Liberal Democrat Voice

LibLink: Mark Pack: Less legislation? Yes please

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 28th January 2014 - 1:35 pm

Over at the Huffington Post, Mark Pack has been waging a war on “Initiativeitis”:

Initiativeitis – an ugly word for a regrettable phenomena. It is an often-criticised habit of government ministers of all parties always to be touting a new initiative backed up by a new piece of legislation in order to look like they are working hard and making a difference.

Yet speak to those who work in the frontline in public services, and complaints about too many new initiatives coming down from on high are widespread – again, regardless of which party is in government.

While political commentators may criticise a …

Posted in LibLink | Tagged huffington post, legislation, Mark Pack and queen's speech | 3 Comments

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Statement by Maajid Nawaz and Mohammed Shafiq

By The Voice | Tue 28th January 2014 - 12:10 pm

Maajid Nawaz, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn and Mohammed Shafiq, member of the Liberal Democrats, have released a joint statement:

“We wish to make a statement about the recent concern expressed over issues related to conflicting views on depictions of Prophet Muhammad.

“We recognise that, when it comes to this question, some Muslims of various persuasions may take different views. However, we also recognise that there are many Muslims who have taken offence, and we assert that images of the spiritual leaders of all religions should be deemed to be respectful. We also respect the freedom …

Posted in News | 49 Comments

“A wake-up call on mental illness”

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 28th January 2014 - 10:40 am

Sarah Chisnall is a Scottish public affairs consultant and mental health campaigner. She’s also married to Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West Mike Crockart.

On Sunday, she wrote a powerful piece for Scotland on Sunday talking about her experience of living with Bulimia and Depression and how she pledged to speak out to tackle the stigma attached to mental illness.

The stigma surrounding mental illness prevents us from speaking out to family, friends, let alone the wider world. I have always worried what friends might think and how it could affect my career or that of my husband, Mike Crockart, who is

…

Posted in News | Tagged mental health, nick clegg, norman lamb, sarah chisnall and scotland on sunday | 4 Comments

A longer read: Vince Cable on ‘Recovery and Beyond’

By The Voice | Tue 28th January 2014 - 10:20 am

‘UK economy growing at fastest rate since 2007’ is the BBC headline this morning, following the release of the latest GDP figures showing 0.7% growth in the fourth quarter of 2013, bringing the annual growth rate to 1.9%.

Last night, Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable delivered a major speech to the Royal Economic Society assessing the current state of the economy – and in particular how the current growth figures can be sustained in the long-term. There will be lots of glib sound-bites today from politicians and pundits trying to make the facts fit their outlook. As ever, …

Posted in News | Tagged economy and vince cable | 7 Comments

Lib Dems on the front page. Don’t worry, this time it’s for our tax policies

By Stephen Tall | Tue 28th January 2014 - 9:10 am

“Lib Dems declare war on rich” is the hyperbolic front page of today’s Independent.

It’s tagged ‘exclusive’ though the article – which you can read here – seems to be reporting Lib Dem policy as approved by the party’s September 2013 conference – namely: (1) Introduce a Mansion Tax, applicable at 1% on the value of a residential property in excess of £2 million; and (2) Cap the lifetime limit for which tax relief is available on pension contributions at £1 million. (Flick to page …

Posted in News | Tagged fairer taxes and the independent | 11 Comments

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Portsmouth Lib Dems seek new candidate while MP Mike Hancock suspended by party

By The Voice | Tue 28th January 2014 - 8:35 am

We reported last Friday the news that Mike Hancock, the MP for Portsmouth South who resigned the Lib Dem whip last year to contest allegations of sexual assault against him, had won the backing of Portsmouth Lib Dems.

However, the local party has since confirmed it will be pushing ahead with selecting a candidate for the 2015 election. With Mike Hancock currently suspended by the national party, he will be unable to put himself forward for re-selection. In short, he has been de-selected as a Lib Dem MP (unless his suspension is lifted).

Local party chair Simon Dodds …

Posted in News | Tagged eleanor scott, gerard vernon-jackson, mike hancock and portsmouth | 3 Comments

Opinion: Go for a freefall nuclear force

By Toby Fenwick | Mon 27th January 2014 - 3:50 pm

Former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates recently decried the UK’s conventional force cuts making it clear that the UK’s ability to conduct global operations as a major US partner would be threatened. In doing so, Gates was pointing out the obvious implications of the Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Houghton’s December speech at the Royal United Services Institute.

I was therefore heartened by Sir Nick Harvey’s recent LDV post, where he accepts that the conventional force cuts will constrain the international role to which he aspires. He then logically makes the …

Posted in Op-eds | 27 Comments

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

By The Voice | Mon 27th January 2014 - 1:55 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 10 days:

TOPIC

Cowdenbeath by election

Mohammed Shafiq on Maajid Nawaz

Victory for Hemming over Family Court secrecy

Inside Harriet Harman’s Head

Another …

Posted in Site news | Leave a comment

Ed Davey writes… Power to the people

By Ed Davey | Mon 27th January 2014 - 12:01 pm

For those of you old enough to remember, ‘Power to the People’ was the battle cry of ‘Wolfie Smith’, Robert Lindsay’s character in the BBC sitcom ‘Citizen Smith’. The running joke of the series was that while he had radical and revolutionary ideas, the delivery side was left somewhat lacking.

What I’ve announced today is both radical and sets out how community energy will be delivered. Astonishingly, it’s Britain’s first ever community energy strategy and will empower …

Posted in Op-eds | 23 Comments

Lib Dems select local Councillor Mary Di Mauro to stand in Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election

By The Voice | Mon 27th January 2014 - 11:08 am

Local Liberal Democrats have tonight (Sunday January 26th) selected Northenden Councillor Mary Di Mauro to be the Liberal Democrat Candidate in the by-election following the death of Labour MP Paul Goggins.

Mary was a secondary school teacher for ten years. She lives in Northenden village with her husband and two children. Mary has represented Northenden ward on Manchester City Council since 2010.

Mary Di Mauro said: “I am very proud to have been selected to fight Wythenshawe and Sale East for the Liberal Democrats in the by-election. I have lived locally for 20 years and have always stood up for …

Posted in News | 10 Comments

Opinion: Lessons from 1979

By Mark Pack | Mon 27th January 2014 - 8:32 am

Leaving through some kindly donated old copies of Liberator from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, there is a distinct sense of déjà vu. Calls to revive Community Politics. Urgent pleas to reinvent liberalism for a modern age. Complaints about how the English Party is run. Provocative comments from Simon McGrath triggering hostile rejoinders. (Although it did amuse me to find that one passionate argument against the party ending up a centre-right pro-capitalism outfit came from one Gavin Grant.)

Some of the issues covered have been lost in the gaps of history. Others are still very …

Posted in Op-eds | 30 Comments

Former MSP John Farquhar Munro dies at 79

By The Voice | Sun 26th January 2014 - 8:17 pm

John Farquhar Munro, who represented Ross, Skye and Inverness West in the Scottish Parliament from its creation in 1999 until he stood down in 2011 has died at his home at the age of 79.

He was never shy about speaking his mind and voting against the rest of the Liberal Democrat group when he felt it necessary.

Scottish Leader Willie Rennie, who knew him well from the early days of when he was our Chief of Staff in the Parliament paid a warm tribute to him:

John F was a canny, crafty Highlander who calmly asserted his place in the political world. His roots in crofting and the west Highlands gave the strength and depth to endure the trials of politics.

Delivering the right status for Gaelic, protecting crofting and abolishing the Skye bridge tolls are just a few of his many achievements in public life.

His character and personality attracted friends from across politics.

Our thoughts are with his wife Celia, who was a tower of strength in all he did, and all his friends and family.

Posted in News | Tagged john farquhar munro, MSPs and Scotland | 5 Comments

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #362

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 26th January 2014 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 362nd 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 (19-, 25 January 2014), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, 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 | 1 Comment

Marriage tax breaks: Lib Dem members oppose Conservative plans by 62% to 22%

By Stephen Tall | Sun 26th January 2014 - 3:44 pm

Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 750 party members responded – thank you – and we’ve been publishing the full results.

(There were a couple of results I ran out of time to publish during the Christmas holiday period – I’ll be publishing them this week.)

Lib Dems oppose married couple tax-breaks by 62% to 22%

The tax break for married couples and civil partners was a Conservative election pledge that has lain dormant during Coalition. Not because of Lib …

Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged david cameron, free school meals, george osborne, marriage tax break and nick clegg | 2 Comments

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

By The Voice | Sun 26th January 2014 - 1:15 pm

Many thanks to the 21,900 visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

We should support Lib Dem candidate Maajid Nawaz in the face of death threats (134 comments) by Stephen Tall

Internal investigation in to Lord (Chris) Rennard: new statement issued by Alistair Webster QC (37 comments) by The Voice

Opinion: What does bringing the party into disrepute mean? (110 comments) by David Howarth

Tim Farron’s email to Lib Dem members explaining the suspension of Lord Rennard (62 comments) by The Voice

Suspension of Lord Rennard (29 comments) by The Voice

QC’s report into …

Posted in Best of the blogs and Site news | Leave a comment

Jane Merrick: “How we can all stop worrying and learn to love the Lib Dems..”

By The Voice | Sun 26th January 2014 - 11:28 am

We haven’t seen many nice things written about Liberal Democrats in the last couple of weeks. However, in today’s Independent, Jane Merrick outlines reasons that we can be cheerful.

First she describes what a Liberal Democrat MP overheard on a train from two people talking about the party:

The MP (who was relieved to be unrecognised by his fellow commuters) listened as these two seasoned observers took apart the Lib Dems. One of the men said: “They’re always in trouble, aren’t they?” “Yeah, there was that bloke with the dog,” the other chipped in. “Who was that one who, you know

…

Posted in News | Tagged independent, jane merrick, liberal democrat achievements in government and reasons to love the liberal democrats | 46 Comments

Opinion: Football, Freedom of Speech and the Y-word

By Paul Head | Sun 26th January 2014 - 10:20 am

In the last few days, the Crown Prosecution Service has taken the decision to charge three Tottenham Hotspur supporters with “using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour”. The charges relate to the use of the word “Yid” by the fans.

The decision to charge the fans should be a cause of major concern to anyone who values freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

For those unaware of the history and context behind the use of the word by Spurs fans, it’s worth a quick …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged crown prosecution service, featured, football, spurs and tottenham hotspur | 26 Comments

LibLink: Sarah Ludford MEP: Despite their claim to be a libertarian party, UKIP have a shocking record on LGBT rights

By NewsHound | Sun 26th January 2014 - 9:19 am

Over at the Huffington Post, Sarah Ludford MEP has been looking at UKIP’s record on LGBT rights.

She first shows that they really don’t get it:

On the Ukip website, it states “As a libertarian party, we are entirely at ease with their (LGBTI community) choice and wish all of them well.” I question the appropriateness of this folksy language and the implication that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, particularly considering that LGBTI citizens continue to be the target of around 100 hate crimes per week. But even if it was well intentioned, why then do we consistently hear voices from

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged LGBT rights, sarah ludford and the huffington post | 12 Comments

In the next month 15 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

By Stephen Tall | Sat 25th January 2014 - 8:24 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. They include one of the seats highest on the party’s top target list, Camborne & Redruth.

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

Posted in Selection news | Leave a comment

Danny Alexander: Labour will deliver less for working people than Liberal Democrats

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 25th January 2014 - 4:18 pm

So, Ed Balls has been laying out his vision for the economy. A surplus by 2020? Really? From Labour? They seem to be trying to make out that they can be trusted with our purse strings after all, despite all the evidence to the contrary that we’ve seen any time they’ve been in government in my lifetime.

The measure getting all the headlines is the fact that they are going to restore the 50p tax rate that was in place for all of a month of their 13 year term in office. It’s worth remembering that their top rate of …

Posted in News | Tagged Danny Alexander, economy, ed balls and taxation | 44 Comments

Lib Dem peer Lord Shipley to work with Heseltine on Local Growth Deals

By The Voice | Sat 25th January 2014 - 12:05 pm

Lib Dem peer Lord (John) Shipley, the former Leader of Newcastle City Council, is to join forces with Lord (Michael) Heseltine in supporting negotiations for Local Growth Deals with Local Enterprise Partnerships. The announcement was made by Nick Clegg – here’s the press release with further detail:

The government has committed to negotiating deals with all 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in England, devolving power and accountability to local areas to drive economic growth, and providing opportunities for local business and civic leaders to set out their priorities for growth in their areas.

Under the deals, LEPs will be integral in

…

Posted in News | Tagged john shipley, local growth deals, michael heseltine and newcastle | 1 Comment

Syria: Clegg continues to push for UK to take refugee responsibilities seriously

By The Voice | Sat 25th January 2014 - 10:43 am

Syria has once again returned to the headlines this week, with the warring parties in the country’s civil war beginning formal peace talks in Geneva amid allegations that the Assad regime has systematically tortured and executed about 11,000 detainees since the start of the uprising.

Nick Clegg has, The Guardian reported, been making the case for the UK to take its international responsibilities seriously and join a UN scheme to take a limited number of refugees from Syria:

A source close to the deputy PM said: “Nick Clegg has been arguing for weeks in government that Britain should consider

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged nick clegg and syria | 5 Comments

Mike Hancock: Portsmouth Lib Dems issue statement

By The Voice | Fri 24th January 2014 - 11:32 pm

We reported on Wednesday that the Lib Dems had suspended Mike Hancock’s party membership following the leaking of a report commissioned by Portsmouth City Council into allegations of sexual assault against the MP who is a also a councillor.

Tonight Portsmouth Liberal Democrats have issued this statement:

We have today been made aware that Liberal Democrat HQ has received a complaint about Mike Hancock and has, pending investigation of that report, suspended Mike Hancock’s membership of the party.

There is an ongoing civil court case on the issues raised in the complaints to Portsmouth City Council and to the Lib

…

Posted in News | Tagged mike hancock, nigel pascoe, portsmouth and portsmouth council | 16 Comments

Opinion: The male voice on Female Genital Mutilation

By Rob Parsons | Fri 24th January 2014 - 5:19 pm

Please note that the second paragraph of this article contains some graphic details of the procedure of FGM which some people might find distressing.

I’m very glad to see Liberal Democrats at the forefront of the drive to rid this country and the world of female genital mutilation (FGM), one of the most horrible expressions of male power over the female. The debate about it, around the world, as well as in this country, is often blurred by comparisons with male circumcision, which many people also campaign against actively (and in my view rightly). When the topic of FGM comes …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged equality and female genital mutilation | 79 Comments

LibLink: Vince Cable: Baroness Shirley Williams, the Lib Dem peer who defined British public life

By NewsHound | Fri 24th January 2014 - 2:21 pm

Over at the New Statesman, Vince Cable has been reviewing Mark Peel’s new biography of Shirley Williams.

He starts off by expressing annoyance at the conclusion – and quite rightly, too, given her major contribution to national and international life over 6 decades:

She is, of course, approachable, informal, engaging and whatever else “nice” means. But “niceness” is also a dismissive put down, as in William Hague’s comment in an Oxford Union debate (quoted as the punchline of the introduction): “In politics, Mrs Williams, it isn’t enough to be nice.” And it misses the essential point, that she is an extremely interesting

…

Posted in LibLink | Tagged mark peel, new statesman, shirley williams and vince cable | 5 Comments

Sarah Ludford MEP writes…Being “In” Europe crucial for jobs and living standards

By Sarah Ludford | Fri 24th January 2014 - 1:00 pm

When the Liberal Democrats say we’re the party of ‘In’, it’s not because we worship symbolically at the altar of EU institutions. It’s because being In Europe is vital to achieve real policy goals, of which the most immediately important is jobs in Britain. This is the clear message coming from major employers, like Ford, Nissan, Siemens and BAE Systems, which have all warned against pulling Britain out of Europe.

According to a recent YouGov poll 6% of British companies said they would go out of business if we left the EU. This translates into almost 10,000 firms closing and 300,000 people being out …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged #whyiamIN and eu | 26 Comments

Lynne Featherstone writes… Lib Dem action on tax helps to ease the cost of living

By Lynne Featherstone | Fri 24th January 2014 - 11:55 am

International Development minister Lynne Featherstone writes a monthly column for one of her local newspapers. Here is the latest one…..

There are so many perks of living in Haringey – vibrant high streets, good transport links, wonderful parks and views – to name but a few!

But on the downside, our bin collections, roads and other public services are notoriously bad. Haringey Council – which is run by Labour – has been rated the worst in London.

Week in, week out, Haringey Labour seem to lurch from one crisis to another. They failed to meet their own targets for making our local …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged cost of living | 15 Comments

The Independent View: Vince Cable should make sure all companies are bound by new transparency law

By Richard Dyer | Fri 24th January 2014 - 10:45 am

Consider this question – what is the difference between a T-shirt from Tesco and one from TopShop? Lib Dems will undoubtedly have their own style preferences.

But for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Minister Vince Cable there’s an important distinction. Cable is seeking to weaken proposed EU rules that would require companies to report annually on risks their operations pose to communities and the natural world, such as accidents, pollution and human rights. The new non-financial reporting directive could be a game-changer on a path towards more sustainable production.

It should ensure that a firm like Tesco, as a large …

Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged company transparency, eu and friends of the earth | 2 Comments

Cowdenbeath by-election and local election results

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 24th January 2014 - 9:21 am

The Cowdenbeath by-election result is in. From The Courier:

Alex Rowley (Lab) 11,192 (share 55.79%, +9.33%)
Natalie McGarry (SNP) 5,704 (28.43%, -13.17%)
Dave Dempsey (C) 1,893 (9.44%, +2.45%)
Denise Baykal (UKIP) 610 (3.04%)
Jade Holden (LD) 425 (2.12%, -1.77%)
Stuart Graham (Victims) 187 (0.93%)
James Trolland (SDA) 51 (0.25%)

In a result that should surprise nobody, Labour scores a big win in its heartland on a pretty low turnout of 34%. We lost our deposit, which was also, to be honest, eminently predictable. Cowdenbeath is not what you would call the most fertile Liberal Democrat territory at even the best of times. We don’t have a local …

Posted in News | Tagged by-election results, cowdenbeath by-election, elections and jade holden | 39 Comments

Do we need to start educating Scotland’s primary school children about their rights?

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 23rd January 2014 - 5:21 pm

Shocking figures show that police in Scotland have stopped and searched 750,000 people in the last year. The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research report also found that 500 children under 10 were stopped and searched in 2010 alone. This has caused concern from human rights and children’s organisations.

Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner, Tam Baillie, writing in the Herald said:

On any reading, it is clear that young people are being targeted and there will be times when their rights are being infringed.

In a the country that claims to be committed to children’s rights and wants to be the best

…

Posted in News | Tagged civil liberties, Scotland and stop and search | 5 Comments

Op-eds

Lib Dems need a 25-year vision that sets out how we’ll change Britain (Phil Wainewright)
Observations of an ex pat: Kompromat (Tom Arms)
A different story of hope for Liberalism in the 21st Century (Steve Mason)
Victoria Collins MP writes.. The ask that changes everything (Victoria Collins MP)
The Independent View: To get Britain growing again, we must cut the cost of doing business (Shevaun Haviland CBE)

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Victoria Collins MP writes.. The ask that changes everything

To get Britain growing, we must cut business costs

Bobby Dean MP writes: The resilient state

Sarah Olney bids to become candidate for Mayor of London

LibLink: Mark Pack: Less legislation? Yes please

Statement by Maajid Nawaz and Mohammed Shafiq

“A wake-up call on mental illness”

A longer read: Vince Cable on ‘Recovery and Beyond’

Lib Dems on the front page. Don’t worry, this time it’s for our tax policies

Portsmouth Lib Dems seek new candidate while MP Mike Hancock suspended by party

Opinion: Go for a freefall nuclear force

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

Ed Davey writes… Power to the people

Lib Dems select local Councillor Mary Di Mauro to stand in Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election

Opinion: Lessons from 1979

Former MSP John Farquhar Munro dies at 79

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #362

Marriage tax breaks: Lib Dem members oppose Conservative plans by 62% to 22%

Lib Dems oppose married couple tax-breaks by 62% to 22%

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

Jane Merrick: “How we can all stop worrying and learn to love the Lib Dems..”

Opinion: Football, Freedom of Speech and the Y-word

LibLink: Sarah Ludford MEP: Despite their claim to be a libertarian party, UKIP have a shocking record on LGBT rights

In the next month 15 seats will short-list their wannabe Lib Dem MPs

Danny Alexander: Labour will deliver less for working people than Liberal Democrats

Lib Dem peer Lord Shipley to work with Heseltine on Local Growth Deals

Syria: Clegg continues to push for UK to take refugee responsibilities seriously

Mike Hancock: Portsmouth Lib Dems issue statement

Opinion: The male voice on Female Genital Mutilation

LibLink: Vince Cable: Baroness Shirley Williams, the Lib Dem peer who defined British public life

Sarah Ludford MEP writes…Being “In” Europe crucial for jobs and living standards

Lynne Featherstone writes… Lib Dem action on tax helps to ease the cost of living

The Independent View: Vince Cable should make sure all companies are bound by new transparency law

Cowdenbeath by-election and local election results

Do we need to start educating Scotland’s primary school children about their rights?

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Victoria Collins MP writes.. The ask that changes everything

To get Britain growing, we must cut business costs

Bobby Dean MP writes: The resilient state

Sarah Olney bids to become candidate for Mayor of London

Lib Dems oppose married couple tax-breaks by 62% to 22%

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