The Voice

Lessons of Coalition (16): More shocks than lessons

By The Voice | Mon 19th August 2013 - 8:52 am

ldv coalition lessonsLibDemVoice is running a daily feature, ‘Lessons of Coalition’, to assess the major do’s and don’ts learned from our experience of the first 3 years in government. Reader contributions are welcome, either as comments or posts. The word limit is no more than 450 words, and please focus on just one lesson you think the party needs to learn. Simply email your submission to [email protected]. Today Paul Walter shares his thoughts.

These are less lessons and more shocks.

1. The robustness of the remaining Lib Dem members

I am quite shocked, or …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 16 Comments
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Caron Lindsay

Carmichael in Cameroon for two weeks of volunteering

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 18th August 2013 - 12:18 pm

AlistairCarmichaelLiberal Democrat Chief Whip swaps lurking in the shadows of Westminster for two weeks in Cameroon today.

As I write he’s in Terminal One at Heathrow waiting to catch a flight to Brussels and will land in the African country, which lies between Nigeria to the north, Equatorial Guinea to the South and the Central African Republic to the east.

Alistair is not heading to Cameroon for a holiday. He will be part of a VSO project, working for the Aide Legale Liberale, an organisation which aims to provide free legal representation for …

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Stephen Tall

Lib Dem members’ favourite political blogs ranked

By Stephen Tall | Sun 18th August 2013 - 10:45 am

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. More than 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

Guardian’s CiF tops poll: almost half Lib Dem members read it

LDV asked: Which non-Lib Dem politics blogs (if any) do you read? Please tick all that apply.
Figures compared with last time we asked this question, in September 2012.)

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged | 3 Comments
Mark Valladares

Opinion: I disagree with you. You must be stupid, incompetent or a liar…

By Mark Valladares | Sun 18th August 2013 - 9:14 am

I have to admit that, after nearly two years of being involved with Liberal Democrat Voice, I find the level of ‘debate’ a bit disheartening sometimes. Personal attack, accusations of the basest of motives on the part of the people with whom an individual disagrees, avowed certainty based on wilfully partial and selective use of the available data, all of these tend to make for a rather depressing window on what is said to represent political debate in this country. Add to that the presumption of motive on behalf of someone who is unknown to the accuser other than via …

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Posted in Something for the Weekend | Tagged and | 102 Comments
The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sat 17th August 2013 - 3:29 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:

…

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Caron Lindsay

Review: Nate Silver at the Edinburgh Book Festival

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 17th August 2013 - 11:36 am

Nate SilverNate Silver grabbed the headlines  last year when he correctly predicted the outcome of the US presidential election in all 50 states when other commentators were expecting a dead heat. Since then, he has sold his fivethirtyeight blog to ESPN and will continue to edit it, expanding it to become, he hopes, the “go to point for data driven journalists.” It will also give him the chance to  do political punditry for ABC News.

He came to the Edinburgh Book Festival earlier this week to talk about his book The …

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Stephen Tall

Gibraltar: Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson calls on EU Commission President to intervene

By Stephen Tall | Sat 17th August 2013 - 10:25 am

GibraltarSelf-determination — the right of nations to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or interference — is a pretty fundamental principle of international law.

It’s the basis on which British sovereignty in the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar is founded. 11 years ago, the people of Gibraltar were asked in a referendum if sovereignty of the territory should be shared between the UK and Spain: 98% said no.

So it’s little surprise that the past weeks’ sabre-rattling by a Spanish government desperate to distract …

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Stephen Tall

LibLink: Paul Marshall – England should run football the German way

By Stephen Tall | Sat 17th August 2013 - 9:55 am

A football groundToday is the first day of competitive action in the Premiership. To mark the occasion, The Times has published an article by Paul Marshall, ‘England should run football the German way’.

Paul is well-known in Lib Dem circles as chair of the liberal CentreForum think-tank and co-editor of The Orange Book. He’s also a passionate Manchester United supporter and was one of the so-called ‘Red Knights’ who fought for a supporter-based buy-out of the club. And his article sets out what English football needs to learn …

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Posted in LibLink | Tagged , , and | 12 Comments
Linda Jack

Opinion: It’s time to restate who we are and what we stand for

By Linda Jack | Fri 16th August 2013 - 1:01 pm

For those of you fortunate enough to be at the special conference in May 2010, you may remember my visual aid. For those fortunate enough to miss it – my point was that we had had a choice between one clapped out old guy who would never deliver and a bright young thing who was whispering sweet nothings in our ear but before we knew it would have us locked into all sorts of things that would turn our stomachs.  My visual aid?  A pair of pink fluffy handcuffs.

Unsurprisingly my view hasn’t changed, yes Stephen, the bed of roses …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 44 Comments
Stephen Tall

Just how much campaigning do Lib Dem members do?

By Stephen Tall | Fri 16th August 2013 - 11:30 am

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. More than 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

81% put in time for the party

Including campaigning, leafleting, social events, meetings and any other party activity, how much time do you think you spend on party activity in the average month?

22% – Up to 5 hours

12% – 6-10 hours

15% – 11-20 hours

12% – 21-30 hours

5% – 31-40 hours

17% – …

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Posted in LDV Members poll | 2 Comments

New Statesman staggers over Lib Dem funding

By Andy Boddington | Fri 16th August 2013 - 10:57 am

In a staggering piece on the New Statesman website today, blogger George Eaton – writing The Staggers column – claims that the Lib Dem’s “mounting debts” will force the party to end the coalition ahead of the 2015 general election. Really?

The argument is presented that because the party is running a deficit, it cannot fight the election without the Short Money paid to opposition parties. Really?

The source of this idea appears to be “several in Westminster” – not necessarily Lib Dems, or even people who are well informed.

The author seems not to recognise the absurdity – in public …

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Ian Hurdley

Opinion: Voters don’t understand coalition government

By Ian Hurdley | Fri 16th August 2013 - 10:06 am

Reading the flood of negative comments which greet any mention of the Lib Dems in social media or the press, a small number of themes occur over and over again. The “broken promise on tuition fees” is always well represented, and I hope that we have learned the necessary lessons from that one.

Other common complaints, point to a fundamental lack of understanding of what coalition government involves and how it functions. If we don’t confront this directly and forcefully between now and May 2015, we are simply storing up trouble for ourselves in the event of another hung parliament.

The recurring …

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Posted in News | Tagged | 34 Comments
Laura Willoughby

Opinion: Rewarding marriage – with less than the cost of the cake…

By Laura Willoughby | Fri 16th August 2013 - 9:03 am

There must be better ways for Liberals to support families that the marriage tax allowance.

Politics has always been about compromise and pragmatism and in a coalition Government we are seeing the impact of this in a very public and often painful way. For every moment of joy there are two where I want to bury my head in my hands and weep for the future of liberalism.Don't Judge

Whether we like it or not the coalition agreement set out a commitment to introducing a married couples’ tax allowance. I don’t know what the logic was at the time for agreeing such an obviously un-liberal and expensive gesture. I hope that what we gained outweighs the feeling of nausea that this policy gives me.

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Nick T

Immigration, Asylum and Identity consultation paper now available

By Nick T | Thu 15th August 2013 - 5:34 pm

The working group focusing on the party’s policies on immigration, asylum and identity, chaired by Andrew Stunell MP, has just released its consultation paper ahead of next month’s conference.

The paper’s introduction sets out its aims thus:

1.1.1 The policy working group Immigration, Asylum & Identity aims to craft a practical, liberalpolicy which rebuilds public confidence in an immigration system that should be robust, efficient,and fair.

1.1.2 This consultation paper focuses on the future of migration as it affects the UK, theoperation of the asylum process in the context of our obligations under international law, and theintegration of immigrant communities and new citizens

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Stephen Tall

Nick’s Letter from the Leader: what Lib Dem members think of them

By Stephen Tall | Thu 15th August 2013 - 3:15 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. More than 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

50% of Lib Dem members say Leaders’ Letter is effective — but with concerns about its tone

It’s nine months since Nick Clegg began sending a weekly email to party members, or indeed anyone who signs up at www.libdememails.co.uk/nick. Do you read them — and, if yes, what do you make of them?

Do you read Nick Clegg’s weekly …

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Tagged | 3 Comments
The Voice

Sir Menzies Campbell says Egypt violence must end after “barbaric” events

By The Voice | Thu 15th August 2013 - 2:14 pm

In an interview with the BBC News Channel, Sir Menzies Campbell said that the international community, led by the US, should work to bring an end to the violence in Egypt. He described yesterday’s events as barbaric.

He said that the US was best placed to use its leverage, based on its funding to the Egyptian army, to initiate the process towards a sustainable political settlement. While in the long term there were strong arguments for those funds to be reduced, doing so at the moment might do more harm than good as it would remove the ability to set conditions.

He …

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Caron Lindsay

Rennie: “Everyone who believes in robust defence of our shores should think carefully before backing independence”

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 15th August 2013 - 1:02 pm

Today’s Guardian reports that if Scotland votes for independence, the new Scottish Government might have difficulty joining NATO:

It is understood that Nato officials said it might be possible to allow Scotland to start fast-track talks – but in a blow to Salmond’s anti-nuclear strategy, the Scottish delegation was also told that no new member would be allowed to join Nato if that state had unresolved military or territorial disputes with other countries.

Under article 10 of the Nato treaty, one assistant general secretary of Nato said at the meeting on 6 July, new applicants also have

…

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Caron Lindsay

A Level Results: are we too university focused?

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 15th August 2013 - 11:35 am

Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, A level students find out their results today. Will their grades be enough to get them into the university course that they want? For those who don’t, it’s likely that they’ll feel that their whole lives have been blighted and their opportunities for career success blighted. This is because we have come to equate success with a university education when in fact there are many other routes to a happy, fulfilling, lucrative career. Do we put too much pressure on our children to go to university?

Christine Jardine, former Special Adviser to Nick Clegg and …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , and | 23 Comments
Duncan Hames MP

Help develop Party policy in two new working groups

By Duncan Hames MP | Thu 15th August 2013 - 10:22 am

The party’s Federal Policy Committee has recently decided to commission policy working groups on the implications of an ageing society (to be chaired by Paul Burstow MP) and on equalities (covering all the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act).

These groups will be writing policy papers intended for debate at the party’s Autumn 2014 conference and will need to start work as soon as possible.

We are very dependent on the voluntary efforts of our members to bring their time, fresh ideas and clear thinking to our policy working groups.

I’d like members, especially those who can often be …

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Posted in News and Party policy and internal matters | Tagged | 1 Comment
Mark Valladares

House of Lords: only slightly larger but much more active

By Mark Valladares | Wed 14th August 2013 - 5:21 pm

House of LordsFor all of the brouhaha about stuffing the Lords, it is interesting to note that, despite what many might think, the number of Peers on the ‘active list’, i.e. not on leave of absence, disqualified or retired, hasn’t increased that much. After all, Peers die, often surprisingly unnoticed. They get old – the average age is already 69 – or sick. But the place definitely seems more crowded, as many Peers noted during the debate on Lords reform last year.

Conveniently, the House of Lords newsletter for members, ‘Red Benches’, …

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Posted in News | Tagged | 2 Comments

Opinion: Paxman, politics and pogonophobia

By Andy Boddington | Wed 14th August 2013 - 3:32 pm

Bearded Nick Clegg

Oh what a fuss about a beard!

The media has gone mad over Jeremy Paxman’s beard, egged on a ‘Twitter storm’ last night. Even the BBC has got in on the act, declaring its presenter’s beard to be ‘notorious’.

What is it about beards that generate such interest, dislike, even fear? (This fear, the media tell us with glee, is properly called pogonophobia.)

Distrust of beards is nothing new. I grew mine the moment I escaped from sixth form. As an archaeologist, being hirsute was pretty much obligatory for men in those days. But when I led a dig for a county council, the head of personnel laughed out loud at the ‘odd habit’ of us diggers growing facial hair.

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Posted in Humour and Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 15 Comments
Mark Valladares

Joan Edwards’ bequest: the dangers of 24/7 news and how we respond to it

By Mark Valladares | Wed 14th August 2013 - 2:20 pm

Zhou EnlaiWhen asked about the impact of the French Revolution, Zhou Enlai was said to have suggested that it was “too early to tell”. Admittedly, he was apparently referring to the 1968 riots, rather than the original, but it was the response of someone who saw politics as a long game.
 
With 24/7 rolling news, it would seem that such a perspective is in danger of being lost forever. In just twenty-four hours, the Joan Edwards legacy story appears to have gone from curiosity to scandal and back.
 
Yesterday, news broke that a …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 121 Comments
Stephen Tall

Joan Edwards’ solicitors state her wishes were “specifically checked”: she wanted bequest to go to parties

By Stephen Tall | Wed 14th August 2013 - 2:00 pm

Another twist to add to the tale of Joan Edwards’ bequest. After the furore whipped-up by today’s Daily Mail, the Lib Dems and Conservatives had little choice but to renounce the cash. But it turns out that, by doing so, the donor’s actual wishes may well have been denied. Here’s the statement from her solicitors, Davis Woods, executors of Miss Edwards’ estate:

We confirm that we act as executors of the late Joan Edwards.

The Will was drafted by a solicitor at Davis Wood in 2001.

At the time of the instructions received from the late Miss Edwards, the solicitor specifically

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , , and | 19 Comments
Rebecca Taylor

Obituary: Brian Taylor

By Rebecca Taylor | Wed 14th August 2013 - 12:21 pm

Brian, Susan and Rebecca Taylor Brian, Susan and Rebecca TaylorBrian Harry Taylor, long serving stalwart of Bromley and Chislehurst Liberal Democrats, died peacefully in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle on Monday 12 August aged 93.

Born in Putney, London in 1919, Brian’s political sentiments were first aroused against the Blackshirts and their targeting of Jewish immigrants in the East End of London in the 1930s. He joined the Bermondsey branch of the Communist Party in 1937, but was always more of an anti-fascist than a communist. He left the Communist Party in 1939 in …

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Posted in Obituaries | 18 Comments
Stephen Tall

++ Lib Dems to give party’s share of Miss Joan Edwards’ bequest to government (UPDATED)

By Stephen Tall | Wed 14th August 2013 - 11:05 am

Here’s the breaking news…

The decision was inevitable, given the furore triggered by the Daily Mail’s story this morning. However, let’s be clear. The implication of the Mail’s story — that the Lib Dems tried somehow to swindle a spinster out of her legacy — is wrong, pure and simple.

It suits the cynical anti-politics zeitgeist, but the decision was that of Miss Edwards’ executors, her solicitors. The Lib …

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Posted in News | 48 Comments
Norman Baker MP

Norman Baker: something to get people out of their cars and on their bikes

By Norman Baker MP | Wed 14th August 2013 - 10:19 am

bicycle route signYesterday the Coalition Government announced a dramatic boost to cycling funding, reaffirming our commitment to promote safer cycling and to get more people to switch from four wheels to two.

As the Lib Dem Transport Minister, I have worked hard to champion cycling within government and to increase investment in its infrastructure. I am delighted that we have now announced the biggest ever single cash injection for cycling funding in England. We are spending nearly £150 million to make cycling easier and safer.

Our party has long recognised the overwhelmingly positive …

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Posted in News | Tagged , and | 9 Comments
Stephen Tall

Je ne regrette rien? Would Lib Dem members have voted for Coalition knowing what we know now?

By Stephen Tall | Wed 14th August 2013 - 8:15 am

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. More than 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

Since the Coalition began, I’ve been asking the question about whether members support the party being in coalition with the Conservatives. Pretty consistently, across 16 separate surveys, around 80% have said yes. But I realise this question is, to some extent, skewed by the fact that we are where we are. Some members who are deeply unhappy with the …

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Posted in LDV Members poll | 11 Comments
Stephen Tall

Daily Mail accuses “grasping politicians of pocketing spinster’s £500,000 legacy”. Let’s have some facts first, please.

By Stephen Tall | Wed 14th August 2013 - 8:00 am

mail grasping politicians front page - 14 aug 13This morning’s Mail Online has a shocking headline: Grasping politicians pocket spinster’s £500,000 legacy she bequeathed to government to spend ‘as they may think fit’. The newspaper’s front page also splashes on the story (right).

This follows the story we reported here yesterday of Miss Joan Edwards, who had apparently bequeathed £520k to the two Coalition partners as the current governing parties. This was divided 80:20 between them, with the Lib Dems getting almost £100k.

The Mail disputes that interpretation, asserting instead that she intended to leave the money as a bequest to the nation. They say the will’s wording was not (as claimed in newspaper reports yesterday) for the money to be passed “to whoever was the party of government of the day” but that it should be passed to “whichever Government is in office at the date of my death”. On that basis, the paper accuses the Conservatives and Lib Dems of deception bordering on fraud.

My Twitter timeline today suggests two things. First, everyone believes the Daily Mail when it suits them. Secondly, that there are a surprising number of people who think they’re experts on legacy bequests.

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Caron Lindsay

Reminder: 10 days to get your nominations in for the Liberal Democrat Voice Awards

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 13th August 2013 - 7:55 pm

Last week, I introduced this year’s Liberal Democrat Voice Awards and invited you to submit your nominations by Friday 23rd August.

This is just a reminder to you. We’ve already had a fair few nominations, but there’s plenty room for more, so send your suggestions to [email protected] as soon as you can. Please also feel free to publicise the awards on your own blog or via social media. In the olden days, before I was a member of the team, I used to do posts about the bloggers I’d be nominating.

This year’s awards are as follows:

  • Liberal Democrat Blog of the

…

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Posted in Best of the blogs, Conference and News | Tagged , and | Leave a comment
Caron Lindsay

Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #338

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 13th August 2013 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 338th 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 (4-10 August, 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 | Leave a comment
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