Will Crowne

The Independent View: Shareholder democracy should be for the many, not the few

By Will Crowne | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 3:28 pm

Whether it’s payday lenders or rising energy bills we’ve never been more interested in corporate behaviour. But despite the fact that through our pensions we own billions of pounds of holdings in British businesses, pension savers are shut out of the investment system and denied the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Legal & General’s decision to set up a pension fund AGM (PAGM) represents an important first step in spreading ‘shareholder democracy’ to the millions whose savings are managed through a pension fund.

Shareholder democracy means giving shareholders the rights and means to hold companies to account – making …

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The Voice

Christmas present ideas from the LDV team and friends – Day 3

By The Voice | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 2:45 pm

Welcome to Day 3 of our  series of Christmas present ideas. Today it’s the turn of Mary Reid.

Sweet-ToothSweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan has written another masterful novel, set in the murky world of MI5 in the 1970s. The outcome is actually given away in the first paragraph, but the final chapter is still surprising and revelatory. In between, we follow a young and seemingly ill-prepared recruit to the service as she is given the task of subverting a novelist. She had herself been introduced to MI5 by an older …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 6 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Clegg and Carmichael visit Glasgow helicopter crash site

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 2:12 pm

In the last hour, Nick Clegg has come to Glasgow to pay his respects at the Clutha pub site. Few people will forget the horror of Friday night’s events when a police helicopter crashed into the bar, killing nine people. He and Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael laid flowers there and read some of the other floral tributes that people have been leaving over the weekend.

I watched in shock and horror as the events unfolded on Twitter on Friday night. I was on my way home from a night out in Edinburgh, laughing and joking with friends just …

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Julian Huppert

Julian Huppert MP writes…Tackling child abuse online: Doing what works

By Julian Huppert | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 1:10 pm

Thanks to a number of national police forces, led by the Canadians, working together 341 child abusers have been arrested and almost 400 children being held as sex slaves have been freed in recent months. That is fantastic news.

However, not one of those was in Britain.

2,345 British suspects had been identified by the authorities in Toronto, some of whom are feared to have regular contact with children, and these were passed to CEOP, the specialist police centre, but astonishingly, no action was taken on our side for 18 months.

It appears that whilst the Prime Minister has a number of great …

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Martin Horwood

Martin Horwood MP writes…Putting people with disabilities into the international development picture

By Martin Horwood | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 11:59 am

One year after her appointment as the first ever Liberal Democrat minister at the Department for International Development (DfID), Lynne Featherstone has already earned a reputation for picking up difficult subjects and setting ambitious goals. In her first year, she put the issue of female genital mutilation on the national and international agenda and famously declared that she wanted to see it gone within a generation and then started to take the practical steps to make that happen.

Now Lynne has taken up another challenge for some of the world’s most vulnerable people: to champion the inclusion of people with disabilities. …

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Paul Reynolds

ALDE Congress passes UK Liberal Democrat motion calling for a halt to drone attacks

By Paul Reynolds | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 10:54 am

On 28th, 29th, and 30th Nov, the Annual Congress of European liberal parties in the European Parliament and beyond, (ALDE) met in London. The ‘pan-European’ liberal manifesto was agreed for the upcoming Euro elections, (no mean feat !), and several other resolutions were passed.

The UK Lib Dems had one motion on the agenda. This was an emergency motion on armed drone attacks, put forward following new on-the-ground data from the UN and others on civilians being killed, and following a European defence meeting which failed to address the illegality of the attacks, instead focusing on the capacity of ‘Europe’ to …

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NewsHound

Jo Swinson talks to Cosmopolitan about the gender pay gap and equality in the workplace

By NewsHound | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 9:35 am

We’ve heard a lot from Nick Clegg and Jo Swinson over the past week on one great inequality in the workplace – the rules around leave after a baby is born. Thanks to the Liberal Democrats in government, parents will soon be able to share all but the first two weeks of a year of parental leave. For me, that policy sums up what we are about. It’s liberal, it’s about allowing people to make choices that are right for them and it does sing to both stronger economy and fairer society mantras.

However, that’s not the only issue of equality …

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Mark Valladares

2013 @ALDEParty Congress: the election results

By Mark Valladares | Tue 3rd December 2013 - 8:16 am

On Saturday afternoon, despite some technical difficulties with the election equipment, Returning Officers Daniel Obst (FDP, Germany) and Mark Valladares (Liberal Democrats, UK) were able to announce the winners of the two contests as follows:

President

  • Sir Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrats, UK) – 377 votes (91%)

Vice-Presidents

  • Lousewies van der Laan (D66, Netherlands) – 389 votes (98%)
  • Marc Guerrero i Tarragó (Convergencia, Catalonia) – 378 votes (95%)
  • Olle Schmidt MEP (Folkpartiet, Sweden) – 348 votes (87%)
  • Karin Riis-Jørgensen (Venstre, Denmark) – 339 votes (85%)
  • Alexander Graf Lambsdorff MEP (FDP, Germany) –

…

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Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged | 3 Comments
Evan Harris

Opinion: Child taken from womb by social services. Really?

By Evan Harris | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 7:43 pm

Yesterday Caron Lindsay blogged on the case of what some are describing as the “Forced Caesarian and Child Abduction” case. In her article she reached certain judgments that I think displayed a degree of unjustified faith in accuracy of newspaper reports.

This is especially unwise in cases where those who are criticised can not answer back due to medical confidentiality and/or legal restrictions designed to protect the privacy of a child (and possibly the patient).

I felt the quickest way to “put the other side” is to look at and respond to some of the points made by Caron in her post.  In …

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Posted in Op-eds | 144 Comments

Opinion: Liberalism is radicalism

By Anonymous Liberal | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 5:42 pm

Though cheered by Nick Clegg’s letter on Liberal principles, I balked at being “slap, bang in the liberal centre”.

Though not his intention, “centre” always suggests equidistance between left and right. It implies reasonableness. And everyone knows politics is a contest for the centre ground. We live there. We win.
Except this conflates two unhelpful metaphors.

When Labour and Conservatives contest the centre ground it doesn’t make them Liberals. Rather they’re engaging with popular (often illiberal) sentiment, metaphorically located somewhere between them, in order to succeed electorally. If strong, they cajole that sentiment towards a programme. If weak, they appease it.

Our supposed …

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Posted in Op-eds | 30 Comments
John Whitehouse

Opinion: The Opportunity Costs of HS2

By John Whitehouse | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 4:21 pm

HS2 Brick WallToday’s publication (pdf) by the Liberal think tank Centre Forum, “Build the infrastructure: bin the wish list”, ought to make every Liberal Democrat stop and think again about the wisdom of spending £50 billion on HS2.

The report concludes that “projects must be prioritised with full consideration of opportunity costs”, saying:

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 23 Comments
The Voice

Christmas present ideas from the LDV team and friends – Day 2

By The Voice | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 2:45 pm

On this Mega Monday, here are two Christmas present suggestions from our own Nick Thornsby.

letters of arthur schlesingerThe letters of Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

Edited by his two sons, this collection of Arthur Schlesinger’s letters gives a fascinating insight into many of the key events in 20th century American history. And unlike most historians, Schlesinger often found himself mixed up in those events, particularly where they involved the Democratic party. He famously spent time working as an adviser in the JFK White House, so there is interesting material from before, during and …

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Ed Davey

Ed Davey writes… Lower energy bills – with good deal for the fuel poor, green energy and the green deal

By Ed Davey | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 12:44 pm

Energy-bills-006Energy bills are a hot political topic. Since 2005, energy bills have almost doubled at a time when many people’s incomes have barely risen. The cause of these rises has been almost entirely rising wholesale gas prices on international markets. Yet despite that and even though the cost of government policies only represents 9% on the average bill, it is right the Government has closely scrutinised our policy costs, and found a way to reduce them, to deliver an average saving of £50.

The fact we have done so whilst protecting …

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Paul Stocker

Opinion: Demonstrations in Ukraine demonstrates the importance of European unity

By Paul Stocker | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 10:33 am

Within the confines of our islands, during the protracted debates over Britain’s relationship with the EU, it is perfectly easy to forget what is patently obvious to the majority of continental Europe – European unity matters. As Ian Traynor at the Guardian has pointed out, the mass demonstrations in Ukraine show that the EU still offers hope to many on the peripheries of the continent. Indeed, it is probably extremely difficult for Nigel Farage or indeed any British Eurosceptic to understand the waving of the EU flag as an act promoting national self-determination …

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NewsHound

Liblink: Lynne Featherstone on breaking the link between violence against women and HIV

By NewsHound | Mon 2nd December 2013 - 8:27 am

The UK is supporting HIV intervention in Malawi and others must help to break this tragic cycle, say Lynne Featherstone and Annie Lennox in the Guardian.

Tears may dry in seconds. Bruises may disappear in days – and scars might eventually fade. But of all the devastating consequences of violence against women and girls, there is one lasting impact that cannot be hidden underneath clothing or concealed behind a forced smile. In sub-Saharan Africa, every minute of every day a woman becomes infected with HIV, adding to the tragic and persistent spread of the HIV/Aids epidemic.

The brutal fact is that …

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Caron Lindsay

Hemming helps woman in forced Caesarean and adoption case

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 10:10 pm

The Telegraph carries a story which should make any liberal ask a lot of questions.

To summarise, a pregnant Italian woman was sent to Stansted for a training session. She was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after becoming distressed. But worse was to come:

By now Essex social services were involved, and five weeks later she was told she could not have breakfast that day. When no explanation was forthcoming, she volubly protested. She was strapped down and forcibly sedated, and when she woke up hours later, found she was in a different hospital and that her baby had

…

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Caron Lindsay

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #355

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 355th 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 (24-30 November, 2013), 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:

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Caron Lindsay

Jo Swinson takes on Daily Mail’s Liz Jones, who thinks she shouldn’t be “procreating”

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 4:15 pm

In the faux 1950s rose tinted world of the Daily Mail, lives a columnist called Liz Jones. Her job appears to be to offend as many people as possible on a weekly basis. she’s remarkably good at it.

Today, she’s cast her net particularly wide by writing a column about shared parental leave that is guaranteed to offend all women and any man who isn’t a sexist idiot. As a sub-plot, she’s also creating division between those in society who think that tea towels should be ironed (like former Liberal Democrat co-editor and regular contributor Mark Pack who admits to …

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
Caron Lindsay

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

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 3:45 pm

Many thanks to the 14,000  visitors who dropped by Lib Dem Voice this week. Here’s our 7 most-read posts…

“Nick Clegg is an idle f****er says David Cameron” (12 comments) by The Voice

Launch of Scottish Government’s White Paper on Scottish Independence (11 comments) by Mary Reid

It’s “Immigration Hysteria Day”. Again. Here’s how Lib Dems need to respond (44 comments) by Stephen Tall

SNP’s white paper on Scottish independence: some first reaction and three initial questions from me (37 comments) by Caron Lindsay

Free school meals for infants – the controversy over Nick Clegg’s pledge rumbles on (42 …

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Posted in Site news | 2 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Christmas present ideas from the LDV team and friends…Day 1

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 2:15 pm

We are very strict at LDV Towers. There must be no mention of Christmas before 1st December, but now that we’re here, the holly, baubles and tinsel are being dusted off. Rumours that we were going to have a lights display spelling out Stronger Economy, Fairer Society have proved wide of the mark, though.

We thought we might help you with some of your Christmas shopping with a few suggestions. The first suggestion comes from Stephen Tall:

An officer and a spyBook: An officer and a spy, by Robert Harris available here.

This …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 3 Comments
The Voice

Nick Clegg’s message for World AIDS Day

By The Voice | Sun 1st December 2013 - 12:45 pm

Nick Clegg’s message for World AIDS Day reflects the National AIDS Trust’s Fact Up campaign. They want the UK to learn five facts about living with HIV in the UK. These are:

1. People living with HIV live a normal life span if diagnosed and treated in time

2. There is no job which someone can’t do specifically because they have HIV

3. Treatment can mean that people living with HIV are no longer infectious

4. Men and women living with HIV can become parents of an HIV-free baby.

5. BUT people living with HIV still face stigma and discrimination.

More information is available at HIV Aware.

Nick’s message is also available here on You Tube.

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The Voice

Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: Good news for Mums and Dads

By The Voice | Sun 1st December 2013 - 11:19 am

“Liberal Democrats will allow parents to share the allocation of maternity and paternity leave between them in whatever way suits them best.” That’s what the party’s 2010 manifesto said would happen – and this week it actually did happen. Here’s what Nick Clegg had to say about the party’s policy success…

libdem letter from nick clegg

A short one this week: just to say a huge well done to all Liberal Democrats. We’ve finally landed our flagship policy on shared parental leave.

Help us share the news about our shared parental leave!

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Caron Lindsay

Botched deportation of dying man highlights need for humanitarian overhaul of asylum system

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st December 2013 - 10:05 am

On Wednesday, Roger Roberts wrote an extremely moving article about the fate of Isa Muaza, a Nigerian asylum seeker who had been on hunger strike for 90 days in protest at the conditions in which he was being kept at an immigration detention centre. His removal from the UK, even in his frail, close to death condition, was planned for Friday morning.

Through Thursday, many of our readers signed the petition asking for Theresa May to reconsider her decision to deport Muaza. Huge effort was put in by Liberal Democrats including Sarah Teather, Julian Huppert and Tim Farron as well …

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Claire Tyler

Baroness Claire Tyler writes…A victory for public health (and cross-party working)

By Claire Tyler | Sun 1st December 2013 - 9:00 am

Moving amendments to legislation in the Lords can often feel like an interesting and worthy – but ultimately pointless – activity as often nothing changes. Not so this week!. I was one of the cross party group of peers who moved an  amendment to the Children and Families Bill last week to introduce powers to bring in regulations on standard packaging for cigarettes. My fellow peers were Ilora Finlay (crossbench), Richard Faulkner (Labour), and Ian McColl (Conservative). In the Commons it has also been genuinely cross party endeavour, the campaign being led by MPs including Paul Burstow and Stephen Williams …

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Caron Lindsay

Willie Rennie’s St Andrew’s Day Message

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 30th November 2013 - 9:58 pm

Willie Rennie had this to say on the last St Andrew’s Day before the referendum.

2014 is shaping up to be a big year for Scotland. By St Andrew’s Day next year the referendum will be done and dusted and we have big events like the Commonwealth Games to look forward to.

The referendum has dominated the headlines over the last 12 months. But whether you support keeping Scotland in a strong United Kingdom or back independence there is more that binds Scots than divides us. I think sometimes we need to take a moment to recognise the many things

…

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NewsHound

LibLink: Willie Rennie – St Andrew’s Day: A proud Scot making the positive case for remaining within the UK

By NewsHound | Sat 30th November 2013 - 7:55 pm

Over at the Endeavour Public Affairs blog, Leader of the Scottish Lib Dems Willie Rennie marks St Andrew’s Day, 30th November, by reflecting on the importance of Scottish identity … within the UK. Here’s an excerpt:

It is because I am a proud Scot that I want to see a constitutional settlement which gives us the best chance to get on in life. 2011 was the first year where the number of people aged 65 and over was higher than the number of those aged under 15. When it comes to providing stability for pensions, welfare and our economy

…

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Caron Lindsay

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #354

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 30th November 2013 - 6:47 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our belated 354th 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 (17-23 November, 2013), 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:

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Posted in Best of the blogs | 1 Comment
Newsmoggie

“Hipster” Huppert and Thurso make Parliamentary Beard of the Year shortlist

By Newsmoggie | Sat 30th November 2013 - 11:58 am

Julian Huppert, Lib Dem PPC for CambridgeJohn ThursoThe Liberal Democrats have 2 entrants in this year’s Parliamentary Beard of the Year shortlist.

Julian Huppert is described as the “rising star of hirsuteness”:

University lecturer. One of the few people in the Commons who has a clue about science. Supporter of real ale pubs. We’d be dissapointed if the MP for Cambridge didn’t have facial hair.

Flett tells us: “The Lib Dems have got the rising star of hirsuteness in Julian Huppert – it’s a

…

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Paul Stocker

Opinion: Pro-Europeans should not fear an EU Referendum

By Paul Stocker | Sat 30th November 2013 - 10:30 am

James Wharton’s EU referendum bill finally passed through the Commons on Friday. Whilst this is seen as a significant victory for the Conservative Party and indeed all Eurosceptics, there is still some way to go before a 2017 EU referendum is enshrined in law. The bill must now get through the Lords, and even Wharton seemed unconvinced that it would pass, at least not without significant amendment. However, the Tory MP for Stockton South warned the Lords, ominously stating “For an unelected House to deny the British people a say on a bill which has been passed by the …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 27 Comments
Mark Valladares

@ALDEParty Congress: making resolutions for the years ahead

By Mark Valladares | Sat 30th November 2013 - 9:46 am

Apart from the manifesto which, by its very nature is not going to be so detailed, Congress does find time to debate more specific ideas, and there are some interesting proposals on offer. The various Nordic member parties have been particularly active, and here is a quick summary of what will be debated this afternoon.

  1. Tackling the shadow economy (Keskusta, Finland) – calls for better EU-wide cooperation against tax evasion, common criteria to define tax havens and greater transparency of company registers
  2. Enhancing long term investment for SMEs (Open VLD, Belgium) – seeks dedicated EU markets for small and medium-sized enterprises, the

…

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