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Lee Dargue

No, Stephen Tall, I’m certainly NOT Daily Mail!

By Lee Dargue | Published Sun 4th December 2011 - 9:00 am

In his latest blog, Stephen Tall argues that byseeing Jeremy Clarkson as un-beneficial to a modern society makes me somehow a right-wing *insert your own adjective for the Daily Mail here*.

Not in the slightest. I’m left-wing (so David Cameron doesn’t like me either, boo-hoo) and totally a liberal. I’ve never ever claimed Clarkson should not be allowed to speak, as that would be illiberal. I simply say that he is a loud-mouth oxygen thief (I use the same freedom of speech against him, that he should rightly be granted).

He’s claimed to be attention-seeking, I agree. And before you …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , | 14 Comments
Norman Baker MP

Norman Baker responds to tar sands campaigns

By Norman Baker MP | Published Fri 2nd December 2011 - 9:00 am

Over the last week or so, visitors to the Lib Dem Voice may have seen articles purporting to outline my position, and that of the government’s, on the EU Fuel Quality Directive and the treatment of tar sands within it.  These articles have been misleading to say the least.  We in the Lib Dems have a proud history of fighting climate change and campaigning for environmental causes.  This is no different in the coalition and no different to the approach I am taking on the Directive.  I wanted to take this opportunity therefore to provide some facts which

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , , | 16 Comments
The Voice

Pack & Tall Debate… What’s the Lib Dem economic narrative now?

By The Voice | Published Fri 2nd December 2011 - 8:15 am

In the week of the Chancellor’s autumn statement, LibDemVoice co-editors Mark Pack and Stephen Tall debate what it all means for the Lib Dems…

Stephen Tall: So we now all know the painful financial reality. With growth forecasts revised down by the Chancellor in his autumn statement, austerity is here to stay.

Both Lib Dems and Tories had hoped and expected that three years of painful cutbacks would be followed by a year or two of pre-election giveaways — the Lib Dems would press for a balanced mix of increased public spending …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , | 30 Comments
Stephen Tall

The Coalition’s Political Plan B, Mrs T, and TINA: what does this spell out for the Lib Dems?

By Stephen Tall | Published Thu 1st December 2011 - 2:15 pm

The political aftershock of George Osborne’s autumn statement is just beginning to sink in: the Coalition’s 5-year austerity programme, designed to end in 2015 by the time of the next general election, is now a 7-year programme straddling two parliaments.

This poses problems for the future of the Coalition, and for the Lib Dems in particular, encapsulated here by the FT’s Philip Stephens:

Here’s the paradox. The effect of sticking to economic plan A has been to shred the coalition government’s original political strategy. In the heady days after the 2010 election the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats signed up to

…

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments
Manmeet Kaur

The Independent View: 1 in 7 people go hungry every day. But you can help. Here’s how…

By Manmeet Kaur | Published Thu 24th November 2011 - 9:17 am

It is a shocking fact that whilst enough food is produced globally to feed everyone, one in seven people go hungry every day. Around half a billion of these hungry people are smallholder farmers who struggle to grow enough food from their land to feed themselves and their families. So Concern Worldwide has launched a campaign action for you to use your influence to help tackle hunger.

World leaders of the Group of 20 leading economies met in Cannes in November 2011 and promised to address the issue of hunger. However, despite some progress, the issue was largely …

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Posted in Europe / International, The Independent View | Leave a comment
Stephen Tall

And in other Lib Dem news…

By Stephen Tall | Published Sat 19th November 2011 - 6:35 pm

A quick round-up of four Lib Dem stories not otherwise covered here on Lib Dem Voice this week…

Lib Dem revolt on solar subsidies crackdown…

The Guardian splashes on how ‘Liberal Democrat councillors and MPs are preparing to revolt over the coalition government’s crackdown on solar subsidies, as a growing number have been greeted with stiff opposition from outraged householders and companies fearing swingeing job cuts.’ Lucy Care wrote about this topic here on LDV earlier this month.

Rochdale Lib Dem defects to Tories…

The Manchester Evening News reports: ‘Coun Jean Ashworth, who represents Smallbridge and Firgrove, resigned as a Lib …

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Posted in News | 3 Comments
Stephen Tall

Clegg: the Coalition’s priorities must be “jobs and growth, jobs and growth”

By Stephen Tall | Published Thu 17th November 2011 - 8:10 am

The intertwined topics of the economy and Europe has continued to dominate the political scene this week. But as Europhobic Tories continue to froth at the thought of England’s the UK’s retreat from its neighbours, Nick Clegg has maintained a decidedly mainstream approach, and attempted to shift the focus back from constitutional niceties to economic reality. Here’s how The Guardian reports Nick’s words:

Nick Clegg has clashed with David Cameron over Europe as he warned that only “populists, chauvinists and demagogues” would gain from protracted negotiations on treaty change. The Liberal Democrat deputy hit out the day after Cameron used

…

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Posted in Europe / International, News | Tagged , | 18 Comments
Stephen Tall

Southwark Lib Dems face questions over Ministry of Sound donations: 3 important points to consider

By Stephen Tall | Published Tue 8th November 2011 - 1:30 pm

Southwark Lib Dem councillors and local MP Simon Hughes have been in the spotlight the past 24 hours following their decisio to oppose a planning application objected to by the Ministry of Sound, a prominent donor to the party. BBC News reports:

Political donations to the Liberal Democrats from a nightclub chain totalling almost £80,000 went undeclared as its councillors discussed a tower block development opposed by the firm, BBC London has learned.

The Ministry of Sound, in Elephant and Castle, south London, was fighting to prevent developer Oakmayne building a residential tower block nearby. The club feared noise complaints from

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , , | 11 Comments
Mark Pack

How to get Lib Dem Voice by email

By Mark Pack | Published Sat 5th November 2011 - 1:15 pm

Why not join hundreds of other Lib Dem Voice readers in getting our latest headlines by email?

Some people like regularly visiting a site to see if there’s new stories of interest. Some people like subscribing to its news feed (RSS) and checking that way. But if you prefer email, you can instead sign up to get a daily early morning email with a summary of the previous day’s posts from Lib Dem Voice, complete with a note of how many comments each post has got and convenient links to click on if any take your fancy and you want to take a read.

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Paul Walter

PMQs: Tim Farron asks “Question of the week” – Ed Balls signals four runs

By Paul Walter | Published Fri 4th November 2011 - 7:53 pm

In my ever-earnest toil to prepare this review, this week I have been reviewing web sites which explain cricket umpire signals. I also checked the umpire signals for netball, American football and baseball.

There is no doubt about it. Ed Balls was signalling a four at Prime Ministers’ Questions. His hand was a bit lower than normal, but it would pass to signal a boundary at Morley Cricket Club.

For a change, I’m going to stand this review on its head this week and concentrate on questions from backbenchers, starting with Liberal Democrats.

Question of the week came from Tim Farron:

The world population

…

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Posted in Parliament, PMQs | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments
Marc Oxley

Opinion: How to tackle over-population for the sake of our planet

By Marc Oxley | Published Mon 31st October 2011 - 5:15 pm

Monday, 31st October 2011, is ‘7 billion Day’, the day chosen by the UN to represent symbolically the world’s human population reaching 7,000,000,000.

In 1800, the world’s population was approximately 1 billion. We ‘achieved’ 2 billion in 1927, 3 billion in 1960, by 1999 it had doubled to 6 billion, and it has taken 12 years to reach 7 billion. By the middle of the century the best estimates are that it will be around 10 billion. (You can find the UN’s figures here.)

Medical advances and public health measures have led to much lower infant mortality and much greater longevity. …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , | 9 Comments
Nick T

LibLink: Paddy Ashdown – Libya’s path to democracy

By Nick T | Published Thu 27th October 2011 - 10:28 am

Lord (Paddy) Ashdown recently penned a piece for the Guardian with some thoughts on how Libya should now move towards a functioning democracy following its liberation. The rule of law, in the short term at least, is more important than elections, according to Paddy.

Here’s an extract:

If there is one thing more fraught, more attended by failure and more difficult to do than fighting a war, it is building the peace which follows. Our modern wars are fought in weeks or months – but building the peace is measured in decades. Wars are violent and swift. Building peace is long, painful

…

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Posted in Europe / International, LibLink | Tagged , | 2 Comments
Mark Pack

Lynne Featherstone vs Steve Hilton on maternity pay

By Mark Pack | Published Mon 17th October 2011 - 7:25 am

From yesterday’s Observer:

In a wide-ranging interview with the Observer, Featherstone said it was vital the coalition delivered on its family-friendly rhetoric … In a forthright attack on some of the advisers shaping government policy, she criticised the role of Adrian Beecroft, a venture capitalist tasked with reporting to the prime minister on how to cut regulation on business. Beecroft is understood to have recommended a U-turn on government policies on shared parental leave and flexible working.

The proposals, outlined in a white paper, would allow couples greater freedom to co-ordinate maternity and paternity leave. A separate proposal would make it

…

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Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Independent View: Evidence that candidates make a difference

By Jo Silvester | Published Fri 14th October 2011 - 10:23 am

The Liberal Democrats in England took an important step in 2007 when they decided to review the approval process for parliamentary candidates. The aim was to develop a modern system capable of identifying, supporting and developing the best possible political talent in order to ensure the Party could field candidates with the qualities, skills and values needed to build public support and win seats.

Although change can take a long time in politics, four years on it is hard not to be impressed at what the Party has achieved.

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters, The Independent View | Tagged , , | 3 Comments
Ruth Bright

Opinion: None shall be enslaved by….maternity?

By Ruth Bright | Published Wed 12th October 2011 - 3:54 pm

Nick Clegg bemoans the maleness and paleness of the Lib Dems and his sense of shame that our parliamentary party is 88% male seems genuine enough.

What is it about the culture of Lib Dems that has brought about this striking gender imbalance?

My own experience as a councillor and candidate is that being a (young, childless, solvent) woman is a huge advantage. When I was approved and selected in 2001 you could almost smell the desperation of the party to promote women. The glass ceiling – what was that?

But then I did what women do and I had children and …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , | 29 Comments
Mark Pack

How to get Lib Dem Voice by email

By Mark Pack | Published Tue 4th October 2011 - 11:55 am

Why not join hundreds of other Lib Dem Voice readers in getting our latest headlines by email?

Some people like regularly visiting a site to see if there’s new stories of interest. Some people like subscribing to its news feed (RSS) and checking that way. But if you prefer email, you can instead sign up to get a daily early morning email with a summary of the previous day’s posts from Lib Dem Voice, complete with a note of how many comments each post has got and convenient links to click on if any take your fancy and you want to take a read.

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Mark Pack

Someone likes Liberal Democrat conference…

By Mark Pack | Published Sun 2nd October 2011 - 9:50 am

Over on Dale & Co Gareth Knight writes:

Any Conservative, including Iain Dale who attends the Liberal Democrat conference, remarks how impressed they are with the mere fact the conference is where party members openly and robustly confer on policy. The exhibition stands at the Liberal Democrat conference include dozens of party groups as well as the recent deluge of large companies and organisations desperate to suck up to the party they’ve proudly ignored until now. The agenda for conference is focused on policy papers with speeches for and against where the party leadership will frequently get involved in the

…

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , | Leave a comment
Karen Wilkinson

Opinion: Legal Aid – the new NHS?

By Karen Wilkinson | Published Sun 25th September 2011 - 2:45 pm

The aspect of Conference I most value is the opportunity to hear first hand from Ministers, MPs and Lords the thought processes and details of what we are doing in Government and to see them listen to the feedback from those who are delivering the relevant services on the ground.

A fringe debate on the NHS I attended this week was a great example of that – an open, constructive, intelligent exchange of differing views which left a clear sense that our party in government is listening and acting and has a plan.

Contrast that with the fringe meeting convened by

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 6 Comments
Stephen Tall

Memo to LabourList’s Paul Richards… Feel free to keep obsessing. It’ll lose you the next election.

By Stephen Tall | Published Fri 23rd September 2011 - 7:40 am

I think it’s safe to assume that LabourList’s Paul Richards is not Nick Clegg’s greatest fan.

What prompts me to leap to this conclusion? Well, I guess if you headline your article profiling the Lib Dem leader ‘A snivelling, venal, ruthless social climber’ you’re making some kind of statement.

I’d highly recommend reading Paul’s post in full if only to gain an appreciation of the impotent fury, this red mist, which is clouding the Labour party’s judgment. Here’s a flavour:

Some make the mistake of saying that the reason why Clegg so naturally fits into a Tory government is because he

…

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , | 20 Comments
Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2011: The Winners #LDBOTY

By Helen Duffett | Published Sat 17th September 2011 - 10:35 pm

What’s loosely termed the awards “ceremony” for the 2011 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards has just drawn to a glittering close. As the last firework fades in Birmingham’s night sky, I’m delighted to announce the winners:

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Posted in Best of the blogs | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment
Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone’s speech to conference

By Lynne Featherstone | Published Sat 17th September 2011 - 6:45 pm

Conference – the Liberal Democrats have now been in Government for more than 500 days.

And I know what you’re all thinking. You’re thinking – this is tough.

And I know that it hasn’t always been easy; and that at times the reality of this Coalition business is very tough.

But that is the point. That is what we are here for.

Because who are we – if not the party who makes the hard calls?

We are the ones who opposed Iraq – when no one else did;

Who championed the Green agenda – when no one else did;

Who warned of the banking crisis – …

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Posted in Conference | 3 Comments
Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2011: The Shortlists

By Helen Duffett | Published Fri 16th September 2011 - 10:10 am

Nominations for the Liberal Democrats’ Blog of the Year Awards 2011 closed on 2 September. Since then, the judges Helen Duffett (that’s me), Richard Flowers, Olly Grender, Katie Razzall, Stephen Tall and Martin Tod have been poring over the entries for the six categories.

It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the five best.

Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.

First, a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar to cast your vote.

Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Birmingham, do come along to the Andante Suite, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Birmingham, from 9.45pm on Saturday 17th September.

Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)

Blank

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Posted in Best of the blogs | Tagged | 11 Comments
Helen Duffett

How to get Lib Dem Voice by email

By Helen Duffett | Published Thu 15th September 2011 - 12:53 pm

Why not get our latest headlines by email? Hundreds of Lib Dem Voice readers already do.

Some people like regularly visiting Lib Dem Voice to see the latest stories. Others like to look out for us on Twitter or subscribe to our RSS feed and check that way. And some even read us on their Amazon Kindle.

But if you prefer email, you can sign up for our daily early morning email with a summary of the previous day’s posts from Lib Dem Voice. It has convenient links to click through to the full article, and a note of how many comments each post has got.

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Mark Pack

LibDem conference accreditation: what others have been saying

By Mark Pack | Published Mon 5th September 2011 - 9:38 pm
Despite its length, my blog post over the weekend about the security checks being carried out for Liberal Democrat conference, didn’t go through all the issues in equal detail. So here to make up for some of the areas I wrote less about are some excellent blog posts written by others:

…

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Posted in Conference | Tagged , , | 7 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Interview with Mike Moore MP – Action in Government, ideas for the future

By Caron Lindsay | Published Mon 5th September 2011 - 1:51 pm

Interview: Mike Moore MP –  Action in Government,  ideas for the future

It can’t be much fun being Alex Salmond these days.  The euphoria of May has subsided, and he’s  realised that there’s nobody else to blame for his majority Government’s actions.  On top of that, wherever he looks, he sees the grin of Wilie Rennie,  ready to highlight any example of anglophobia, of  dodging , delaying, ducking and diving. The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has had accolade after accolade in the press for providing such high quality opposition to the SNP …

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Posted in Op-eds, Scotland | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments
Helen Duffett

Have you nominated your Lib Dem Blog of the Year?

By Helen Duffett | Published Tue 30th August 2011 - 10:23 am

Time’s ticking till close of nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011, so here’s a reminder of the categories and an exhortation to vote!

Nominate up to 3 favourites in any or all of these categories:

  • Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2010)
  • Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award)
  • Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat
  • Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2010)
  • Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog
  • Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2011

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    Posted in Best of the blogs | Tagged | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Reminder: Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open

    By Helen Duffett | Published Wed 24th August 2011 - 10:23 am

    As announced last week, it’s time to nominate your favourite bloggers, campaigners and social networkers in the BOTYs – the sixth annual Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

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    Posted in Best of the blogs | Tagged | Leave a comment
    Mark Pack

    So you think you know how to improve campaigning? Come to Conference Dragons’ Den

    By Mark Pack | Published Mon 22nd August 2011 - 1:55 pm

    Autumn conference in Birmingham will see a new type of campaigning event which sounds rather fun: a Dragons’ Den style fringe meeting at which people pitch their ideas for new approaches to campaigning.

    The panel will be Alistair Carmichael MP, James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns & Communications Committee), Hilary Stephenson (Director of Elections and Skills) and Kirsty Williams AM. It will be on Sunday 18th September at 1pm in Room 103 of the Jurys Inn.

    Submissions are open to any party member except for Campaigns Department employees.

    Step one is to submit your idea by Monday 12th September to Tim Pollard on [email protected]. …

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    Posted in Conference | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open

    By Helen Duffett | Published Fri 19th August 2011 - 1:26 pm

    BOTY 2
    The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards, run by Lib Dem Voice, are back for their sixth year. As usual, they’ll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party’s autumn conference in Birmingham.

    Click on the following links to see last year’s Shortlist and the Winners.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

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    Posted in Best of the blogs | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open
    Nick T

    A different species of politician? Nick Clegg’s biography serialised in the Mail

    By Nick T | Published Thu 18th August 2011 - 2:57 pm

    The forthcoming biography of Nick Clegg by Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Bowers was serialised in last weekend’s Mail on Sunday.

    Here’s just a brief extract :

    For a few terrible weeks, Nick Clegg came face to face with his ultimate nightmare. One after the other, his wife and his little boy had fallen gravely ill — and doctors warned that they might not pull through.

    It began when his son, Antonio, then aged two, became feverish and listless. When he was admitted to hospital, Clegg insisted on spending every night at his side.

    According to the doctors, Antonio was suffering from pneumonia. But,

    …

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    Posted in News | Tagged , | 13 Comments
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