Below we publish an official list, received (with thanks) from the Returning Officer, of the candidates standing in federal elections, and to the peers panel, this year.

We have had to disable the ability to comment on this blog post, due to the election rule that “Candidates or their supporters must not use e-mail, e-groups, cix conferencing or websites during these elections to promote their candidacy”. At a later stage we will question the effectiveness of this rule, but for now we must accept that the rule is binding for this election.

The Liberal Democrats have criticised Jack Straw for being “insensitive” by asking Muslim women not to wear veils when they attend his constituency surgery. Mr Straw has today gone further and said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all.

You can hear the Lib Dem view below, and Jack Straw’s defence of his position here.

Prominent Lib Dems were split on a not entirely dissimilar issue recently – the French government’s decision to ban religious symbols in schools, including the hijab. As an example, Evan Harris was apparently in favour of that ban, while Sarah Ludford was against. I’ve searched the party website in vain for an “official line” on that issue.

Where do you stand on this issue? Are we right to disagree with Jack Straw?

Note: Audio problem fixed with the aid of Martin Tod, thanks Martin!

David Cameron has just introduced himself, as it were, via archive video clip.

“He is an analogue politician in a digital age. Mr. Deputy Speaker, he is the past!” – and in walks David Cameron.

Surreal.

Later: Poor Samatha Cameron (I’m not taking the p**s here) appears to be not at all comfortable with the typical “leader’s wife” role. She stayed in the auditorium unsmiling throughout her husband’s first speech on Sunday, and just now the microphones picked up David Cameron asking her “are you alright?” as she joined him on the stage. She didn’t look at all comfortable. So if she doesn’t want …

Almost a century ago, the poet Hilaire Belloc warned children against lying, eating bits of string and leaving nurses in a crowd. Landale’s Cautionary Tales – comic verse for the 21st century (Canongate, £7.99, published Oct 19) brings Belloc up to date, offering fresh poetic advice to address the sins of the modern child, namely drinking, smoking, swearing, taking drugs, watching too much television and so on.

The author, James Landale, is chief political correspondent for BBC News 24. The book will, he assures Lib Dem Voice, make a great stocking filler.

Gloria …

There is a Lib Dem MP who I keep passing come out of stores in Victoria Street, just up the road from Parliament.

Two things.

1. You’re in your first term. Your majority isn’t huge. During recess, you should not be spending so much time in Westminster. It’ll still be there when you get back (V for Vendetta permitting) from opening shows and kissing babies and, you know, actually doing some casework.
2. What are you buying in Boots that needs you to go in apparently daily in the early evening? The Shapers food is all stale by then.

Lib Dem Voice is averaging about 2000 visits a week now. Which is nice, but not enough. More activity = more visitors = a stronger independent community for Lib Dem activists, run by Lib Dem activists.

I’m looking for volunteers to join the Lib Dem team as:

• Regular contributors – you would be prepared to churn out an article at a semi-regular interval on a subject on which you have specialist knowledge. All levels of commitment considered. Please e-mail Rob to discuss.
• Editors – I’d like to move to a position where all contributions are read by at least one other person

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From Jonathan Wallace comes the welcome news that the Tories lost 3% of their vote in yesterday’s Gateshead council by-election, dropping to just 6% of the vote.  The Lib Dems were up 4%, but clearly there are some parts of the North East that will carry on loving Labour… mind you, that’s what people said about Newcastle.

How did you fair in yesterday’s by-elections? Let us know.

UPDATE: Will reports that Fife saw an SNP gain from Labour with us in third (the Tories got 39 votes!). Blackburn with Darwen DC was won by …

Here’s some news you may have missed, via Hot Ginger & Dynamite.

David Cameron’s latest bid to copy Tony in every way may be to move his troops in to the Millbank Tower complex. Tory MPs will not be pleased. They’re occasionally forced to visit Conservative HQ, and Millbank Tower is 0.7 miles away from Parliament (their current offices are a mere 0.3 miles) – can you imagine what it’s going to be like?  You have 8 minutes to get to Parliament in a division, and you have to drag 17 stone of “good lunches” nearly a mile …

Multiple unofficial, but reliable, sources tell the Voice that Simon Hughes will not face an election for the post of Party President.

PS This time I am assured the Voice is right, unlike the other time. I really am right this time. 100%. There’s a press release coming, and everything.

UPDATE: The party’s official announcement is here.

For other elections (Federal Executive, FCC etc) the timetable now is as follows:

• The final opportunity for candidates to withdraw their nomination has passed
• The final opportunity for candidates to submit manifesto artwork has passed
• Ballot papers will be sent out on 16 October
• They should

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