Paul Walter

Is it right to expand a Local Party by a third?

By Paul Walter | Fri 15th November 2013 - 1:21 pm

Following changes to the English Party’s rules regarding the formation of Local Parties, in a number of places, local Liberal Democrats are being asked to decide upon new boundaries in their area. Here, our former day editor, Paul Walter, raises some of the issues that members will need to consider.

On December 7th, Newbury local party members will have a proposed constitutional amendment before them at our AGM, which I think other local parties have also faced. If passed, this motion would expand the local party area to include the six West Berkshire Council wards (Birch Copse, Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley on …

Continue reading »
Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged and | 16 Comments
Advert
Ruth Bright

Opinion: Clegg’s big fat gypsy blunder

By Ruth Bright | Fri 15th November 2013 - 11:50 am

Once a week I stay with a relative in South London. I am not talking here about Nick Clegg’s South London (a Putney, Wimbledon or Clapham) but about a very different South London – the border between Camberwell and Peckham. The Guardian-reading euphemism would be that Camberwell and Peckham are “vibrant and diverse” places. The upshot of some of that diversity is that at all times of the night people hang around chatting in the street, especially in the summer. In a ground floor flat late at night it sometimes feels a bit intimidating. I have never talked about this …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 67 Comments
Stephen Tall

Nightmare scenarios: what are the 2015 election results the Lib Dems, Tories and Labour most dread?

By Stephen Tall | Fri 15th November 2013 - 10:05 am

clegg cameron milibandHere’s a cheerful topic for a Friday: what are the worst results you could imagine for each of the three main parties at the next general election?

Well, for the Lib Dems it’s obvious – we get mullered, reduced to 24 seats or fewer as predicted by Mori founder Bob Worcester. I don’t think things will be that bad, or anything like. For what it’s worth my current guesstimate would be in the range 35-45.

I don’t think that’s our nightmare scenario though. Don’t get me wrong, losing more …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 61 Comments
Mark Valladares

Opinion: how much is that MP really worth?

By Mark Valladares | Fri 15th November 2013 - 9:21 am

Isn’t the free market wonderful? It allows bankers to be paid vast sums of money, yet should never be applied to the public sector. After all, heaven forfend that such people should earn a salary that reflects their market value.

In the midst of the debate about MP’s and their energy bill claims, the general view appeared to be that they earn too much anyway, and that their relative wealth makes them incapable of understanding what real people go through.

But, where is the serious discussion about what represents a realistic salary for a Member of Parliament? The usual cry of, “A …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 33 Comments
Mark Valladares

Once more into the breach, dear friends: my day – 15 November

By Mark Valladares | Fri 15th November 2013 - 8:20 am

In the unexpected absence of Andy Boddington (and I do wish that it could have been otherwise), your friendly neighbourhood Readers’ Editor is standing in until someone comes forward as a volunteer (you, yes you at the back!).

So, what can you look forward to? Well, we’ve got news from last night’s four local council by-elections, some suggestions on candidate selection and how you might be involved yourself, as well as an opportunity for you to express what you expect from your MP and how much that’s worth in terms of a salary.

And who knows, a politician might do something interesting. …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Leave a comment
Advert
Helen Duffett

Sir Robert Smith MP “receiving appropriate treatment” for Parkinson’s disease

By Helen Duffett | Thu 14th November 2013 - 4:40 pm

sir Robert SmithThe BBC reports:

Sir Robert Smith, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, has been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

The 55-year-old Liberal Democrat politician was said to be receiving the “appropriate treatment”.

He has represented the constituency since 1997, and intends to continue.

Sir Robert said: “This was not easy news to receive, but it is a condition that can be managed and I plan to make the best I can of it.”

He added: “I would like to thank the medical staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for the

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged | 1 Comment
Gillian Guy

The Independent View: Judicial review changes would advance state powers at expense of individual freedom

By Gillian Guy | Thu 14th November 2013 - 3:59 pm

In its 2010 Manifesto, the Liberal Democrats pledged to ‘restore and protect hard-won British liberties’.  The Government’s consultation on judicial review, which closed this week, could result in a radical shift of power from individuals to the state. If this happens, the legal system and the people who depend on it for fair treatment will be weaker for it.

Plans from the Ministry of Justice to introduce serious restrictions on access to judicial review will make it much harder for people to challenge the execution of public power on behalf of an individual citizen.

The Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has argued that …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged , , and | 7 Comments
Robin Meltzer

Opinion: Heathrow expansion: big money versus public health

By Robin Meltzer | Thu 14th November 2013 - 2:47 pm

This week’s ‘advertorials’ from Heathrow Hub were just the latest example of the role big money plays in the so-called aviation ‘debate’ in West London.

Heathrow Hub, by the way, is not Heathrow airport. In fact the Heathrow Hub website is run by the Maitland PR firm on behalf of business men who have an option on the land around Heathrow. Heathrow’s rival PR team accuse Heathrow Hub (following so far?) of coming up with plans which fail to “provide respite from noise for local residents.” Which may well be true but would probably receive more sympathy from people in my …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 19 Comments
Eric Avebury

Lord (Eric) Avebury writes…Pakistan’s Army stands firm against the Taliban

By Eric Avebury | Thu 14th November 2013 - 10:28 am

The Pakistan Army’s Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) has condemned Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Chief Syed Munawar Hassan’s statement in which he called former Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr.

In fact, Mehsud was a mass murderer, motivated by implacable religious hatred, and his killing by a US drone on November 1 was fully deserved. Under his leadership the TTP slaughtered Pakistani soldiers and civilians, men women and children indiscriminately. He targeted Shia Muslims, of whom 700 have been killed so far this year.

The objective of the TTP is to overthrow the state of Pakistan and to replace it with …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 12 Comments
Kayte Lawton

The Independent View: Is the Coalition is doing enough to help Britain’s couple families?

By Kayte Lawton | Thu 14th November 2013 - 8:54 am

The Chancellor looks set to announce a new tax break for married couples in next month’s Autumn Statement, while universal credit continues its slow and increasingly painful roll out. Both are heralded by the Coalition as flagship policies to support families by raising incomes, helping more parents into work and promoting stable family life. In practice, neither will provide the help that Britain’s couple families need to cope with the growing pressures of time and money that push too many into poverty and put enormous strain on relationships.

A tax break for married couples has long been a core demand of …

Continue reading »
Posted in The Independent View | Tagged and | 7 Comments
NewsHound

Sir Menzies Campbell: “I may be retiring from the House of Commons, but I have no intention of retiring from politics”

By NewsHound | Wed 13th November 2013 - 7:00 pm

Menzies CampbellWe try not to link to the Daily Mail if we can possibly avoid it, but on this occasion we reckon it’s worth it on this occasion. They have a video interview with former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP from the courtyard at Buckingham Palace. He was there to be admitted to the Order of the Companions of Honour at an investiture yesterday.

He speaks about how good it was to receive the honour from Prince William who had studied at St Andrew’s University where he’s the Chancellor. He said that the Prince had talked to him about the University’s 600th anniversary celebrations which he had helped to launch. Apparently they also discussed how Prince George was sleeping more.

It’s a very special day….nothing quite prepares you for the dignity and the splendour of the ceremony.

You can see the whole thing here and a lovely picture of Sir Menzies and his wife Elspeth after the ceremony on the British Monarchy’s Flickr site here.

Sir Menzies ended his special day by giving an interview to Scotland Tonight in which he talked about his life in politics and his retirement. You can watch it here – it’s the first item on the programme.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged | Leave a comment
Norman Lamb MP

Norman Lamb MP writes…Another step forwards in achieving parity for mental health

By Norman Lamb MP | Wed 13th November 2013 - 4:40 pm

It’s a bit of a cliché to say that mental health is the Cinderella service of the NHS but it’s essentially true. There is a real institutional bias against mental health. It loses out financially when budgets are tight for local commissioners and significant advances on choice and access for patients introduced by the Labour Government left out mental health.

In the time I have available to me as Care Minister, I am determined to do everything I can to combat this and the update of the Government’s Mandate – which sets out the Government’s priorities from the NHS – published yesterday, …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 6 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Carmichael: 3 questions the SNP must answer on currency, pensions and costs after independence

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 13th November 2013 - 3:35 pm

Carmichael Inverness speech

In the beautiful surroundings of Bishop’s House in Inverness, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael gave his first keynote speech. The whole thing is published below the cut, but here are the highlights:

  • The Highlands and Islands have never been better represented in Government – a boy from Colonsay and a boy from Orkney in the Cabinet.
  • How you vote in the referendum does not determine how Scottish you are – once you start mixing patriotism and politics, you quickly get into dangerous territory.
  • The UK’s greatest hits. He said it wasn’t a list of them, but it so was. And pretty compelling, too.
  • 3 questions for the SNP:
  • What’s your Plan B if we can’t have a currency union between Scotland and the rest of the UK?
  • How much more will pensions cost us if we leave the UK?
  • How much will independence cost?

I get the feeling these 3 are the start of many. Overall, it’s a strong speech delivered with humour, passion and sharpness. He’s put the Nationalists on notice that he’s going to be very specific with them. They won’t get away with squealing about who they want to debate, or how Scottish anyone is,

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 15 Comments

Opinion: Lib Dem Voice compromised its independent voice with Heathrow sponsored post

By Andy Boddington | Wed 13th November 2013 - 3:02 pm

LDV Heathrow advertLib Dem Voice got it wrong yesterday publishing a propaganda article on behalf of Heathrow Hub. It compromised its integrity. It undermined its independent voice.

In my view, it is wrong in principle and wrong in practice to take the corporate shilling for editorial content.

The post on Lib Dem Voice yesterday came just three days into Heathrow’s big money PR offensive on “the plan for a quieter Heathrow expansion that isn’t being heard”, which began with a full page advertisement in the Sunday Times. Advertising is fine. But advertorials in a political context are not. They distort the editorial process because “he who pays the piper, calls the tune.”

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | 65 Comments
Mark Valladares

Readers’ Editor: publishing and being damned…

By Mark Valladares | Wed 13th November 2013 - 2:20 pm

It is, I suppose, an inevitability that, from time to time, an article published on a political website such as Liberal Democrat Voice will be controversial. Sometimes, the controversy is expected, occasionally it comes as a surprise.

For example, anything to do with the Israel/Palestine situation is almost certain to degenerate into an increasingly polarised slanging match, with pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian commenters quoting atrocity and counter-atrocity until the neutrals run for cover. And, if in doubt, the moderators make a good target if your comment breaches the comment policy – it’s obviously because they’re biased, right?

However, Leon Duveen’s recent piece calling …

Continue reading »
Posted in News and Site news | 8 Comments
Simon Calvert

The Independent View: Anti-Social Behaviour Bill – A new legal threat to public protest

By Simon Calvert | Wed 13th November 2013 - 12:24 pm

The Coalition Government is introducing a law which could seriously hit the right to protest. The Home Office wants to replace Labour’s ASBOs with something called an IPNA – Injunction Preventing Nuisance or Annoyance. But the threshold is so low and the safeguards are so weak that it could catch ordinary legitimate protest, charity collectors, or even street performers.

An IPNA could apply inside a private dwelling (ie your own house) as well as in a public place. It could apply to any activity which has merely the ‘potential’ to be annoying or a nuisance. Courts can grant an IPNA on …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged and | 11 Comments
Michael Moore

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore | Wed 13th November 2013 - 10:25 am

 Mike Moore rocket look of wonderment croppedLiberal Democrat MP Michael Moore writes a regular column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition. 

Apprenticeships Campaign

Over the last few months, I have been campaigning to encourage local businesses to take on apprentices. I have visited many businesses across the constituency to see how they have managed to create very successful apprenticeship schemes.

As part of this ongoing campaign to increase apprenticeships in the Borders, last week I visited Hawick Cashmere to meet the apprentices there.

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds, Parliament and Scotland | Tagged and | 1 Comment
William Powell

William Powell AM writes…How will we power Wales’ future?

By William Powell | Wed 13th November 2013 - 8:55 am

This weekend Gregynog Hall, Montgomeryshire will host the Welsh Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference for the first time in many years. This iconic setting is the perfect place to debate the policies that matter to Wales. Our Leader Kirsty Williams, Montgomeryshire Parliamentary Candidate Jane Dodds and I will be speaking, and Lord Alex Carlile will be addressing our Conference Dinner. In a real sense, it promises to be a case of Welsh Liberalism coming home.

The event will also mark the launch of the Welsh Liberal Democrat’s consultation on Energy Policy in Wales: Powering Wales’ Future.

It is no understatement to say that …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged and | 12 Comments
Stephen Tall

Should we ban opinion polls from being published in the lead-up to election day?

By Stephen Tall | Wed 13th November 2013 - 7:45 am

One-third of MPs (including a third of Lib Dem MPs) say yes – but more are opposed. At least that’s the finding of a ComRes survey of 159 MPs in the wake of the Indian Election Commission banning exit polls in the five states holding elections this month, plus a ban on any opinion polls in the final 48 hours of campaigning.

    Would you support or oppose a ban on the publication of opinion polls for a defined period prior to General Elections?

    Support
    All 30%
    Con 25%
    Lab 35%
    LibD 32%

    Oppose
    All 45%
    Con 49%
    Lab 39%
    LibD 38%

    Don’t know
    All 25%
    Con 26%
    Lab 26%
    LibD 30%

Here’s what Andrew Hawkins, chairman …

Continue reading »
Posted in Polls | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
Paul Burstow

Paul Burstow writes … we must pay greater attention to the mental health needs of children

By Paul Burstow | Tue 12th November 2013 - 5:40 pm

The recent report from the Chief Medical Officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, on children’s health makes for sobering reading. Together with warnings about a lack of physical activity, and vitamin deficiencies, the need to pay greater attention to the mental health of our children and young people came out painfully clearly.

Current estimates put the annual costs of mental health problems among children aged 5-15 at around £2.35 billion across the UK. Yet only around one in four children are receiving help from specialist services within 3 years, and, as the report’s atlas of variation reveals, access may be most …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 2 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Tim Farron “set to vote against the “Bedroom Tax” while Swales, Mulholland, R Williams and Sanders table motion against it

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 12th November 2013 - 4:24 pm

From the Guardian‘s live politics blog (3:15)

Tim Farron, the Lib Dem president, is set to vote against the government on the bedroom tax tonight, I’m told. A friend of Farron’s tells me: “Party conference in Glasgow expressed its will very strongly against the bedroom tax and so Tim is listening to party members and will probably be voting against the government tonight. Tim is the voice of the party members, they have expressed their view and Tim wants to make sure that their voice is heard.”

Here’s the motion on the bedroom tax that the Lib Dems passed at their party

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , and | 68 Comments
Stephen Lloyd

Stephen Lloyd writes… It’s all about the jobs!

By Stephen Lloyd | Tue 12th November 2013 - 3:08 pm

Stephen Lloyd with Matt Hancock MP, the Minister for Skills & Unemployment Stephen Lloyd with Matt Hancock MP, the Minister for Skills & Unemployment

The “jobs agenda” is one of the top priorities for all Liberal Democrats; whether you’re an activist on the doorstep, someone who is concerned for the future of our young people – or indeed a parliamentarian. I happen to be all three!

In Government, our party has actively pursued policies that are enabling many people to benefit from work and to a greater extent, they are working! Almost one and a half million new private sector jobs have been created; a million new apprenticeships are getting our young people into work and Liberal Democrat policies are helping businesses grow with the £3.2 billion Regional Growth Fund.

We have seen real results from core Liberal Democrat policies. The achievement I am most proud of so far is a subject I am passionate about. In fact, it is one of the issues that drew me back to politics: the dignity afforded to us by being in a job. The scar of benefit dependence that has built up over generations, alongside the apparently intractable problem of high youth unemployment, is something I have been keen to tackle, and have worked furiously on both locally in Eastbourne and nationally in Parliament.

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 8 Comments
Mary Reid

Ed Davey: Energy customers are not just cash cows

By Mary Reid | Tue 12th November 2013 - 12:39 pm

Ed Davey - Some rights reserved by Liberal DemocratsEd Davey’s speech to Energy UK today has been well trailed in the media. The headline features a much quoted soundbite: “Customers are not just cash cows to be squeezed in the pursuit of a higher return for shareholders”.

It was one of those occasions when the whole discussion took place ahead of the actual event, with Energy UK (which represents the energy industry) posting a ripost before the speech had been delivered.

Here is an extract from Ed’s speech:

We need our energy companies

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 23 Comments
Mark Valladares

Liberal Democrat Peers: they’re your secret weapon, if only you’d use them!

By Mark Valladares | Tue 12th November 2013 - 11:21 am

Last week, the outreach programme of the Parliamentary Party in the Lords moved into its next phase. There is, unfortunately, a catch, in that, through no fault of their own, the earlier phases haven’t reached quite as far as they might have hoped.

The campaign for Liberal Democrat Peers to make one thousand constituency visits before the 2015 General Election continues – Suffolk Coastal were very hospitable – but too many Local Parties seem oblivious to the possibilities that nearly one hundred (very occasionally) ermine-clad Parliamentarians, with four thousand years of service to the Party between them*, can offer. I …

Continue reading »
Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged and | 12 Comments
Heathrow Hub

Sponsored Post: The plan for a quieter Heathrow expansion

By Heathrow Hub | Tue 12th November 2013 - 9:07 am

Heathrow drives the economic competitiveness of London and the South East. Its uniquely attractive catchment area, in turn a result of Heathrow’s connectivity, results in Heathrow’s airlines flying more premium seats per aircraft than any other major hub. The Thames Valley is home to the European headquarters of ten of the top 30 global brands: an economic powerhouse dependent on access to global markets.

We at Heathrow Hub believe that our scheme has significant advantages over every other proposal under consideration.

Continue reading »
Posted in Sponsored Post | 10 Comments
Mark Pack

Opinion: Secrecy, federal committees and a lack of democracy

By Mark Pack | Tue 12th November 2013 - 8:47 am

meetingNearly all the debates about Liberal Democrat federal committees and democracy hinge on who the electorate for committee elections should be – conference reps or all party members?

However these debates miss a big problem, which is simply that the electorate, whoever it is, knows very little about the performance of incumbents. Democracy isn’t just about the right people having the vote, it’s about them being able to cast their votes in a meaningful way.

If you don’t know what people have done, it is hard to hold them to account.

Currently there …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 8 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Swinson argues against unpaid internships, Leech advertises for unpaid interns. Who’s right?

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 11th November 2013 - 5:20 pm

On the face of it, Liberal Democrats are sending out mixed messages on internships at the moment.

Jo Swinson, as employment minister, has been promoting the Government’s Pay and Rights helpline (0800 917 2368) and talking about it being appropriate to pay interns while John Leech’s office in Manchester is offering an unpaid internship proramme. This is in contrast to the party’s internship programme which is offering the National Minimum Wage.

Jo on Good Morning Scotland (from around 1:52 in) that she wanted to ensure that employers were not unwittingly or unintentionally doing the wrong thing and making sure that people …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 19 Comments
Joe Otten

John Major: Class warrior

By Joe Otten | Mon 11th November 2013 - 2:55 pm

Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major is back in the news today condemning the stranglehold on power and influence enjoyed by the elite:

In every single sphere of British influence, the upper echelons of power in 2013 are held overwhelmingly by the privately educated or the affluent middle class. To me from my background, I find that truly shocking.

This follows his unexpected intervention in the energy debate calling for a windfall tax on energy companies. In both cases Major seems to be taking on the role of Cameron’s One Nation conscience, speaking up for people in modest …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 50 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Carmichael: Don’t question my Scottishness because I say we’re stronger and safer as part of the UK

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 11th November 2013 - 1:11 pm

AlistairCarmichaelNew Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael makes his first keynote speech in the role in Inverness on Wednesday. This is a chance for Scotland to get to know him a little bit better. The Nationalists and the media have been doing all they can to portray him as some sort of political bruiser, something which is met with a mixture of bafflement and mirth within the Liberal Democrats. This, after all,  is the same Alistair Carmichael whose sharp wit has us all digging deep into our pockets at party fundraisers, whose geniality makes him one of the most popular figures in the party. Sure, he’s pithy, punchy and persuasive, but he’s also very funny and has his feet very firmly on the ground.

His speech is very personal, and comes just 6 days after Fife SNP Councillor David Alexander denounced him as a “supposed Scot”, for which, the Courier reports, he has refused to apologise and attacked the paper for bias:

However, Mr Alexander refused to withdraw his remarks, instead claiming there was a vendetta against him and branding The Courier — recently praised by SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond for its objectivity — biased.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , and | 6 Comments
NewsHound

Danny Alexander’s father criticises the Bedroom Tax

By NewsHound | Mon 11th November 2013 - 12:06 pm

From the Independent:

The father of Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has launched a scathing attack on the “bedroom tax” in the annual report of a Scottish housing association.

Di Alexander is the chair of the Lochaber Housing Association and in its annual report, he has this to say about the Bedroom Tax and other aspects of welfare reform:

The Association has also been facing up to the considerable challenges presented by Welfare Reform changes. The first of these to be implemented – the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ – is particularly unfair in that it penalises both our tenants and ourselves for

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 43 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Jason Connor
    Yes it's the upper middle classes store of choice. Not a Tescos, Aldi, Lidl or Asda even in sight...
  • Phil Wainewright
    @tony/Cumbria - As Lenin supposedly said, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen" @Graham Jeffs - The consumeri...
  • peter wrigley
    Your five points are perfectly sound , but they omit the main purpose of our party, which is surely to protect and improve Liberal Democracy both this country ...
  • David Raw
    Paul. I'm afraid you can't deny that the party of 'Middle England' is also the Waitrose party....
  • Graham Jeffs
    Phil, you are right - a twenty-five-year span. Yet having a vision with a philosophy supported by sensible policies is but part of the issue. It seems likely ...