Tag Archives: european elections 2014

LibLink: Catherine Bearder MEP – UKIP’s utter contempt for the electorate

By The Voice | Thu 1st May 2014 - 2:32 pm

Following Nigel Farage’s eventual decision not to run in the Newark by-election, Lib Dem MEP for the South-East of England Catherine Bearder shared her thoughts on UKIP’s approach to holding public office, over at the Huffington Post:

Following hours of umming and ahing, Nigel Farage finally declared that he won’t stand for election in the upcoming by-election in Newark, desperately insisting that he is still “a fighter”. It is remarkable that the very man who claims he is not your typical politician, that he

…

Posted in LibLink | Also tagged catherine bearded and ukip | 11 Comments

Latest Euro election polls: Ukip take the lead, but what about the Lib Dems?

By Stephen Tall | Wed 30th April 2014 - 10:20 pm

It’s the last day of April, a month which began with the second ‘Nick v Nigel’ debate and has seen 11 polls asking specifically about voting intentions in the European elections on 22nd May. Here’s what they show:

Quite a lot of movement, but the trend appears now to be that Ukip are in a clear first place above 30%, followed by Labour around 25%, then the Tories on 20%. The Lib Dems are some way back in fourth place, at or around 10%, with the Greens fluctuating …

Posted in Europe / International and Polls | 50 Comments

The Independent View: New report from the Electoral Reform Society: Close the Gap – Tackling Europe’s democratic deficit

By Nick Tyrone | Wed 30th April 2014 - 10:53 am

The new report out by the ERS, written by Chris Terry, is one in which the problem of “democratic deficit” in the European Union is explored. This is an issue that pro-Europeans have traditionally shied away from. However, it is the pro-Europeans who must actually take the arguments forward if Britain is to remain in the EU. The Eurosceptics, meanwhile, simply need to hammer home the fact that, from their point of view, there are no answers other than exit.

In the report, twelve recommendations on how to …

Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Also tagged ers | 8 Comments

Opinion: I’m voting Lib Dem in spite of, not because of, our ‘Party of IN’ campaign

By Mark Dimmock | Sat 26th April 2014 - 11:00 am

If you believe the messages sent out from ‘The Party Of In’ during this Euro-election campaign, then you might think that my current political position is logically confused and that I simply misunderstand the options before me on May 22nd. However, I intend to vote Lib Dem in the Euro-elections in spite, not because, of our on-going commitment to remaining in the European Union.

I do not pretend to be an expert on European matters – and I do not claim to be …

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | Also tagged European referendum, european union and featured | 29 Comments

“The fight is on; it’s time to pick a side” – Clegg launches European election campaign

By The Voice | Thu 24th April 2014 - 11:51 am

At a Town Hall style event in Colchester this morning, Nick Clegg launched the Lib Dem campaign for the European elections, which will see the party seeking to defend its 12 seats in the European Parliament.

Speaking at the event, Clegg framed the elections as a clear choice between internationalism and isolationism:

The election on the 22 May is about one thing: do you think Britain is better off in the EU, or do you think we should be out? Finally the big question at the heart of the European debate

…

Posted in News | 41 Comments

Latest ICM poll: Lib Dems at 12% for Westminster, but just 6% in the Euros

By Stephen Tall | Tue 15th April 2014 - 10:00 am

As I’ve mentioned before, The Guardian’s ICM poll is the one I wait for each month. The latest figures are now up, and the figures are… well, I’m not sure what to make of them really.

In the snapshot of Westminster voting intentions, the Lib Dems are unchanged from last month on 12%, ahead of Ukip on 11% (+2%). Labour lead the Conservatives by 37% (-1%) to 32% (-3%). All the figures are within the margin of error. The party will be relieved to see that there’s …

Posted in Polls | Also tagged icm | 49 Comments

Nick v Nigel: the polls call it for Farage. Disappointing, but don’t panic! Here’s 3 reasons why you shouldn’t…

By Stephen Tall | Wed 2nd April 2014 - 10:30 pm

Last week we had one post-debate poll. It showed Farage won overall, but the split was more interesting: Labour and Lib Dem voters went for Nick, Tory and Ukippers for Nigel. As you’d probably expect.

This week we had two post-debate polls, and their results are remarkably similar. ICM says Clegg was reckoned to have won by 31% of viewers, Farage by 69%. YouGov says 27% preferred Clegg, 68% Farage.

ICM has released the breakdown of its poll. This week, Labour voters split (narrowly) in Farage’s favour, by 57% …

Posted in Op-eds and Polls | Also tagged featured and nickvnigel | 56 Comments

Nick v Nigel, Round 2: My second thoughts

By Stephen Tall | Wed 2nd April 2014 - 8:22 pm

Last week, there was no doubt in my mind that Nick Clegg won the debate – he quite simply out-classed Nigel Farage, and YouGov’s poll showed Labour and Lib Dem voters agreed (though not Tory and Ukip voters).

This week, it was much more evenly matched. The early part belonged to Nick. With the focus on the Ukip leader’s praise for Vladimir Putin as a “brilliant operator”, Nigel Farage was always going to be on the back-foot. He was, and Nick was able successfully to claim the calm …

Posted in News | Also tagged featured and nickvnigel | 41 Comments

Latest Euro poll shows how, in this May’s elections, every %-age point matters for the Lib Dems

By Stephen Tall | Fri 28th March 2014 - 11:45 am

Interest in the outcome of May’s European elections is picking up, at least judged by the number of polls the newspapers are commissioning – four have been published in the last fortnight. Here’s the average support for the parties:

Converting that into seats using EuroElection predict’s online gizmo would produce the following figures:

Posted in Europe / International and Polls | Also tagged nickvnigel | 28 Comments

Your essential Nick v Nigel debate reader: 15 articles to get you match-fit ahead of tonight’s live encounter

By Stephen Tall | Wed 26th March 2014 - 1:00 pm

Today’s the day of the first Nick v Nigel debate. Here’s your essential reader ahead of tonight’s first encounter between the Lib Dem and Ukip leaders…

Three LibDemVoice articles…

First, let’s recall how the debate came about – Nick Clegg challenged Nigel Farage to the debate live on his LBC radio phone-in last month: “It’s a brave, maybe audacious move,” said my co-editor Caron Lindsay, “but Nick has never been one to shy away from a challenge. He’s also honed his already good debating skills since his success in 2010.”

And as I pointed out then, it was a smart …

Posted in Europe / International | Also tagged nick clegg, nickvnigel and nigel farage | Leave a comment

Issan Ghazni encourages Europeans living in the UK to vote Lib Dem in May

By The Voice | Mon 17th March 2014 - 8:56 am

Last month, East Midlands Euro Candidate Issan Ghazni wrote that the party should be encouraging EU citizens living in the UK to vote for us as the only positive pro European party:

People in the cafes told me they were fearful of the anti-immigration rhetoric of UKIP and the Tory Right, and many would enthusiastically support the Lib Dems if only we made contact with them.

Posted in News | Also tagged east midlands liberal democrats and issan ghazni | 5 Comments

LDVideo: Chris Davies MEP “UKIP are not there when it matters”

By The Voice | Wed 12th March 2014 - 11:25 am

Chris Davies has been speaking in the European Parliament about the voting record of his UKIP colleagues and how they just don’t turn up for important votes. He also mentioned how one turned up to a vote on e-cigarettes not long after UKIP received a donation from an e-cigarette manufacturer. That, he said, was the price of a UKIP vote.

He called their voting record dire and said that they were well known for taking their money but did precious little to defend the interests they hold dear.

And he did it all in his own inimitable style.

Enjoy.

Posted in Europe / International | Also tagged chris davies mep, european parliament, ldvideo and ukip | 7 Comments

Lib Dems as ‘The Party of IN’ – Clegg’s pro-European strategy starts to pay off

By Stephen Tall | Wed 5th March 2014 - 7:10 pm

Kudos to Nick Clegg and his team, including his director of strategy Ryan Coetzee. The gambit of issuing a personal challenge to Nigel Farage to debate Nick on Europe has been accepted not only by the Ukip leader, but also now by the media. As Caron Lindsay reported here this morning – #NickvNigel – We have a date and #NickvNigel: We have 2 dates – any more for the Tour? – the two leaders will face-off both on TV and on radio within the next …

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | Also tagged caron lindsay, featured, jeremy cliffe, nick clegg, nigel farage, ryan coetzee, the economist and ukip | 53 Comments

South East UKIP Euro candidate says businesses should have right not to serve women and gay people

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 5th March 2014 - 5:43 pm

On the day that Nick Clegg has pointed out how, well, useless UKIP MEPs are, I had a look back 5 years to a post I wrote two days before the 2009 European election in which I pointed out why they are really bad news. I could have written it today. Nothing really has changed.

And over that 5 years, we’ve had a stream of UKIP councillors and parliamentary hopefuls say silly things. We’ve had the floods being related to equal marriage and Godfrey Bloom’s fridgegate. Not to mention one of their major donors describe women wearing …

Posted in News | Also tagged donna edmunds, giles goodall, south east and ukip | 13 Comments

Four-in-10 voters would never consider voting for the Lib Dems – but it’s not all bad news…

By Stephen Tall | Thu 27th February 2014 - 3:30 pm

Some interesting poll data from Ipsos-Mori who were asked by British Future to look at attitudes towards voting for the four main political parties. Here’s three points that stood out for the Lib Dems:

Four-in-10 voters would never consider voting for the Lib Dems, Conservatives or Ukip. Labour is less unpopular: one-in-three voters would never consider voting Labour.

Lib Dem supporter are the most anti-Ukip: 62% say they would never consider voting Ukip. This compares with 43% of Lib Dems saying they would never consider voting Conservative, and 38% saying they would never vote for Labour.

The feelings mutual… Ukip supporters

…

Posted in Polls | Also tagged ipsos-mori and mike smithson | 4 Comments

LibLink: Nick Clegg: Only the Liberal Democrats are prepared to stand up for Britain’s place in Europe.

By NewsHound | Wed 12th February 2014 - 11:00 am

Nick Clegg has been writing over at the Independent to mark 100 days before the European elections.

He has a simple and clear message – you can only trust the Liberal Democrats to stand up for Britain’s interests, and therefore safeguard jobs, in Europe. He says that the Euros don’t usually “set the heart racing”, but this time, there’s a lot to lose:

Ukip has been coming up on the rails in British politics for years and it sees this May as its breakthrough moment. Mainstream politicians have made the mistake in the past of not taking UKIP, or the people who

…

Posted in Europe / International and LibLink | Also tagged eu, independent and nick clegg | 68 Comments

Martin Horwood MP writes: Liberal Democrats must be the voice of small business in Europe

By Martin Horwood | Wed 12th February 2014 - 8:52 am

It’s common knowledge that small businesses are the dynamic engines behind economic recoveries – light-footed, innovative and quick to seize the opportunities of growth. I met just such a business in my own Cheltenham constituency recently, exporting highly specialised cleaning products to the world. Today in Brussels the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) launches its manifesto for the European elections and it is full of great ideas for making the European Union more competitive, accountable and efficient – all priorities for Liberal Democrat Members of the next European Parliament.

Our MEPs and ministers have already achieved some notable …

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | Also tagged eu | 1 Comment

Sneak Preview of new Party Political Broadcast: Scottish version #whyIamin

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 5th February 2014 - 2:51 pm

And here’s the Scottish version of the new broadcast, with a section featuring Willie Rennie arguing that Scotland needs to stay in the UK and the UK needs to stay in the EU.

He said in an email to members:

The European elections might be just round the corner but the Conservatives are flirting with exit from the EU. Labour won’t lift a finger to keep us in Europe and the SNP’s independence plans gamble with our EU membership and threaten jobs at home.

The message we are sending to Scots in this broadcast is clear. Only one party is protecting jobs by working to keep Scotland in Britain – and Britain in Europe. That party is the Liberal Democrats.

To secure the economic recovery and get more Scots into work we need strong Liberal Democrat voices at Holyrood, Westminster and in Brussels.

Posted in News | Also tagged eu, nick clegg, party political broadcast and wilie rennie | Leave a comment

Phil Bennion MEP writes: It’s time we had a sensible, evidence-led debate on EU freedom of movement

By Phil Bennion | Thu 16th January 2014 - 11:45 am

Freedom of movement is one of the EU’s most cherished achievements. It has given millions of people the opportunity to work, study and retire across the continent and has brought huge economic and social gains.

But the recent debate has taken a serious turn for the worse. Both the Conservatives and Labour are dancing to the tune of UKIP.

It falls to Liberal Democrats to set the record straight and defend the benefits that freedom of movement brings, including for the 2 million or so British citizens who live across the EU. These are not just retirees in Spain or Portugal, but …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged eu and eu migration | 40 Comments

First Euro poll of 2014 shows Lib Dems at 7%. Can we make being ‘The Party of IN’ work for us by the time of the real election?

By Stephen Tall | Thu 16th January 2014 - 10:55 am

The first poll this year asking how people will vote in May’s European elections has been published today by YouGov. It gives the following headline ratings compared with the last elections in 2009:

Feed these numbers (plus those for the Greens, SNP/Plaid and others) into euroelection.co.uk and here’s what it means for numbers of seats:

The Lib Dems would be reduced from 11 seats to just 4, if these numbers are to be believed. The Tories number of MEPs …

Posted in Europe / International and Polls | Also tagged ryan coetzee, total politics and yougov | 40 Comments

LibLink: Tim Farron: European Arrest Warrant is a vital weapon in the fight against crime

By Newsmoggie | Wed 15th January 2014 - 4:48 pm

Farron the Ubiquitous (he is, but that’s not a complaint) has been writing for the Huffington Post again, this time, as befits the man in charge of the European Election campaign, on the European Arrest Warrant.

First, he reminds us of the high profile cases where the warrant has brought British criminals back to justice.

Hussain Osman fled to Italy after the failed 21 July 2005 London bombings, during which he placed an explosive at Shepherd’s Bush tube station. Just one week later, he was tracked down and arrested by Italian police on a euro-warrant issued by a British court before

…

Posted in News | Also tagged european arrest warrant, huffington post and tim farron | 10 Comments

Opinion: Horizon 2020 means €80 billion extra science for Europe and jobs in the UK

By Antony Hook | Wed 15th January 2014 - 9:44 am

If I say, “Europe gives us a wider horizon” you might think this was a general observation that uniting as a continent, doing things together, helps us see and reach further in the world.

It certainly does but I have in mind a specific horizon: the Horizon 2020 fund. This is €80 billion that the European Union has voted to allocate to scientific research in 2014-20.

A European fund like this means a big opportunity for the UK. We have some of the best universities and other research institutions. They are well placed to apply for grants under this fund. Already …

Posted in News | Also tagged #whyiamIN, eu and science | 16 Comments

Guy Verhofstadt writes… 2014 European elections and the challenge for Liberals

By Guy Verhofstadt | Mon 13th January 2014 - 12:38 pm

This year’s European elections are bound to be a tough fight. Eurosceptics such as UKIP and the French National Front are determined to turn back the clock and tear down the internal market, stoking xenophobia and putting millions of jobs at risk. In the UK context, the Conservatives appear to want to throw in the towel and leave the EU, whilst Labour are still sitting uncomfortably on the fence. Only Lib Dems are clear where they stand as the party of In.

Being the main pro-European party, across the EU, though does not mean defending the status quo. As Liberals we …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged civil liberties, crime, jobs and single market | 27 Comments

Opinion: Time to expose UKIP

By Issan Ghazni | Fri 27th December 2013 - 1:00 pm

The recent expose of UKIP’s Victoria Ayling, who wants to send all immigrants “back home” offers a glimpse at the nasty side of this party which Nigel Farage would rather keep hidden.

Talk of ‘repatriating’ of immigrants sends a cold shudder up my spine as I remember the 1970s rhetoric of when that phrase applied exclusively to those from the Commonwealth.

As a European candidate in the East Midlands, the same region Ayling is from, I want voters to be informed the true face of UKIP.

For a party which many commentators speculate will reap the most votes in next May’s …

Posted in News | Also tagged go home vans, nigel farage, ukip and victoria ayling | 51 Comments

2013 @ALDEParty Congress: a manifesto is born

By Mark Valladares | Fri 20th December 2013 - 2:41 pm

ALDE has become the first of the European political parties to release its manifesto for next year’s European elections.

As ALDE Party President, Sir Graham Watson notes;

This manifesto is a departure from the norm – it has been forged in the heat of the crisis Europe has been weathering for a number of years now. I am pleased that it demands a stronger union to serve our interests while calling for a cutback in top-heavy, unnecessary and costly bureaucracy. A stronger, simpler union is what we all want and need and that is what our manifesto delivers. It is a solid

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Also tagged ALDE | 1 Comment

Polling Day for the 2014 local elections set for May 22nd

By Helen Duffett | Mon 1st July 2013 - 4:41 pm

From the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors:

Well we all knew it was coming but now it’s confirmed. A statement in the House of Commons… confirms that the 2014 local elections will be on the same day as the European elections in the UK – Thursday 22nd May 2014. We’ll send out a draft timetable shortly.

The full statement:

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): As I informed the House on 26 March, Official Report, column 84WS, we published a consultation document inviting views on whether or not we should, subject

…

Posted in News | Also tagged aldc, brandon lewis and local elections 2014 | 2 Comments

Lord Paul Tyler writes…Never on a Sunday?

By Paul Tyler | Fri 21st June 2013 - 12:59 pm

Some little Englander MPs, as we know, are incredibly jumpy about anything they think might have come from Europe. The latest in the line of Brussels bogeymen is the worrying advent of public activity at the weekend, which could – they say – cause all kinds of terrible problems.

The British Social Attitudes survey (not the dangerous ‘Eurobarometer’) has found that 45.7% of the public regard themselves as belonging to ‘no religion’. Of those who do profess some faith, 57.5% say they ‘never or practically never’ attend meetings or services connected to their religion. A further 20% say they do …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged conservatives, election law and eu | 6 Comments

Opinion: Referendum debate is a sideshow: the countdown to Britain’s real EU vote starts today

By Giles Goodall | Wed 22nd May 2013 - 4:18 pm

In or out? With or without? Will they, won’t they? The sound and fury over a referendum on Britain’s EU membership has become almost deafening over the past few days. It is a confused debate driven by a small and virulent band of anti-Europeans. Their success lies in a dual strategy of shackling the issue to others of much wider public concern (such as immigration), while simultaneously blackmailing one of Britain’s great pro-European parties (the Conservatives) into adopting ever more anti-European positions – against their own traditions, intuition and better judgement.

Around Europe, the ‘British question’ is also furrowing brows – …

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | 27 Comments

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A roadmap to Queer Equality (Tara Foster)
A strange but welcome feeling (Jennie Rigg)
Fifteen years ago today…… (Caron Lindsay)
Mathew on Monday: Pluralism Means More Than a Slogan (Mathew Hulbert)
Urgent Call to Action by Lib Dem MPs on Palestine (John Kelly)

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A strange but welcome feeling

Observations of an Expat: The Elephant Returns

Liberal Democrats should be the first choice for women

Liberal Democrats cannot afford to be absent from Britain’s cities

Tag Archives: european elections 2014

LibLink: Catherine Bearder MEP – UKIP’s utter contempt for the electorate

Latest Euro election polls: Ukip take the lead, but what about the Lib Dems?

The Independent View: New report from the Electoral Reform Society: Close the Gap – Tackling Europe’s democratic deficit

Opinion: I’m voting Lib Dem in spite of, not because of, our ‘Party of IN’ campaign

“The fight is on; it’s time to pick a side” – Clegg launches European election campaign

Latest ICM poll: Lib Dems at 12% for Westminster, but just 6% in the Euros

Nick v Nigel: the polls call it for Farage. Disappointing, but don’t panic! Here’s 3 reasons why you shouldn’t…

Nick v Nigel, Round 2: My second thoughts

Latest Euro poll shows how, in this May’s elections, every %-age point matters for the Lib Dems

Your essential Nick v Nigel debate reader: 15 articles to get you match-fit ahead of tonight’s live encounter

Three LibDemVoice articles…

Issan Ghazni encourages Europeans living in the UK to vote Lib Dem in May

LDVideo: Chris Davies MEP “UKIP are not there when it matters”

Lib Dems as ‘The Party of IN’ – Clegg’s pro-European strategy starts to pay off

South East UKIP Euro candidate says businesses should have right not to serve women and gay people

Four-in-10 voters would never consider voting for the Lib Dems – but it’s not all bad news…

LibLink: Nick Clegg: Only the Liberal Democrats are prepared to stand up for Britain’s place in Europe.

Martin Horwood MP writes: Liberal Democrats must be the voice of small business in Europe

Sneak Preview of new Party Political Broadcast: Scottish version #whyIamin

Phil Bennion MEP writes: It’s time we had a sensible, evidence-led debate on EU freedom of movement

First Euro poll of 2014 shows Lib Dems at 7%. Can we make being ‘The Party of IN’ work for us by the time of the real election?

LibLink: Tim Farron: European Arrest Warrant is a vital weapon in the fight against crime

Opinion: Horizon 2020 means €80 billion extra science for Europe and jobs in the UK

Guy Verhofstadt writes… 2014 European elections and the challenge for Liberals

Opinion: Time to expose UKIP

2013 @ALDEParty Congress: a manifesto is born

Polling Day for the 2014 local elections set for May 22nd

Lord Paul Tyler writes…Never on a Sunday?

Opinion: Referendum debate is a sideshow: the countdown to Britain’s real EU vote starts today

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A strange but welcome feeling

Observations of an Expat: The Elephant Returns

Liberal Democrats should be the first choice for women

Liberal Democrats cannot afford to be absent from Britain’s cities

Tag Archives: european elections 2014

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