Liberal Democrat Voice

Nick Clegg and Colombian leader to build pressure for drugs reform

By The Voice | Mon 10th November 2014 - 5:15 pm

Nick Clegg might not be having much luck with the Conservatives on drugs reform, but he’s trying to build an international consensus. He’s agreed a joint approach with Colombian leader Juan Manuel Santos according to the Observer:

Posted in News | Tagged drugs policy, juan manuel santos and nick clegg | 12 Comments

Advert

Norman Lamb writes … Improving mental health services for children and young people

By Norman Lamb MP | Mon 10th November 2014 - 3:57 pm

Imagine for a minute you are a teenager, perhaps working hard for your A-level exams, struggling with relationships and all the social and academic pressures of school. And on top of this, you might be among the 1 in 10 of your peers suffering from depression, an eating disorder, or another mental health problem.

But if mental health services are the “Cinderella service” of our NHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are the Cinderella Service of Cinderella Services. Effective support for a young person experiencing a mental health problem can have a transformative effect on the course of their entire life. But the current CAMHS system too often is woefully inadequate.

Earlier this year, I launched a CAMHS Task Force involving experts in the field, and also young people who have experience of mental health problems themselves. The Task Force will look at how we can modernise children’s mental health service, making the best use of the resources available, and reforming services to end the “cliff edge” which occurs when young people move from under-18 care to adult services. It will look at how we can improve access – including through the use of exciting new online services – and how we can reduce the stigma of mental health services.

Posted in News | Tagged camhs, child and adolescent mental health services, featured and mental health | 1 Comment

Opinion: Let’s tell the truth about EU budget surcharge

By Cara Jenkinson | Mon 10th November 2014 - 2:58 pm

Over the last couple of days I have been disappointed that the Lib Dem leadership has seemed to go along with the Osborne/Cameron version of events with respect to the ‘reduction’ in the £1.7 billion owed to the EU.

On Friday, Osborne claimed that through his tough negotiations the UK would only be paying £850 billion. However reports later on explained that the only deal done was over the timing of the payment, and that the reduction was simply due to the UK’s EU budget rebate being applied.

Posted in News | Tagged european union | 32 Comments

Clegg tells CBI: Liberal Democrats guarantee economic stability

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 10th November 2014 - 2:35 pm

All three party leaders have been speaking to the CBI Conference today, setting out their election stalls. Nick was keen to emphasise the contribution the Liberal Democrats have made to the Government. It was the right message for an audience of businesspeople.

Posted in News | Tagged cbi, nick clegg and speeches | 7 Comments

Carswell: Free Liberal. How it might have been (part 2)

By David Faggiani | Mon 10th November 2014 - 12:45 pm

This is the continuation of an article posted previously on Lib Dem Voice. New readers should read the earlier post before this one.

…Do you remember…… changing the mind of pretenders?…

‘September’, Earth, Wind and Fire

As September 2014 began, even the most complacent Westminster journalistic eyes were swiftly turned away from Douglas Carswell’s Liberal insurgency, and towards events North of the border. The Scottish Independence Referendum was approaching within a fortnight, and Salmond and his remarkable growing coalition of voters were coming up fast/ A shock Panelbase poll published on 2^nd September put the ‘Yes’ camp ahead by 1 point in the Independence Referendum. The campaign was electrified. For many Westminster politicians, it seemed as though they were waking up suddenly. Waking up, and booking train tickets to Scotland…

Posted in Humour | Tagged counterfactuals | 38 Comments

Advert

Opinion: Equality – a suggestion

By Teena Lashmore | Mon 10th November 2014 - 11:17 am

We have seen the application of the women’s Leadership Program. This became necessary due to historical disadvantages. If we could have trusted the political system, there would be no need to introduce such measures to achieve better representation for women.

I suggest we can achieve similar Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic representation, by learning from experiences and voting progressively. Allow me to share…

I had a fantastic time running for Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PCC). I crammed national policy into five days and along with dedicated enthusiasts, undertook the assessment day.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged ppc selections | 25 Comments

Brian Paddick on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “We need a change of attitude in society and across the political spectrum”

By The Voice | Mon 10th November 2014 - 9:15 am

Brian Paddick — former Deputy Assistant Commissioner in London’s Metropolitan Police Service, twice Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of London and now a Lib Dem peer — spoke in this week’s House of Lords debate, ‘Women: Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion’. Here’s what he said…

Lord Paddick (LD): … As the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Leicester has already said, the issues of homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion of women are linked. In particular, it is male violence against women that lies behind many of these problems. For example, as my noble friend Lady Tyler of Enfield said, the homeless charity, St Mungo’s, reports that half of its female clients have experienced domestic violence compared with only 5% of its male clients. Research already referred to by the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, shows that between 50% and 80% of women in prison have experienced domestic or sexual violence. Two-thirds of domestic violence survivors say that their problematic substance misuse began following domestic violence. The evidence is compelling, not only that women are disproportionately victims of domestic violence and abuse, almost always but not exclusively perpetrated by men, but that violence and abuse lies behind much of the homelessness and social exclusion faced by women.

Posted in Parliament | Tagged brian paddick, domestic violence, homelessness, house of lords, sexual violence and women | 1 Comment

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #397

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 9th November 2014 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 397th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (-, 2014), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment

Speaking up for the civil liberties of dogs

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 9th November 2014 - 4:45 pm

After the Federal Executive meeting this week where we discussed preparations for the election campaign (heartening to see so many people coming forward to be approved as candidates), arrangements to implement the One Member One Vote decision at Conference (and good to see that Mark Pack and Duncan Brack who proposed the amendment passed are to be invited in to work on that), the implementation of the Morrissey Report (amazing progress made, driven forward by our fabulous Pastoral Care Officer), we headed to the pub.

I was talking about my excitement/slight apprehension about picking up our new puppy the next day. The picture on the right shows little Hazel, who is now happily settled and busily involved in training us to meet her needs.

Anyway, Martin Tod reminded us all that he had once spoken up for the civil liberties of dogs in response to an animal welfare debate at Conference in 2003. He and Mark Pack wondered how it would look if the motion applied to humans. He posted the speech on his blog last year and here’s a snippet:

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged animal welfare, federal executive, martin tod, norman baker and orange book | 17 Comments

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

By The Voice | Sun 9th November 2014 - 2:15 pm

Many thanks to the 14,100 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

Norman Baker quits as Home Office Minister (29 comments) by Stephen Tall

“Lib Dems have made majority Conservative rule in Britain less likely for perhaps a generation” (40 comments) by Stephen Tall

Six months from 7th May 2015: how the polls are looking and what to look out for (67 comments) by Stephen Tall

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Caron’s Sunday Selection: Must-read articles from the Sunday papers

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 9th November 2014 - 1:37 pm

A little later today, but here is what I’ve found interesting from today’s newspapers:

First of all, infighting in the Labour Party surely can’t count as news as it’s its default state in that organisation. It strikes me that Norman Baker’s resignation, while highlighting the massive difference between the two governing parties in the Coalition, was at least couched in dignified and respectful language. The previous government operated in an environment of toxic dysfunctionality. This one has its moments but never comes close to that pure poison. Anyway, the Observer reports on poor Ed Miliband’s latest woes. For me, he’s the most likeable Labour leader since John Smith. While his flaws in leadership are clear, even if he had a significant narrative, half the party would be trying to undermine it. The paper’s advice in its leader is, basically, to feel the fear and go radical anyway.

Posted in Op-eds | 8 Comments

For Remembrance Sunday – my visit to the Tower of London poppies

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 9th November 2014 - 11:30 am

Last Monday I was down in London for a meeting and had an hour spare to nip down to the Tower of London to see the poppy installation where 888,246 ceramic poppies have been laid out in an act of remembrance for all those who died in the First World War.

I found it incredibly moving. The atmosphere was one of humble quiet reflection. You know when you normally go to things, people can be pushing and shoving and trying to get the best view. Actually, here, everyone was respectful, giving each other space, despite the massive crowds.

I think what got me more than anything was seeing that this huge sea of red, made up of individual stems, symbolised one part of one side who lost their lives in the First World War.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged remembrance sunday and tower of london poppies | 3 Comments

Nick Clegg’s message for Remembrance Day 2014

By The Voice | Sun 9th November 2014 - 10:07 am

Posted in News | Tagged remembrance day 2014 | 1 Comment

Clegg talks to Cosmopolitan

By NewsHound | Sun 9th November 2014 - 8:52 am

This week Nick Clegg talked to Cosmopolitan magazine, answering questions put to him by students.

He tackled the tuition fees issue head on:

Posted in News | Tagged nick clegg | 79 Comments

Let’s match up Doctors and (Liberal) Democrat leaders

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 8th November 2014 - 6:13 pm

Tonight is the finale of Peter Capaldi’s first season playing the Doctor. I have been a very poor excuse for a Doctor Who fan this year. I had to cram in four episodes last night to catch up. It’s been difficult to watch them live due to the Referendum, Conference and, ironically, a Doctor Who convention keeping me busy. The added complication is that our house and lounge where our only television is, has been taken over by teenagers every week.

Anyway, I’m now caught up and am livid and awestruck in equal measure. Don’t get me wrong, Capaldi’s Doctor is brilliant – and played fantastically. I hear from people who know that he is so immensely professional on set with every single aspect of his performance fully prepared and worked out. He’s also great at supporting other members of the cast. I also love the fact that we’ve seen different aspects to Clara from grief-stricken derangement to superb leadership. It shows he can write decent female characters (though he managed it with Kate Stewart) so if we could have more of them and fewer of the River Song/Tasha Lem types,I’ll be happy. It’s not that I don’t like River and Tasha, but Moffat’s women come from a very small range.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged doctor who and liberal democrats | 8 Comments

In the next month 37 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 5:00 pm

Here’s the full list of selection contests in the coming month available for Lib Dems on the approved parliamentary candidates’ list, together with the closing date for applications.

The following seats have selections in progress and are currently advertising for candidates:

Posted in Selection news | Tagged general election 2015 | 3 Comments

Olly Grender on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “Housing supply lies at the heart of the solution of some of these complex issues”

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 3:15 pm

Olly Grender — former director of communications for housing charity Shelter, now a Lib Dem peer — spoke in this week’s House of Lords debate, ‘Women: Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion’. Here’s what she said…

Baroness Grender (LD): My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady King of Bow, for initiating this debate. I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Rebuck, and the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, on their moving and inspirational speeches. We look forward to many more. I also take this opportunity to congratulate my noble friend Lady Garden of Frognal on her return to the government Benches. It will not surprise her to hear me, as a woman on these Benches, say the more the merrier—more please.

The noble Baroness, Lady King, has managed to take three complex areas of social policy and combine them in one impressive debate. They are complex in part because the reasons behind the homelessness of women are sometimes hard to detect and far too often hidden away. They are complex indeed, but at the heart of this debate is a very simple truth, which is that there is a terrible cost when a woman has no home, no escape from violence and no apparent way back from social exclusion, as was so movingly described by the noble Baroness, Lady Newlove. It is likely that the cost is not just to her but to the children she may have with her, and to us as a nation as they grow up.

Posted in Parliament | Tagged domestic violence, homelessness, house of lords, olly grender, sexual violence and women | 3 Comments

What’s being debated in our members’ forum this week?

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 1:30 pm

LibDemVoice has two parallel sites. The first is our public blog, the thing you’re reading now. The second is our private members’ forum, which only current Lib Dem members can access.

If you’re a member and want to chat with fellow party members about any issue that’s on your mind, then why not sign up? In addition, you’ll be included in our regular surveys’ of party members’ views.

Here’s some of the most active discussions this past 7 days:

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

“Like you, the Liberal Democrats…” Not the most tactful way to write to your members

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 8th November 2014 - 11:15 am

A well-written email is a very useful tool in informing and activating your supporters. One that’s not so well-written or targeted can be counter-productive. There have been a fair few howlers in the past few years from LDHQ, not least that Annette Brooke email following the elections in May this year and one from Nick Clegg a couple of years before in similar circumstances. I also remember a Simon Hughes one in 2011 the week after the appalling Scottish elections when we were still all punch-drunk and heartbroken that started: “This is a good week to be a Liberal Democrat.”

That opening line is oh, so important. It draws the reader in, grabs their attention, persuades them to read on and to take the action requested within it. If the opening is poor, the red mist descends and people hit the delete key.

And so it was last night with an email from Director of Strategy Ryan Coetzee. This presumably went to members and supporters alike. It was nowhere close to even the field next to the ballpark of being as bad as previous examples, but, unfortunately it started with the words:

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged fundraising, internal emails and party communications | 28 Comments

LibDemVoice Fantasy Football League: how it stands after Week 10

By Stephen Tall | Sat 8th November 2014 - 10:15 am

Congratulations to Jon Featonby, whose team “What bitey racist?” continues to lead the LibDemVoice Fantasy Football League after Week 10, having amassed 601 points. Hot on his heels are George Murray (589) and Sam Bowman (584). There’s then a gap of 25 points separating fourth-placed Andrew Wiseman. Still, there only just over 50 points between the top 10 and three-quarters of the season left to play.

Posted in Fantasy Football | Tagged fantasy football | Leave a comment

Eluned Parrott selected to fight Welsh Assembly Cardiff Central seat

By The Voice | Sat 8th November 2014 - 9:26 am

In 2011, one of the most heartbreaking results in Wales was losing Jenny Randerson’s former constituency of Cardiff Central by just 38 votes Losing by such a small amount is horrible. Welsh Liberal Democrats hope to win it back in 2015. They’ve now chosen their candidate, South Wales Central list AM Eluned Parrott, who has made a significant impact since she was elected in 2011.

In 2012, she wrote about her experience of Post-Natal Depression for Time to Change Wales as one of four AMs who decided to be open about their own experiences. A year later, she followed that up with an article about the impact that decision had had on her life:

Posted in News | Tagged eluned parrot, time to change wales, Wales, welsh assembly elections 2016 and welsh liberal democrats | Leave a comment

Kramer urges Councils to make use of enhanced powers to check taxi drivers’ backgrounds

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 7th November 2014 - 5:45 pm

The Standard reports that Transport Minister Susan Kramer has written to Councils across England to urge them to take advantage of enhanced powers to check on the backgrounds of taxi drivers.

Posted in News | Tagged susan kramer | Leave a comment

ALDC by-election report: 6th November 2014

By ALDC | Fri 7th November 2014 - 4:13 pm

There were just two principal council by-elections yesterday. In the Cornwall UA contest in Mevagissey, the Conservatives increased their vote share in the ward by 8.2% to gain the seat from Labour in a closely thought election. The Conservative candidate polled 32% to win with a majority of 67 ahead of UKIP in second. The Liberal Democrats were the only other party to see an increase in their vote share from the previous contest in the ward during the 2013 local elections, as UKIP, Labour and the Green Party all saw a vote share drop. A 4.3% increase saw Christopher Maynard poll 18% as he finished just 7 votes adrift of the Labour candidate to finish in fourth. The election sees Labour reduced to just 7 representatives on Cornwall council whilst the Conservatives have increased their representation to 31 although they remain third in terms of council representation behind Independents and the Liberal Democrats.

Posted in News | Tagged aldc, by-elections and Local government | 14 Comments

Six months from 7th May 2015: how the polls are looking and what to look for

By Stephen Tall | Fri 7th November 2014 - 2:15 pm

There are three key things about opinion polls.

The first is what matters are trends, not individual poll fluctuations.

The second is they’re snapshots, not forecasts. (A point made by Lord Ashcroft, to his credit, every time he publishes his latest poll finding.)

The third is the next general election won’t be decided by national party vote shares but by who wins in 650 individual seats. (A point often made by PoliticalBetting’s Mike Smithson.)

Here are the trends…

Here’s a graph which focuses solely on the first of these. It shows the result of every single opinion poll – courtesy Mark Pack’s invaluable spreadsheet – in the 12 months from October 2013 to September 2014 (incl.):

Posted in Polls | Tagged adam ludlow, anthony wells, comres, lord ashcroft, mike smithson and yougov | 69 Comments

Opinion: A new member’s views on equality

By Lauren Jayne Salerno | Fri 7th November 2014 - 1:04 pm

We have heard Nick and Tim’s comments on advancing women by means of all female shortlists. In many ways this is admirable but it’s arguably discriminatory. Firstly it reflects the outdated, but still common, view of gender in terms of men and women when it fact gender variance is far broader; we should be and are the party of the androgynous, gender queer, intersex and all other genders, however by not including them we exclude them, discrimination by omission.

Secondly we are a broad party and need to ensure that all can truly fulfil their potential regardless of whether they fall within the protected characteristics of the Equality Act or not. Yes there may be, and I would argue are, more obstacles for some groups than other but that does not mean that anyone group should be prioritised thus creating or reinforcing “a hierarchy of diversity”
I have often heard and indeed even today heard that it is easier and more effective to focus on one issue and when we have got that right to move on to others. The problem with this thinking is at least twofold.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged equalities | 13 Comments

Lynne Featherstone wins Stonewall Politician of the Year

By Joe Otten | Fri 7th November 2014 - 11:37 am

Lynne Featherstone MP was named Stonewall’s ‘Politician of the Year’ at their annual awards ceremony yesterday. It was awarded jointly to Lynne and to this guy off Eastenders.

Lynne has been tireless in promoting LGBT+ rights over the last four and a half years and was the architect of the bill legalising same sex marriage.

Posted in News | Tagged lynne featherstone, same sex marriage and stonewall | 7 Comments

The 3 Lib Dem party president candidates on what they’d do in my “It’s 8th May 2015” scenario

By Stephen Tall | Fri 7th November 2014 - 9:45 am

A couple of weeks ago I asked all three candidates for the Lib Dem party presidency a deliberately provocative question:

It’s 8th May, 2015. The Lib Dems have lost some MPs but are still a force to be reckoned with in the House of Commons. Nick Clegg announces he will step aside to let a new leader take over. No single party has an overall majority. What will you do in the next 7 days to maximise Lib Dem influence and keep the party united?

As I wrote then:

My guess is all three will be reluctant to be drawn by the premise of the question (Lib Dems losing MPs, Nick quitting). Fair enough, that’s how politics works. You’re not allowed publicly to think through the Plans B, C and D you need to be thinking through, or the media will tear you to shreds. So I’m not necessarily expecting their real answer.

The reason I’m asking it to them is simple. That scenario, above, is the most likely one to play out in six months’ time, and I really want them to be thinking now about how they handle it. Their response will likely determine not only the success of their time as party president, but also how the party handles it.

To their credit, all three answered. Quick snippets from each below, but well worth reading in full what they said, I think.

Posted in Party Presidency | Tagged daisy cooper, liz lynne and sal brinton | 10 Comments

Lib Dem membership up for 15th consecutive month

By Stephen Tall | Thu 6th November 2014 - 9:24 pm

It’s over a year since we first reported that Lib Dem membership, which plummeted in the aftermath of the formation of the Coalition, had started rising again. That meant the party finished 2013 with more members than it began the year.

Well, the upward trend is continuing, as an email to members tonight notes:

Liberal Democrat membership has once again increased in the previous quarter, which means we’ve now grown continuously for the past 15 months. Membership now stands at

…

Posted in News | Tagged party membership | 14 Comments

Lib Dem scientists announce their ‘Team Science’ candidates

By NewsHound | Thu 6th November 2014 - 3:00 pm

Aldes — the Association of Liberal Democrat Engineers and Scientists — have put together a shortlist of Liberal Democrat MPs and parliamentary candidates who they think can play in important role in the Commons thanks to their background and/or interest in science.

As Aldes explain:

The Team Science campaign thinks that candidates with a background in science, engineering, technology and medicine have a great deal to contribute to politics and are currently underrepresented in Parliament. For this reason we are championing support for the following team of Lib Dem candidates in the 2015 general election.

Posted in News | Tagged ALDES and science | 18 Comments

‘Drones could be used to deliver Focus leaflets’ – peer

By Paul Walter | Thu 6th November 2014 - 12:54 pm

In a House of Lords debate on drones this week, Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Lee of Trafford said:

It may even be possible to develop a delivery system that delivers Focus leaflets which I would have thought would be very much appreciated by these benches.

That could eventually provide material for a Glee song…

Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged focus and house of lords | 11 Comments

Op-eds

Reform donations row shows how facts get trampled at Westminster (David Vigar)
The Independent View: Turning back the tide on free speech (Jack Coulson)
Britain has too much government and too little democratic power (James Dennison)
Foreign interference in British politics: How the Liberal Democrats man meet the challenge (Larry Ngan)
Mathew on Monday: It’s time to take big money out of British politics (Mathew Hulbert)

Advert

Bobby Dean MP writes: The resilient state

Sarah Olney bids to become candidate for Mayor of London

Going for four in a row in Scotland

Observations of an Expat: Canada

Nick Clegg and Colombian leader to build pressure for drugs reform

Norman Lamb writes … Improving mental health services for children and young people

Opinion: Let’s tell the truth about EU budget surcharge

Clegg tells CBI: Liberal Democrats guarantee economic stability

Carswell: Free Liberal. How it might have been (part 2)

Opinion: Equality – a suggestion

Brian Paddick on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “We need a change of attitude in society and across the political spectrum”

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #397

Speaking up for the civil liberties of dogs

LDV’s Sunday Best: our 7 most-read articles this week

Caron’s Sunday Selection: Must-read articles from the Sunday papers

For Remembrance Sunday – my visit to the Tower of London poppies

Nick Clegg’s message for Remembrance Day 2014

Clegg talks to Cosmopolitan

Let’s match up Doctors and (Liberal) Democrat leaders

In the next month 37 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

Olly Grender on Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Social Exclusion: “Housing supply lies at the heart of the solution of some of these complex issues”

What’s being debated in our members’ forum this week?

“Like you, the Liberal Democrats…” Not the most tactful way to write to your members

LibDemVoice Fantasy Football League: how it stands after Week 10

Eluned Parrott selected to fight Welsh Assembly Cardiff Central seat

Kramer urges Councils to make use of enhanced powers to check taxi drivers’ backgrounds

ALDC by-election report: 6th November 2014

Six months from 7th May 2015: how the polls are looking and what to look for

Here are the trends…

Opinion: A new member’s views on equality

Lynne Featherstone wins Stonewall Politician of the Year

The 3 Lib Dem party president candidates on what they’d do in my “It’s 8th May 2015” scenario

Lib Dem membership up for 15th consecutive month

Lib Dem scientists announce their ‘Team Science’ candidates

‘Drones could be used to deliver Focus leaflets’ – peer

Most Read

Op-eds

Recent Comments

Bobby Dean MP writes: The resilient state

Sarah Olney bids to become candidate for Mayor of London

Going for four in a row in Scotland

Observations of an Expat: Canada

Here are the trends…

Subscribe

Most Read

Search

Op-eds

Recent Comments