Caron Lindsay

Jenny Willott MP “thrilled” at equal marriage vote

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 6th February 2013 - 12:41 pm

Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, has confirmed in a statement on her website  that she would have voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill had she been able to be in Parliament yesterday. She is currently on maternity leave.

She said:

I am currently on maternity leave so was unable to vote yesterday, but I feel that it is important for my constituents to know how I would have voted, given the significance of this legislation. Equal marriage is central to the Liberal Democrat belief in a fair, free and open society, and I would

…

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Caron Lindsay

LibLink – Lynne Featherstone MP: Moving towards a world free from Female Genital Cutting

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 6th February 2013 - 12:16 pm

Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. Tonight, Home Office Minister Jeremy Browne will be giving a speech tonight (which we will bring you later) and Lynne Featherstone has written an article for the Huffington Post.

She will be taking part in an online discussion here at 12:45pm today.

First she outlined exactly why FGC is a problem.

FGC is a cultural practice involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. In its most extreme form the external genitalia are cut out and the girl’s vagina sewn up, to be cut open on her

…

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Roger Crouch

Opinion: Rights for cohabiting couples

By Roger Crouch | Wed 6th February 2013 - 11:41 am

The progress of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill through Parliament, with its Second Reading in the House of Commons, should be a cause of celebration amongst Liberal Democrats. As a party we have been, on the whole, united behind these proposals and we should applaud the leadership that Nick Clegg, Lynne Featherstone and, let’s give credit where it is due, David Cameron have demonstrated on this particular issue.

Working in Coalition, Liberal Democrats have introduced legislation which will secure equal marriage in law. I doubt very much whether a single party government, whether Conservative or Labour led, would have dared …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 49 Comments
Michael Moore

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore | Wed 6th February 2013 - 10:15 am

Every week, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, writes a column for newspapers in his Borders Constituency. Here is the latest edition. 

Green Deal

In my constituency I know that energy prices are a key concern for local people. It has been one of the UK Government’s top priorities to help tackle this issue by improving the energy efficiency of people’s homes, reducing the confusing number of tariffs available and making it easier for people to switch. The Green Deal, launched last week, will help with the first part by enabling people to insulate their homes or install …

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Stephen Tall

Equal marriage: who voted which way

By Stephen Tall | Wed 6th February 2013 - 9:15 am

For those wanting to know the voting breakdown of last night’s historic decision in the Commons to approve equal marriage, here it is courtesy of Andrew Sparrow’s essential Guardian live-blog…

Conservatives

FOR – 127 MPs (42%)
AGAINST – 136 MPs (45%)
ABSTENTIONS – 5 MPs (2%)
ABSENT – 35 MPs (12%)

Labour

FOR – 217 MPs (84%)
AGAINST – 22 MPs (9%)
ABSTENTION – 16 MPs (6%)

Lib Dems

FOR – 45 MPs (80%)
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey), Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington), Annette Brooke (Dorset Mid & Poole North), Jeremy Browne (Taunton Deane), Malcolm Bruce (Gordon), Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam), Lorely Burt (Solihull), Vincent …

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Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged , , , and | 49 Comments
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The Voice

Equal marriage: the speeches of Stephen Gilbert, Stephen Williams and Simon Hughes

By The Voice | Wed 6th February 2013 - 8:45 am

Last night saw the House of Commons approve the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Three Lib Dem MPs spoke, and here are their contributions to that historic debate…

steve gilbertStephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD):

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins), who has articulated what many people of faith across our country have struggled with before coming to the conclusion that love should be for one and all and that marriage should not be an exclusive institution.

I declare an interest:

…

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Posted in News and Parliament | Tagged , , and | 4 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Gilbert and Williams lead Lib Dem speakers in Equal Marriage debate

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 5th February 2013 - 8:52 pm

Stephen Tall has posted the historic result of the Equal Marriage debate, the House of Commons voting by 400 votes to 175 to give the Marriage (Same sex couples) Bill a Second Reading. Most Liberal Democrats supported the Bill, in contrast to the Conservatives. It’s been reported that more than half of them, 139 as against 132, voted against. Subsequently the Programme Motion was passed by 499 votes to 55.

I’ve watched the majority of the 70 or so speeches from the six and a half hour debate. My 13 year old daughter joined me when she came in from  school. …

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Posted in News | Tagged | 35 Comments
Stephen Tall

Project Cameron RIP: more Tory MPs vote AGAINST than vote for equal marriage

By Stephen Tall | Tue 5th February 2013 - 7:55 pm

David Cameron deserves a lot of credit for the stance he’s taken on equal marriage. But in addition to the principle, there was also calculation: he wanted to project an image of a modern Tory party, at ease with the the society it seeks to represent.

Unfortunately for him he didn’t quite reckon on his party’s entrenched opposition to equality for minorities, with today’s Commons vote splitting his party. In the end, more Tory MPs voted against equal marriage than voted in favour of it:

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Stephen Tall

++ The ayes have it! Equal marriage approved with 225 vote majority

By Stephen Tall | Tue 5th February 2013 - 7:18 pm

The BBC reports:

MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the government’s legislation for same-sex marriage in England and Wales. At the conclusion of the Commons’ first opportunity to debate the The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, MPs voted by 400 to 175, a majority of 225, in favour of the legislation.

It’s estimated some 140 Tory MPs voted to reject equal marriage.

Here was my immediate reaction…

And here’s what some …

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Mary Reid

MEPs to vote on crucial overhaul of Common Fisheries Policy

By Mary Reid | Tue 5th February 2013 - 3:54 pm

chris daviesWith all our attention today on Westminster (or Eastleigh) we can easily overlook important decisions being taken in Europe.

Tomorrow the European Parliament will be voting on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Now fish do not quite carry the same emotional appeal as equal marriage, but the management of fisheries is of significant environmental as well as economic significance.

The reform, which will be led by scientists as well as fishermen, will set targets for the rebuilding of fish stocks, and to end the practice of discarding perfectly edible fish. Every …

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Norman Lamb MP

Norman Lamb writes: Tackling gun and knife crime – hospitals and police working together

By Norman Lamb MP | Tue 5th February 2013 - 2:10 pm

nhs sign lrgTrying to make different departments work effectively with each other is a challenge that all Governments face, and this one is no different. It could be all too easy for objectives that fall between two departments to end up falling through the cracks.

That is why I am pleased to report on the efforts we are taking in the Department of Health to roll out the ‘Cardiff model’. This is a very simple measure that can have a dramatic impact on knife crime in an area.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto included …

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Julian Huppert

Julian Huppert MP writes: Quick update on secret courts

By Julian Huppert | Tue 5th February 2013 - 1:14 pm

Mike Crockart and I just called a vote to remove secret courts from the Justice and Security Bill, in line with Conference’s motion.

Despite highlighting in the debate that they supported closed proceedings in principle, Labour saw an opportunity to make mischief and eventually backed us. But due to DUP support for the Tories, we lost 10-9.

I’ll give a fuller update to everyone concerned soon. Suffice to say there will be more crucial votes to come on the Committee, and the Government has to move or the Bill will not pass as is.

Posted in News | Tagged , and | 6 Comments
Mary Reid

Eastleigh by-election

By Mary Reid | Tue 5th February 2013 - 12:29 pm

The party has moved swiftly to prepare for the by-election in Eastleigh, following Chris Huhne’s resignation.

Applications are being sought for potential candidates, with a closing date of 6pm on Wednesday 6th February.  You are warned: “In order to be eligible to apply, applicants need to make sure they are on the Party’s list of Approved Candidates at the closing date for applications.”

Approved candidates will have already received the necessary documents and application form.

 

Posted in Selection news | Tagged | 28 Comments
Mary Reid

Osborne, Hague and May on equal marriage

By Mary Reid | Tue 5th February 2013 - 11:10 am

Following Stephen Tall’s analysis of the support for equal marriage among Liberal Democrat MPs, it is worth noting the views held by some senior Conservatives.

George Osborne, William Hague and Theresa May have jointly written a letter to the Telegraph:

SIR – Today the Commons will vote on the Bill to allow same-sex marriage.

Civil partnerships for gay couples were a great step forward, but the question now is whether it is any longer acceptable to exclude people from marriage simply because they love someone of the same sex.

Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex

…

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Helen Tedcastle

Opinion: Michael Gove’s plans are a disaster for schools

By Helen Tedcastle | Tue 5th February 2013 - 9:01 am

Credit ITN

The publication last week of the All-Party Parliamentary Select Committee’s damning report into changes in qualifications at 16, signals a step-change in attitudes towards Michael Gove’s so-called ‘Education Revolution.’

The report makes for unsettling reading from a Liberal Democrat point of view.  And even Tory MP Graham Stuart, Chair of the Education Committee warns:

We have serious concerns about the Government’s proposed timetable for change. Ministers want to introduce a new qualification, require a step-change in standards, and alter the way exams are administered, all at the same time. We believe

…

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The Voice

Tessa Munt and Tim Farron on Chris Huhne’s downfall

By The Voice | Mon 4th February 2013 - 7:40 pm

Reaction to Chris Huhne’s shock decision to plead guilty to perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case and to quit as MP for Eastleigh has been rolling throughout the day.

Here’s two of Chris’s backbench colleagues on today’s events. First, Lib Dem MP for Wells, Tessa Munt, who praised his work as a “fantastic constituency MP”:

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Posted in News and YouTube | Tagged , and | 11 Comments
Paul Walter

Huhne – human frailty and the family

By Paul Walter | Mon 4th February 2013 - 4:53 pm
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Posted in Op-eds | 17 Comments
Antony Hook

An earlier Letter from the Leader

By Antony Hook | Mon 4th February 2013 - 4:23 pm

Liberal Democrat members now receive a weekly letter by email from the party leader, Nick Clegg. I found a 32-year-old example of a “Letter From the Leader” to party members – one from David Steel on 27 February 1981. (Click to enlarge photo)
image
Without email, Steel asked for Local Association Chairmen (sic) to “take an early opportunity to read and discuss at appropriate constituency executives and other meetings.”

He noted that the party was campaigning on “unemployment and cuts” (today it is “jobs and growth”). Presumably, this observation was really a …

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged and | Leave a comment
Stephen Tall

Equal marriage: 2 Lib Dem MPs against and a further 9 (or 10) Missing In Action

By Stephen Tall | Mon 4th February 2013 - 3:55 pm

Lynne Featherstone with Same Sex marriage bill - Some rights reserved by Mark PackTomorrow the House of Commons will vote on the Bill to allow equal marriage for same-sex couples which Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone did so much to push forward as Equalities Minister.

Two Lib Dem MPs have so far publicly declared their opposition:

  • John Pugh MP (Southport)

    • “I will vote against the Bill – against Gay Marriage but not necessarily for all the reasons the churches give but because I think there is a good liberal

    …

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    Paul Walter

    LibLink: Willie Rennie – after the referendum

    By Paul Walter | Mon 4th February 2013 - 2:53 pm

    Willie Rennie - Some rights reserved by Liberal DemocratsIn The Scotsman, Willie Rennie asks some pertinent questions about what might happen after the Scottish referendum:

    The Electoral Commission surprised us all on Wednesday when it went beyond spending limits and the wording of the question to press for clarity on the process after either result in the referendum. It did not ask us to negotiate a solution on the substance of our conflicting cases as pre-negotiations are impossible.

    Yet, on reflection, I believe this will ­assist those who share my view that Scotland

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    Posted in LibLink | Tagged | 3 Comments
    Neville Farmer

    Opinion: Boundary nonsense

    By Neville Farmer | Mon 4th February 2013 - 1:23 pm

    Boundary - Some rights reserved by ank0kuOn the face of it, the boundary change proposals were about cutting costs by having less MPs and strengthening democracy by having each MP represent roughly identical numbers of voters. Neither of these claims bear close scrutiny.

    Our democracy is not a simple thing – it struggles its way through the conflicting needs of the nation and the individual. It is unrealistic to base our representation on population statistics alone. It’s true that there are a few Parliamentary seats with fairly sparsely populated

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    Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 9 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    The end of Chris Huhne’s career in politics: initial reactions

    By Stephen Tall | Mon 4th February 2013 - 12:25 pm

    huhne quitsChris Huhne’s political career is over. That’s not a sentence I expected to be typing today.

    I had thought Chris would somehow squeak through his court case by the skin of his teeth. Certainly when I spoke to Chris at the last Lib Dem conference he was confident (his default mode, it’s true, but still). But now his career lies in tatters.

    Last year he resigned as a cabinet minister; this year he’ll resign as an MP. And all over a speeding charge – or more to the point his attempt …

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    Posted in News | Tagged and | 78 Comments
    NewsHound

    ++ Chris Huhne to resign as MP

    By NewsHound | Mon 4th February 2013 - 12:11 pm

    From the BBC:

    Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has said he will resign as an MP, after he pleaded guilty to to perverting the course of justice.

    Huhne admitted charges against him over claims his ex-wife Vicky Pryce took speeding points for him a decade ago.

    Aides to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the BBC he was “shocked and saddened” by the Lib Dem MP’s conduct.

    A by-election is now expected in his seat of Eastleigh in Hampshire, where he has a majority of nearly 4,000.

    The prime minister’s official spokesman declined to comment on the former minister’s resignation, saying only: “It is

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged | 10 Comments
    Daniel Russell

    Opinion: UK sets the right example on same sex marriage

    By Daniel Russell | Mon 4th February 2013 - 11:23 am

    The Polish parliament - Some rights reserved by Kancelaria PremieraIt’s been a week of ups and downs with regard to marriage equality and I am not just talking about in Britain. This week the Polish parliament voted down a bill that would have introduced civil partnerships. Despite an impassioned plea by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a significant part of his governing party voted against the bill, teaming up with conservative members to destroy any chance it had of becoming law. Indeed, one member declared that she would be voting against the bill because gay people “are of no use whatsoever to society.” From this position, equal

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    Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 14 Comments
    NewsHound

    ++ Chris Huhne pleads guilty to perverting the course of justice

    By NewsHound | Mon 4th February 2013 - 10:23 am

    chris_huhneDramatic news from the BBC:

    Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife Vicky Pryce took speeding points for him a decade ago.

    The Lib Dem MP, 58, had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge at Southwark Crown Court.

    BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith said:

    We can safely say that his political career is over.

    As legal proceedings are currently taking place, personal comments about either Vicky or Chris won’t be published at least until the trial has concluded and then only if …

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    Posted in News | Tagged | 17 Comments
    Richard Giddings

    Opinion: Tackling homophobic bullying in schools

    By Richard Giddings | Mon 4th February 2013 - 9:53 am

    Gay teen supporters of Stonewall and its campaign against homophobic bullying in schools, celebrating London's Gay Pride. July 2009 - Some rights reserved by lewishamdreamerLiberal Democrat colleagues may remember that one of Liberal Youth’s big campaigns was to stop homophobic bullying.

    As the former Liberal Youth Chair in Northamptonshire it was a campaign that is very close to my heart. Too many LGBT young people are subjected to terrible abuse and bullying – just because of who they are.

    When I was elected to the County Council in 2009 I wanted to do

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

    Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #311

    By Caron Lindsay | Sun 3rd February 2013 - 7:00 pm

    Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 311th 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 (27 January – 2 February, 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
    Mark Pack

    Majority back same-sex marriage

    By Mark Pack | Sun 3rd February 2013 - 2:49 pm

    Wedding ringsFrom the polling published this weekend:

    Would you support or oppose changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry?
    Support: 55%
    Oppose: 36%

    Amongst Conservative voters the results are 44% – 49% (which is a statistical dead heat, when you remember to factor in the  margin of error).

    Interestingly, the majority support comes despite the lead-up to the question being a tadge inaccurate:

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    Posted in Polls | Tagged , , and | 46 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Ignore the papers, here’s the real truth about the Coalition’s plans for childcare”

    By Stephen Tall | Sun 3rd February 2013 - 2:40 pm

    The latest letter from Nick Clegg to party supporters takes us behind the scenes of the Coalition’s negotiations over how best to help families with the cost of childcare. He dismisses newspaper gossip of splits in the ‘Quad’ as “total nonsense”, before setting out the principles that have guided their decision-making — focusing help on low- and middle-income families, and especially those with kids under 3 who don’t qualify for the current free 15 hours’ early education provision. Here’s Nick’s letter in full…

    libdem letter from nick clegg

    You’ll often hear politicians say,

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , , , , and | 7 Comments
    Joe Otten

    Budget: No tax break for married couples

    By Joe Otten | Sat 2nd February 2013 - 9:33 pm

    The BBC and Comedy Central are carrying news that there will be no new tax break for married couples in this year’s budget. The measure is in the coalition agreement, with Liberal Democrat MPs free to abstain. The BBC also reports significant unrest on the Conservative backbenches where many are calling for a new tax break to sugar the “pill” of equal marriage. However there are still plans to introduce a limited transferability of the personal allowance between partners this parliament.

    I find the idea that the government knows the best way for you to define your relationship supremely …

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    Posted in Op-eds | 16 Comments
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