Daily View 2×2: 2 February 2010

Today is Groundhog Day, but I’ve resisted the temptation to simply give you yesterday’s Daily View again. It’s also the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, which symbolises the turning point of winter towards spring.

Twenty years ago today President FW de Klerk began to dismantle apartheid in South Africa, announcing that he had lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress, the Pan African Congress and the South African Communist Party. De Klerk also committed to release jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela, who was freed nine days later. Commenting on the news, Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: “He has taken my breath away”.

2 Big Stories

Vote of no confidence in Tory economic policies

The Independent reports on a survey showing public confusion and dissatisfaction with Conservative economic policies:

The ComRes survey found that 82 per cent of people want Mr Cameron to be clearer about what he would do on the economy – including 82 per cent of Tory supporters. Only 24 per cent believe the recession would have ended sooner if the Tories had been in power, while 69 per cent do not.

Brown to propose electoral reform

News of Gordon Brown’s conversion to electoral refom via the Alternative Vote system, is carried in most of this morning’s papers.

Labour backbencher, Austin Mitchell, said that he did not believe the move would increase public engagement in politics as it would not result in “real change”. He told BBC 5Live: “It’s a suggestion for change by people who don’t really want change. What the electorate wants is proportional representation … that’s a far more sensible system.”

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “This is a deathbed conversion to electoral reform from a party facing a historic defeat. The alternative vote is a small step in the right direction, but it does not give voters real power over both the party and the person elected as MP.”

2 Interesting Blog Posts

How #HomeEd proves Twitter is good news

Lib Dem PPC for Plymouth Moor View Stuart Bonar sings the praises of Twitter as another useful tool for hearing what local people are talking about: 

“That tweet led me to take a real interest in home education. I raised the issue with MPs at Westminster briefings for prospective parliamentary candidates like me, and eventually I was pleased to tweet that Lib Dem MPs were to vote against the Government’s plans… a tweet that led to this blog’s biggest daily audience ever.”

Gina Ford launches “the Contented Politician”

Helen Duffett shows that Gina Ford has neither forgiven nor forgotten Nick Clegg. In response to Ms Ford’s promise to examine the parties leaders and their policies for families, Helen says:

Bring it on: let’s compare the parties’ attitudes to families (in all their forms). And while we’re at it, let’s consider which party will put its trust in people. Now why hasn’t someone thought of that already..?”

That’s all for today – I’m off outside to see if I can see my shadow.

Read more by or more about , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , or .
This entry was posted in Daily View.
Advert

One Comment

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Sonia Brown MBE
    Violence against women and girls should never be overlooked or normalized. When considering institutional abuse—like that documented in the Catholic Church or...
  • Noel Hadjimichael
    It is good to see younger members bringing forward conversations that are challenging. There is no doubt that we are internationalists, progressive and practica...
  • David Allen
    Trump's proposals are a fantasy. Egypt will not voluntarily offer Gazans refuge, and Gazans will not voluntarily leave Gaza. However, coercion could work. Si...
  • John Marriott
    The 250 word limit meant that I had to omit several sentences which would have illustrated other points I would have liked to have made. Knowing the area wel...
  • Ruby Chow
    Well done and a heartfelt thank you on your good work....