Stephen Tall

Are politicians really getting younger?

By Stephen Tall | Sun 5th August 2012 - 2:15 pm

“The worship of youth has diminished – perhaps generally – in recent years.” So said Vince Cable a couple of weeks ago in a newspaper interview which inflamed speculation he’d be partial to a tilt at leading the Lib Dems. It also prompted various politicians-are-getting-younger pieces in the media.

LibDemVoice’s Mark Pack took the time and trouble to dig out the data. He showed that while the trend-line in the first half of the last century was for prime ministers to get older, in the 50 years since there has been a movement towards younger premiers (James Callaghan being …

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Stephen Tall

A messy situation for Lib Dems over Devon and Cornwall police commissioner contest

By Stephen Tall | Sun 5th August 2012 - 11:15 am

It looks like the police commissioner contest in Devon and Cornwall could be about to get a bit messy for the Lib Dems, with the news that the Lib Dem leader of North Devon Council Brian Greenslade plans to run as an independent — even though the party plans to choose an official Lib Dem candidate.

Here’s how This is Cornwall reported it earlier this week:

Lib-Dem turns independent in battle for top police post

Councillor Brian Greenslade, once Devon County Council leader, will be an independent candidate at November’s election for a US-style police and crime commissioner for Devon and

…

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Stephen Tall

The Coalition Agreement does not commit Lib Dems to supporting boundary changes

By Stephen Tall | Sun 5th August 2012 - 8:45 am

Over the last couple of months, Conservative MPs and commentators have made great play of the fact that the Coalition Agreement does not explicitly commit the Tories to voting for House of Lords reform. Let’s remind ourselves of its words again:

We will establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper chamber on the basis of proportional representation. The committee will come forward with a draft motion by December 2010. It is likely that this will advocate single long terms of office. It is also likely that there will be a grandfathering system for

…

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The Voice

LDV Caption Competition: Lynne Featherstone “Reach for the Stars” Edition

By The Voice | Sat 4th August 2012 - 5:15 pm

There’s no prize at stake – just the opportunity to prove you’re wittier than any other LDV reader…


(Picture from lynnefeatherstone’s Flickr photostream.)

Here’s Lib Dem MP and Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone out and about in her London constituency. What do you think might be said here?

And the winner of our last caption comp is…

Some fantastic entries for our most recent caption competition, Lumley & Clegg “Ab Fab” Edition.

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Nick T

Boundary reforms must now be dropped, but Lib Dems should avoid petulance over Lords retreat

By Nick T | Sat 4th August 2012 - 2:24 pm

The news that David Cameron has been unable to persuade Conservative MPs to support the House of Lords Reform Bill is disappointing, but unsurprising given the scale of the threatened rebellion. Liberal Democrats must accept this situation – frustrating as it is – and concentrate on what is now important: the party’s response.

Anger will be the natural reaction of many in the party – and understandably so. Liberal Democrat MPs have walked through the Aye Lobby more times than they care to remember to support Conservative measures from the coalition agreement. Yet when it comes to doing their bit …

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NewsHound

LibLink: Tom Papworth – why Norman Baker is my Liberal Hero

By NewsHound | Sat 4th August 2012 - 11:20 am

Over at liberal think-tank CentreForum’s blog, Tom Papworth has nominated Lib Dem MP and transport minister Norman Baker for the honorary title ‘Liberal Hero of the Week’. The reason? Norman’s libertarian stance on the proposal that wearng cycle helmets should be compulsory:

I think anybody who rides a bike without wearing a helmet is taking an enormous risk. I’ve fallen off my bike in the past and had my helmet (rather than my head) bounce off the tarmac. I also know that cycling can be very dangerous; the chair of one the neighbouring constituency party was killed a few years back

…

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Mark Pack

Lords reform: what next?

By Mark Pack | Sat 4th August 2012 - 9:35 am

Four quick thoughts before I go off in search of chocolate, pizza and friends (in reverse order of priority, of course):

1. The last rites on Lords reform for this Parliament have not yet quite been uttered, though it’s striking how those in government I’ve spoken to are all now pretty much just talking about what the repercussions are rather than how it might yet go through. Will Ed Miliband be tempted to mix opportunism with principle and say, ‘No problem about those Tory backbenchers; we’ll support this measure?’.

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NewsHound

LibLink: Chris Rennard – Failure to deliver Lords reform will not threaten the coalition

By NewsHound | Sat 4th August 2012 - 9:05 am

Over at the Guardian, former Lib Dem chief executive Lord (Chris) Rennard has argued that the fall of Lords reform would be a blow to Lib Dems, but that it was not the key aspect of the coalition agreement to voters:

Failure to deliver on the most important aspects of constitutional reform would, of course, be a bitter blow to Liberal Democrats. But the party will also recognise that the constitutional package within the coalition agreement was not the most important aspect of it to the voters, nor was it nearly as important as the state of the economy as

…

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Stephen Tall

++ Clegg to announce Lords reform sunk; Tory rebels defeat Cameron; first breach of Coalition Agreement.

By Stephen Tall | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 8:44 pm

The Guardian reports tonight:

Nick Clegg is expected to announce next week he has been forced to abandon Lords reform in the face of implacable Conservative backbench opposition that David Cameron has been unable to overcome. … Clegg has to decide whether to respond to the Lords rebuff by insisting legislation designed to cut the number of MPs to 600 should be abandoned. The change is being promoted by Cameron as a way of cutting the cost of politics and equalising the electoral size of constituencies.

Lord Rennard, the Liberal Democrat peer and former party chief executive, denied the reverse on

…

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Caron Lindsay

Jon Rogers selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Bristol Mayor

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 4:38 pm

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Rogers has been selected as the party’s candidate for Bristol Mayor, reports the BBC.

He was elected as Councillor for the Ashley ward in 2005 and is currently the City Council’s Executive Member for Care and Health.

After his selection, Cllr Rogers said:

I want to make sure the power stays with councillors and also that I represent Bristol on the national and international stage,” he said.

As a family doctor for 30 years, I know this city inside out – the people, the places, the issues. I know what makes Bristol great and I know what makes life hard for too many Bristolians. I am determined to be a mayor for all of the city, not just one part of it.

Jon and his team have got off the mark very quickly, releasing this campaign video already:

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Caron Lindsay

Paul Varnsverry selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Northamptonshire Police Commissioner

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 3:28 pm

Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats have selected Paul Varnsverry to be their candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Northamptonshire in November.

Paul works with policing, security and government organisations across the globe. He has chaired the British Standards committee for police protective equipment since 1998. As an experienced and respected authority, Paul has also addressed parliamentary committees and he has worked with ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) and the Home Office.

Paul, who was born in Northampton, was Deputy Leader of Northampton Borough Council from 2009 – 2011. Paul …

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The Voice

From today’s Lib Dem News

By The Voice | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 1:38 pm

By Howard of Lib Dem News

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Caron Lindsay

Would you be happy with a payout to put up with aircraft noise?

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 12:27 pm

The role of the Liberal Democrats in ensuring that this Government does not agree to the expansion of Heathrow airport is emphasised by an article in yesterday’s Independent.

It says that a group of right wing Tories with links to the Chancellor are drawing up plans to offer compensation to local residents who would be affected by increased noise from a third runway at Heathrow.

The Coalition agreement has ruled out giving approval to a third runway during this parliament and the Conservatives opposed the move at the last election. But some senior party figures, including the Chancellor, George Osborne, are pressing

…

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Stephen Tall

New LDV members’ survey now live: your views on Lords reform, the economy, Nick Clegg, the reshuffle & the Coalition’s performance

By Stephen Tall | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 11:06 am

The new LDV members’ survey is now live. So if you are one of the c.1,300 registered members of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum — and any paid-up party member is welcome to join — then you now have the opportunity to make your views known.

Questions we’re asking this month include:

  • what you think of the Lords reform proposals;
  • what you think should happen if Lords reform falls;
  • what you think the Coalition should do about the economy;
  • your views on Nick Clegg’s leadership and the forthcoming reshuffle;
  • what your preferred election result post-2015 would be;
  • how satisfied

…

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Mark Pack

Reframe: How to solve the world’s trickiest problems?

By Mark Pack | Fri 3rd August 2012 - 10:25 am

How you view Eric Knight’s book by the end will depend very heavily on what you want out of it. At one level it works extremely well: a very readable and lively introduction to many of the issues which dominate the agendas of politicians and diplomats – fighting terrorism, regulating the financial markets, handling immigration, dealing with climate change and more.

Eric Knight, however, sets out to do more than present a primer on major current issues, as the subtitle suggests: “How to solve the world’s trickiest problems”.

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Caron Lindsay

Some positive news on the Work Capability Assessment

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 6:56 pm

One of the most difficult aspects of the welfare reforms for many Liberal Democrat activists to bear was the removal of Employment and Support Allowance after a year from those placed in the Work Related Activity Group. Our anxiety is compounded by what we see as a deeply flawed assessment system which does not take fluctuating conditions seriously. I wrote a critique of the application form earlier this year which explains some of the problems.

The Work Capability Assessment was introduced by Labour in 2008.  The Coalition has improved it under the guidance of Professor Malcolm Harrington, but not to …

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Mary Reid

Hanging around

By Mary Reid | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 3:52 pm

Yesterday Boris Johnson was in Victoria Park taking the first ride on a new zip wire. This is what happened, courtesy of ITV:

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Caron Lindsay

Vince v Osborne – the battle for RBS’s future

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 2:26 pm

The future of the Royal Bank of Scotland is back in the headlines today.

The Financial Times reports that ministers are discussing buying the remaining shares in RBS, bringing it fully under state control. This would allow them to force it to lend more to viable small and medium-sized businesses  without having to worry about other shareholders challenging such a direction in the courts.

The Guardian reports that Liberal Democrat   Vince Cable is the driving force behind this plan. He believes that it’s the only way to get money to businesses.

What we do know, and Vince Cable confirmed when taking …

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Nick T

LibLink: Norman Lamb – How can we bring consumer law into the digital age?

By Nick T | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 12:53 pm

Norman LambWriting for Which? in his capacity as consumer affairs minister, here’s what Norman Lamb had to say about his hopes for improving consumer protection:

I want to develop a single, comprehensive set of shoppers’ rights, which sets out in plain English, all the rights and remedies that consumers have. The intention is to drive up business standards and help you settle issues much more quickly and easily.

At the start of July we launched a consultation seeking your views on proposals to strengthen the law on goods, services, and digital

…

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Paul Walter

Menzies Campbell in celebration of Olympians in Parliament

By Paul Walter | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 10:54 am

BBC Parliament has shown a documentary, “First past the post”, which celebrates parliamentarians who are Olympians. Needless to say, our own Sir Menzies Campbell, once one of the fastest men on the planet, is featured liberally in the programme.

Menzies reveals the exotic mixture which his mother used to feed him on race days, and shows viewers his old team blazer. He tells us he can still get into it, but the buttons don’t do up.

Until the end of …

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Robin McGhee

Opinion: Lib Dems should say “No, Minister” to Tory plans to politicise the Civil Service

By Robin McGhee | Thu 2nd August 2012 - 9:24 am

An initiative by Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, should be a cause of considerable alarm for Liberal Democrats. According to the Independent, Maude has proposed a massive expansion of politically-appointed civil servants. The details are rather sketchy. But it seems obvious that if Francis Maude gets his way it will hugely reduce the effectiveness of government.

There are countless problems with an apolitical Civil Service. It is traditionally seen as a bastion of Establishment moderation and elitism. There is a good deal of evidence to suggest this has more than a grain of truth. The success of Yes, Minister …

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Caron Lindsay

Lord Rennard: “There’s no substitute for democracy”

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st August 2012 - 6:59 pm

Liberal Democrat peer and campaigning guru Chris Rennard went on Radio 4 yesterday to respond to the Earl of Glasgow saying that we should back down on Lords reform.

Lord Rennard said that there have been  plans for an elected Lords were not Nick Clegg’s alone and that there had been efforts to reform the upper House for 50 years before Nick Clegg was born.

He took a mild swipe at his Liberal Democrat colleague Lord Steel when asked about the latter’s plans to limit the reforms to allowing voluntary retirement and sacking those peers who don’t attend. Those things, said Rennard, …

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Caron Lindsay

Rennie questions Salmond’s £400k on “London embassy” for the Olympics

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st August 2012 - 3:36 pm

The Scottish Government, understandably enough, has decided to showcase Scotland to the representatives of business and government from all over the world who are currently visiting London for the Olympics. Showing Scotland off is never a bad thing, especially when we are hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2 years’ time.

They have, bizarrely, blown £400,000 on hiring the Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall and renaming it Scotland House. There, according to First Minister Alex Salmond, visitors can see:

what a great place Scotland is to have a holiday or do business in, and what wonderful food and drink and

…

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Stephen Tall

Three intriguing opinion poll results that made me go, “Hmm, really?”

By Stephen Tall | Wed 1st August 2012 - 2:15 pm

Looking through some of YouGov’s recent poll results (as you do on a summer’s evening during the Olympics), a trio of responses struck me as, well, slightly bizarre. See what you think…

Lib Dem voters LEAST LIKELY to think Britain is best at cricket, MOST LIKELY to think we’re best at cycling

This may simply be a reflection that ‘Britain’ does not play cricket. Or perhaps just a subjective viewpoint: after all, England is currently ranked the best test cricket team in the world (though fourth in one-day internationals); while …

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Caron Lindsay

LibLink: Stephen Tall: Liberal Hero of the Week: Danny Boyle

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st August 2012 - 11:55 am

There were tears, laughter and wide-eyed wonderment at Liberal Democrat Voice Towers on Friday night as we marvelled at Danny Boyle’s innovative Olympic opening ceremony. While some of us will remember Boyle as the guy who persuaded the Queen to “jump” out of a helicopter, our own Stephen Tall has looked a little deeper.

Over at CentreForum’s blog, he’s awarded Danny Boyle the accolade of Liberal Hero of the Week. While Labour supporting Boyle may smart at this, Stephen talks about what the Ceremony conveyed to him:

First, the human potentiality which has formed Britain, made her what she is today: from music

…

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Michael Moore

Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes

By Michael Moore | Wed 1st August 2012 - 9:25 am

Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore writes a weekly column for newspapers in his Borders constituency. Here’s the latest edition.

Surgeries

Last week I completed my second week of summer advice surgeries where I visited many more towns and villages in the Borders and discussed a huge range of issues affecting individuals and communities. These surgeries are a highlight of my work as Borders MP and it has been great to meet with so many people over the last two weeks.

Border Union Show

Last week I attended the 199th Border Union Show in Kelso and spent a fantastic couple of …

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Stephen Tall

Making work pay – how taxes should work better for the ‘squeezed middle’

By Stephen Tall | Tue 31st July 2012 - 5:45 pm

The Resolution Foundation helped give birth to the phrase ‘squeezed middle’: that group of low-income individuals and families just above the threshold to qualify for most welfare help, but only just able to make ends meet, and always in danger of slipping back into poverty.

Today they’ve published a report written by Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, identifying key reforms that could allow the tax and welfare system to redistribute more efficiently. Here’s the summary-of-the-summary:

Simply making the current system more generous to those on low incomes will not be sustainable in the long run. Reforms to

…

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NewsHound

LibLink: Mark Pack on how party leaders should be speaking this autumn

By NewsHound | Tue 31st July 2012 - 4:50 pm

Over on the Biteback Publishing website, The Voice’s Mark Pack has been penning some words of advice for those planning party leader conference speeches:

Technological change has frequently altered the speaking styles of political orators. The exaggerated hand movements and booming voice projections of the pre-electrical era were essential for being seen and heard. As film footage spread, that approach increasingly came over as histrionic. The total distanced travelled by the hands and arms of politicians during their speeches therefore declined, thanks to the adoption of a more homely, direct style. Radio and TV both brought about their own changes, followed by the impact of the teleprompter in the 1980s…

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The Voice

Lib Dems push for ‘blind marking’ to level the playing field for ethnic communities

By The Voice | Tue 31st July 2012 - 3:10 pm

The Observer this weekend reported on the Lib Dems’ latest attempts to push for more equal treatment of citizens from different ethnic backgrounds:

Ministers are seeking to introduce “blind marking” of pupils’ schoolwork by teachers as part of a push to tackle a history of underachievement among black and ethnic minority groups, while banks will be required to carry out ethnic monitoring of people to whom they lend money. Under the proposals, the identities of pupils would not be a factor when teachers mark work, and banks could be held accountable for the racial profile of their customers. The controversial

…

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Stephen Tall

In other news… Lib Dem police commissioner candidates, Lady Steel’s pink jaguar tattoo, & other stories

By Stephen Tall | Tue 31st July 2012 - 1:05 pm

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past few days…

Nick O’Shea named as Lib Dem Surrey Crime Commissioner candidate (BBC News)

Nick O’Shea is a businessman and former Mole Valley District Councillor. … Commissioners, to be elected in England and Wales in November, will oversee the work of police, which ministers say will make forces more accountable. … Police Crime Commissioners will replace police authorities in 41 areas in November.

You can visit Nick’s website here.

Pete Levy is Lib Dem choice as Avon and Somerset police commissioner (BBC News)

A Bristol councillor

…

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