance brings you to 320). The Tories on the other hand don’t really have other palatable options other than a minority administration, which Cameron has already indicated he doesn’t prefer. This makes the Lib Dems (despite their size) much stronger than any other party. This is akin to the position …

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Also posted in The Independent View | 49 Comments
Mark Pack

A day to be proud of our party

By Mark Pack | Mon 10th May 2010 - 5:49 pm

Whatever final deal is negotiated, it won’t contain everything Liberal Democrats will want. It will involve some major compromises – and so it should in a democracy, given that we didn’t win a majority or the most seats.

But from what we’ve seen today and over the weekend, Liberal Democrats should be proud of just how well our negotiating team is working on our behalf.

They have a tough job – the issue that many members hold most dear (electoral reform) is also the one that it is hardest to win concessions on from from the Conservatives and is the one on …

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