Tag Archives: david ward

David Ward removed as a candidate

By The Voice | Wed 26th April 2017 - 3:45 pm

Controversial former Bradford East MP David Ward has been removed as a candidate by Tim Farron. He had been re-selected as candidate for the seat and earlier in the day Tim Farron had said that he was not in a position to be able to remove him.

I am fully aware of the comments David Ward has made in the past and I find them deeply offensive, wrong and anti-Semitic. I think his decision to stand again, and the local party’s decision to select him, is wrong and I disagree with it completely.

I don’t select our individual candidates and nor should I. But let me be clear, I won’t tolerate anti-Semitism in my party.

A few hours later, some constitutional geekery had clearly been done because Tim released the following statement about an hour ago:

I believe in a politics that is open, tolerant and united. David Ward is unfit to represent the party and I have sacked him.

Just when we thought we didn’t have to worry about David Ward’s tweets any more…

By The Voice | Thu 28th May 2015 - 10:25 am

If I lived in #OrkneyandShetlands would I fire a rocket at #AlistairCarmichael? – probably yes

— David Ward (@DWard) May 27, 2015

Delightful!

Posted in News | Also tagged Alistair Carmichael and twitter | 34 Comments

David Ward MP: Jerusalem synagogue attackers “driven to madness by failure of international community to deal with Israel”

By Newsmoggie | Wed 19th November 2014 - 11:54 am

David Ward MP’s tweet on the Jerusalem synagogue attack has been widely covered although, for him, it is relatively restrained:

Posted in News | Also tagged israel and palestine | 53 Comments

Lib Dem Chief Whip on David Ward: “I do not intend to take further action in relation to the tweet”

By Stephen Tall | Wed 13th August 2014 - 6:15 pm

Three weeks ago, Lib Dem MP for Bradford East David Ward tweeted: “The big question is – if I lived in #Gaza would I fire a rocket? – probably yes”. The following day he issued an apology, saying:

I utterly condemn the violence on both sides in Israel and Gaza. I condemn the actions of Hamas, and my comments were not in support of firing rockets into Israel. If they gave the opposite impression, I apologise.

That wasn’t quite the end of the matter, though. The Lib Dem disciplinary process required a meeting between the party’s Chief Whip, Don Foster, and David. That’s now taken place, and it’s been decided there will be no further action. The Yorkshire Post has published the statements issued by both:

Posted in News | Also tagged braford east, don foster, gaza, hamas, israel, middle east, palestine and yorkshire post | 34 Comments

LibLink: David Ward writes about a non-violent path to peace and security

By Mary Reid | Tue 5th August 2014 - 2:45 pm

David Ward has been a little, shall we say, controversial in his statements about the conflict in Gaza. Today he has written about his petition calling for and advocating a non-violent solution.

On his website he writes:

I unreservedly condemn the use of military action by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But how do we arrive at peace in a non-violent way?

Posted in LibLink | Also tagged israel and palestine | 38 Comments

David Ward apologises for his tweet and calls for more action by world community to end humanitarian crisis in Gaza

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 23rd July 2014 - 2:58 pm

David Ward has apologised for last night’s tweet, saying that he does not condone firing rockets into Israel. Here’s his statement in full:

I utterly condemn the violence on both sides in Israel and Gaza.

I condemn the actions of Hamas, and my comments were not in support of firing rockets into Israel. If they gave the opposite impression, I apologise.

However, while I defend the right of Israel to exist and defend itself, I will continue to speak out for the rights of the Palestinian people who are facing untold suffering. More must be done by the world community to end this humanitarian crisis and protect the families living in Gaza. I can understand their plight and desperation.

Posted in News | Also tagged meral hussein ece, nick clegg and stephen williams | 39 Comments

Opinion: Beware conflating offence with racism – Don’t demand David Ward’s expulsion

By Jonathan Brown | Wed 23rd July 2014 - 8:45 am

I recently saw for the first time the new monument commemorating the sacrifices paid by the men of RAF Bomber Command during World War II. It was a moving memorial, as well as an interesting one. We don’t celebrate the deliberate firebombing of German cities these days: we are thankfully queasy about the thought of the mass targeting of civilians. But the erection of this monument shows that although we – uncomfortably perhaps – understand that those fighting that awful war were compromised morally by their actions, we nevertheless sympathise with those who believed that the missions they flew had some military and economic justification.

I ask people to bear this in mind when considering whether or not David Ward should have the whip withdrawn for his tweets expressing sympathy with Gazans (some of whom are) firing rockets at Israeli cities. Some – many – will find the implications of what he says offensive. But we should be careful about citing offense as justification for the sacking of our political representatives. Especially as liberals.

As others have said, we would not call for the expulsion of an MP who expressed sympathy for Israelis motivated to extend their period of military service in reaction to the rockets fired from Gaza. We do not call for the expulsion of MPs who defend sales of British arms to Israel, even though we know there is a strong likelihood of their being used against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Territories.

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | Also tagged israel and palestine | 41 Comments

David Ward: “if I lived in #Gaza would I fire a rocket? – probably yes”

By Stephen Tall | Tue 22nd July 2014 - 11:00 pm

A year ago David Ward, Lib Dem MP for Bradford East, had the party whip temporarily withdrawn after he accused “the Jews” of “inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel”. Though he apologised for blanket-labelling he said he would “continue to make criticisms of actions in Palestine in the strongest possible terms” and has tonight lived up to his word on his Twitter feed:

Posted in News | Also tagged israel, jenny tonge, middle east and palestine | 75 Comments

Ashcroft battlegrounds poll: Lib Dems set to lose four marginal seats to Labour

By Stephen Tall | Sun 6th July 2014 - 2:45 pm

The second of Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft’s polls of Lib Dem marginal seats was published this week, focusing on four of our battlegrounds with Labour: Norwich South (held by Simon Wright), Bradford East (David Ward), Brent Central (Sarah Teather standing down, Ibrahim Taguri selected), and Manchester Withington (John Leech). Also included was Brighton Pavilion, which Caroline Lucas won for the Greens from Labour in 2010.

Posted in News and Polls | Also tagged 2015 general election, bradford east, brent central, ibrahim taguri, john leech, lord ashcroft, manchester withington, norwich south, sarah teather and simon wright | 41 Comments

Lib Dem members on David Ward: majority say his comments were wrong – but majority also say party wrong to suspend him

By Stephen Tall | Mon 29th July 2013 - 2:50 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.

We asked about the party’s decision to suspend the whip from Bradford MP David Ward. This followed controversy in February when ha made controversial comments about Jews (David Ward summoned by Clegg after ‘Jews’ comments – BBC) and then again in July when he tweeted calling Israel an “apartheid state” and saying that “Zionists” were “losing the battle (MP David Ward has Lib Dem whip withdrawn over Israel comment – BBC).

54% say David Ward’s comments were wrong; but 53% say party was wrong to withdraw whip

Lib Dem MP for Bradford East David Ward has had the party whip temporarily withdrawn following controversial comments he has made regarding Israel. Which of these statements most closely matches your own view?

21%

17% – I think the whip should remain withdrawn until he apologises for his comments

16% – I disagree with his comments but oppose the whip being withdrawn

37% – I oppose the whip being withdrawn and support his right to continue speaking out in this way

8% – Don’t know

An interestingly split response. While a clear majority of Lib Dem members disagreed with David Ward’s comments (54%, summing the first three options), a clear majority also oppose the decision of the party leadership to remove the whip until at least 13th September (53%, summing the third/fourth options).

Posted in LDV Members poll | Also tagged israel | 7 Comments

Opinion: Dear David Ward – drop it, please

By Paul Walter | Mon 4th March 2013 - 4:10 pm

On his website, David Ward MP carries an article from his local Telegraph and Argus which begins:

David Ward has lashed out at his Liberal Democrat bosses – accusing them of wrongly claiming he has been ordered to attend “language classes”.
The Bradford East MP insisted no such punishment had been imposed, following his controversial comments about Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
Mr Ward also said it was his understanding that any disciplinary process was now over – despite the Lib Dem chief whip stating it was merely “adjourned”.
And he spoke

…

Posted in Op-eds | 51 Comments

Welcome apology and clarification from David Ward MP

By Paul Walter | Sat 26th January 2013 - 7:02 pm

Earlier this evening, David Ward MP, on his website, issued the following apology and clarification regarding his remarks on Friday.

This is very welcome.

My criticisms of actions since 1948 in the Palestinian territories in the name of the State of Israel remain as strong as ever.

In my comments this week I was trying to make clear that everybody needs to learn the lessons of the Holocaust.

Posted in News | Also tagged featured | 28 Comments

LibLink: Paul David Evans – The Holocaust and David Ward MP

By Joe Otten | Sat 26th January 2013 - 3:14 pm

We carried the news yesterday that David Ward MP had, while marking Holocaust Memorial Day, made comments linking the holocaust to Israeli policy in the occupied territories.

Paul David Evans, who has worked for the Holocaust Educational Trust, examines this commonly-made comparison.

“… is it possible to criticise Israel without being accused of antisemitism, some activists mused on Lib Dem Voice? The answer is that, yes, it’s remarkably easy to criticise Israel without being accused of being a racist. The trick is not to frame your criticism in terms of glaringly obvious

…

Posted in LibLink | Also tagged israel | 13 Comments

Has it all gone Jenny Tonge for David Ward?

By Mark Valladares | Fri 25th January 2013 - 11:56 am

Gentle reader, I appear to have received some flak for writing this – quite possibly merited. So, I’ve tried to edit it for clarity…

A press release from the office of David Ward MP reached Liberal Democrat Voice yesterday;

“Bradford East MP, David Ward, has criticised Israel on the day he has signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.

Sunday January 27th will mark the 68th anniversary of the …

Posted in News | Also tagged guido fawkes, israel and palestine | 88 Comments

++ Government wins vote on Benefits Uprating Bill; 6 Lib Dem MPs rebel

By Stephen Tall | Tue 8th January 2013 - 7:45 pm

There were no serious doubts the Coalition Government’s Benefits Uprating Bill — pegging increases in welfare payments at a below-inflation 1%, the same as public sector wage rises, for the next three years — would be approved. The only question was the size of majority and how many Lib Dems would rebel (I’ve been keeping a running tally here this afternoon).

There were two votes tonight. First, a Labour amendment to the Bill, defeated by 321 votes to 262, a government majority of 59. Then a vote on the unamended second reading, which the government won by 324 votes to …

Posted in News | Also tagged adrian sanders, andrew george, benefits uprating bill, charles kennedy, john leech, julian huppert, sarah teather and welfare | 104 Comments

In other news… Thurso on banking, Ward on immigration, Swales on G4S & other stories

By Stephen Tall | Sun 15th July 2012 - 5:25 pm

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

John Thurso MP to lead banking inquiry (John O’Groat Journal)

CAITHNESS, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso has been elected to lead an inquiry into how the banking system is run. The Lib Dem politician has been chosen as one of five representatives who will

Posted in News | Also tagged bristol council, bristol mayoral election, city of london corporation, clive skelton, draft communications data bill, duncan hames, ian swales, independent commission on banking, john thurso, jon rogers, nick clegg, patrick streeter, shaffaq mohammed, sheffield council, simon cook and tim clement-jones | Leave a comment

The low earner Liberal Democrats revisited

By Mark Pack | Thu 7th June 2012 - 11:50 am

A couple of years back I posted about the “low earner Liberal Democrats” who have been a major part of the party’s progress, especially in squeezing Labour votes in more rural seats and in making progress in urban areas against Labour. Events in the interim have if anything made this group even more important to the party.

In some ways, with in particular the emphasis on the £10,000 or more income tax allowance, support for a (modified) benefits cap and the Pupil Premium, the party’s policy outlook now addresses all the more their main concerns. However, in other ways, it does not.

Posted in News | Also tagged featured and low earner liberal democrats | 8 Comments

Jeanette Sunderland selected to fight Bradford West for the Liberal Democrats

By Helen Duffett | Wed 7th March 2012 - 9:37 pm

Photo: David Ward MP, Jeanette Sunderland and police – Flickr.

Bradford Liberal Democrats have selected Jeanette Sunderland to be their candidate in the Bradford West by-election on 29 March.

The writ was moved yesterday for the by-election after Marsha Singh resigned, for health reasons.

Born and bred in Bradford, Jeanette has been a local councillor for 18 years. In that time she has built up a reputation for being a strong voice for Bradford, and is currently leader …

Posted in News and Parliamentary by-elections | Also tagged bradford west by-election and jeanette sunderland | 21 Comments

The Independent View: The General Power of Competence – Is the sky the limit?

By Richard Carr | Thu 8th September 2011 - 3:51 pm

As the Localism Bill moves into Report stage in the Lords, local authorities are getting ever closer to gaining their much discussed General Power of Competence (GPoC).

For Lib Dems the passage of the Localism Bill is an interesting moment. Many, one suspects, might echo the views of former Lib Dem LGA leader Cllr Richard Kemp who in January blogged his ‘support about 80% of the Bill, like the direction but have concerns about the deliverability of 15% of the Bill, and actively detest 5% of it.’

Though Kemp’s reservations were reserved for the provisions concerning elected mayors, Lib Dems …

Posted in The Independent View | Also tagged andrew stunell, localism bill and richard kemp | Leave a comment

Lib Dem MP launches bill to ‘Save the Cheque’

By Stephen Tall | Sat 6th November 2010 - 5:15 pm

Last year, my Voice colleague, Iain Roberts, reported the efforts of Lib Dem Cheadle MP Mark Hunter to ‘Save the Cheque‘, due to be phased out by October 2018.

Now his fellow Lib Dem MP David Ward (Bradford East) has joined the fray, this week introducing a 10 Minute Rule in the House of Commons to introduce a bill to save the cheque. You ca read the full text of his Commons speech here, and a brief excerpt here:

What have the Federation of Small Businesses, Age Concern, Help the Aged, Unite, Which?, Royal National Institute of Blind

…

Posted in News | Also tagged cheques bill and mark hunter | 14 Comments

Ming on university funding: new system may gain his support

By The Voice | Sat 18th September 2010 - 6:45 am

Former Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell was one of the party’s first MPs to indicate unhappiness with the Coalition’s programme for government, stating he would vote against any increase in student tuition fees that October’s Browne review on university funding might recommend. Under the terms of the Coalition agreement, Lib Dem MPs were supposed only to abstain on any such measure.

However, this week’s Times Higher Education Supplement indicates that the Coalition’s proposals for a graduate contribution may just be enough to win Ming over:

Speaking in the run-up to the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool starting on 18 September,

…

Posted in News | Also tagged higher education, julian huppert, Ming Campbell, tuition fees and universities | 3 Comments

Ros Scott’s campaign diary

By Baroness Ros Scott | Mon 5th April 2010 - 8:16 pm

During the general election campaign we will be running a series of diary pieces from party president Ros Scott. To kick off here’s her campaign diary of this month so far:

1 April

I’m fed up with waiting for Gordon Brown to call the election, so I’ve started without him.

Maundy Thursday saw me up bright and early to catch the 8.35 train to Sheffield for my first official visit of the campaign. I met up with Paul Scriven, leader of the City Council, and our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) in Sheffield Central. Paul is both a highly effective council leader and …

Posted in General Election | Also tagged ashfield, bradford east, claire kelley, denis healy, dunfermline & west fife, glasgow north, gordon brown, greg mulholland, harrogate, hull north, ian swales, jason zadrozny, katy gordon, leeds north west, paul scriven, redcar, sheffield central and willie rennie | 1 Comment

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Tag Archives: david ward

David Ward removed as a candidate

Just when we thought we didn’t have to worry about David Ward’s tweets any more…

David Ward MP: Jerusalem synagogue attackers “driven to madness by failure of international community to deal with Israel”

Lib Dem Chief Whip on David Ward: “I do not intend to take further action in relation to the tweet”

LibLink: David Ward writes about a non-violent path to peace and security

David Ward apologises for his tweet and calls for more action by world community to end humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Opinion: Beware conflating offence with racism – Don’t demand David Ward’s expulsion

David Ward: “if I lived in #Gaza would I fire a rocket? – probably yes”

Ashcroft battlegrounds poll: Lib Dems set to lose four marginal seats to Labour

Lib Dem members on David Ward: majority say his comments were wrong – but majority also say party wrong to suspend him

54% say David Ward’s comments were wrong; but 53% say party was wrong to withdraw whip

Opinion: Dear David Ward – drop it, please

Welcome apology and clarification from David Ward MP

LibLink: Paul David Evans – The Holocaust and David Ward MP

Has it all gone Jenny Tonge for David Ward?

++ Government wins vote on Benefits Uprating Bill; 6 Lib Dem MPs rebel

In other news… Thurso on banking, Ward on immigration, Swales on G4S & other stories

The low earner Liberal Democrats revisited

Jeanette Sunderland selected to fight Bradford West for the Liberal Democrats

The Independent View: The General Power of Competence – Is the sky the limit?

Lib Dem MP launches bill to ‘Save the Cheque’

Ming on university funding: new system may gain his support

Ros Scott’s campaign diary

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Caling all trans allies in Brighton – show support at 1pm today

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54% say David Ward’s comments were wrong; but 53% say party was wrong to withdraw whip

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