Tag Archives: tim farron

Stephen Tall

LDV Sunday caption competition: “At last, it’s the the Nick & Tim show” edition

By Stephen Tall | Sun 2nd January 2011 - 4:15 pm

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


(Image by Alex Folkes/Fishnik Photography via Lib Dem Flickr photostream.)

Here’s the new Lib Dem party president Tim Farron side-by-side with Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. What do you think they might be saying to, or thinking about, each other?

The winner of our most recent caption competition, the “Tim Farron goes out on a wing” edition – according to The Voice’s judging panel of one – was

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Posted in Caption Comp | Also tagged | 23 Comments
Mark Pack

The Liberal Democrat challenges for 2011: showing the difference Liberal Democrats make

By Mark Pack | Thu 23rd December 2010 - 10:25 am

Over the festive season we’re running a series of posts on the main Liberal Democrat challenges for 2011. You can find all the posts as they appear here.

When it comes to getting public support in return for making a positive impact on the coalition government, there are two requirements for the party. It has to have achievements that people know are down to the Liberal Democrats and also to have achievements which add up to more than a scattering of interesting details. Unless there is a clear thread running through them, the details will get lost in the non-political noise …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged and | 6 Comments
Helen Duffett

Tim Farron: Why would any sane progressive give Labour a second glance?

By Helen Duffett | Mon 13th December 2010 - 5:09 pm

Today Labour leader Ed Miliband made a pitch for disaffected Lib Dem members at his first monthly press conference as Leader of the Opposition, saying,

…Today I want to make an offer to Liberal Democrats: To those who are reluctant to abandon ship, but are concerned at the direction of their party, I invite them to work with us on issues of common interest.

Commenting on Mr Miliband’s ‘offer’ of policy input, Liberal Democrat President-elect Tim Farron said:

Labour have just spent 13 years sucking up to Rupert Murdoch and George Bush – why would any sane progressive even give them

…

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Posted in News | Also tagged and | 62 Comments
Richard Huzzey

Opinion: Richard Huzzey – “I resign”

By Richard Huzzey | Thu 9th December 2010 - 7:30 pm

Vince Cable and Nick Clegg have pursued a strategy that has resembled a poorly-scripted comedy as much as a bitter tragedy in the past month.

This week we have reached the final act of a farcical and disastrous process whereby Liberal Democrat MPs have squirmed to escape an explicit pledge and desperately tried to equate their promise to the level of a policy aspiration.

By now all readers know the argument that a pledge is more than policy and the arguments why more help for part-timers does not balance out the damage of full marketization of fees. So, instead of repeating them, …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , , and | 226 Comments
Mark Pack

Tim Farron on being Liberal Democrat President

By Mark Pack | Sat 4th December 2010 - 12:27 pm

A new film from Tim Farron MP on what he wants to do when he takes over as President of the Liberal Democrats on 1 January (and watch out for an exciting close-up of the back of my neck):

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Posted in News | 4 Comments
Mark Pack

Tim Farron on life in coalition

By Mark Pack | Wed 1st December 2010 - 8:46 am

Newly elected Liberal Democrat President Tim Farron (who takes office on 1 January) was the guest speaker last night at the Islington Liberal Democrats AGM, so I took the chance to film this short piece:

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Posted in News | 2 Comments
Mark Pack

Changing the party’s internal election rules

By Mark Pack | Tue 30th November 2010 - 10:26 am

The party’s new President, Tim Farron, is committed to changing the rules for how our elections are conducted, as he revealed in answer to a question I posed during the contest:

Do you believe the party’s rules for elections for federal committees and the Interim Peers have the right level of restrictions on what campaigning can be done by or on behalf of candidates, and if not what would you alter?

Far too restrictive – there should be very tight expenditure limits to make sure that the well off don’t have any kind of advantage but apart from that it seems

…

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Posted in Party policy and internal matters | 3 Comments
Mark Pack

“Lib Dems plotting council tax hike for second homes”

By Mark Pack | Sun 28th November 2010 - 11:24 am

So reports the Independent on Sunday:

Owners of second homes could be stripped of their council tax discount under Liberal Democrat plans to raise millions of pounds for town halls.

Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is among ministers who back ending rules that force local authorities to cut bills by 10 to 50 per cent for owners of weekend bolt-holes. In a Commons motion, the Lib Dem president, Tim Farron, suggested the cost of providing the discount could be spent on local services or cutting council tax bills for all…

Mr Farron, whose Cumbrian constituency has more than

…

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Posted in News | Also tagged and | 27 Comments
Helen Duffett

Tim Farron asks Labour where they stand on Phil Woolas

By Helen Duffett | Fri 19th November 2010 - 4:42 pm

From a party news release:

Liberal Democrat Party President-Elect Tim Farron has written to the General Secretary of the Labour Party, Ray Collins, asking him to clarify the Labour Party’s position on Phil Woolas following criticism of Harriet Harman’s decision to suspend him by a number of backbench MPs.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear General Secretary,

Firstly may I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on the news of your elevation to the House of Lords.

However, I am writing to you to raise the matter of the judgement of the Election Court in Oldham East and Saddleworth on November 5th and

…

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Posted in News | Also tagged , , and | 6 Comments
Helen Duffett

LDVideo: “Come to Oldham” edition

By Helen Duffett | Wed 17th November 2010 - 5:35 pm

A twin travelogue treat to tempt Lib Dems to go and help in the Oldham East and Saddleworth election rerun:

If you choose your delivery round carefully, you can see some pretty scenery in the constituency – Chris Davies MEP gives us a glimpse of the countryside while urging us to turn up soon:

Video also available on Youtube here.

Next, Lib Dem President-elect Tim Farron takes us behind the scenes at Campaign HQ – those leaflets won’t deliver themselves…

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Posted in Lib Dem TV and Parliamentary by-elections | Also tagged and | 9 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDV Saturday caption competition: “Tim Farron goes out on a wing” edition

By Stephen Tall | Sat 13th November 2010 - 3:15 pm

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


(Image courtesy the Lib Dems Flickr photostream.)

Here’s newly elected Lib Dem president Tim Farron preparing to launch a paper aeroplane into the debate at the party conference, as an unimpressed-looking Ed Davey, minister for employment relations, consumer and postal affairs, looks on. What do you think they might be saying to, or thinking about, each other?

The winner of our most recent caption competition, the “Downing Street CSR special edition” – according …

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Posted in Caption Comp | 23 Comments
Helen Duffett

Lib Dem Presidential Contest: Result

By Helen Duffett | Sat 13th November 2010 - 12:19 pm

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Posted in News and Party Presidency | Also tagged and | 26 Comments
Stephen Tall

LDV survey: The qualities members want from the Lib Dem party president (and whose campaign reached most members)

By Stephen Tall | Sat 13th November 2010 - 11:15 am

Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the contest for the party presidency, the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Almost 600 party members have responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

As today is the day the result of the contest to become party president is declared, here’s a Wordle illustrating what party members feel are the most important qualities whoever is successful should bring to the role (click on the image to enlarge)…

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Posted in LDV Members poll, Online politics and Party Presidency | Also tagged | 6 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dem Presidential contest: result due early this afternoon

By The Voice | Sat 13th November 2010 - 10:00 am

The results of the election for president of the Lib Dems will be announced today, soon after 12pm, and Lib Dem Voice’s Helen Duffett will be reporting back live from the count. A reminder, as if you needed one, of the two candidates standing for the post:

  • Tim Farron
  • Susan Kramer

    • If you’re interested in looking back at the coverage of the race that’s appeared here on LDV, then click here.

    The results for the party committee elections and Peers panel are also expected early this afternoon, so watch this space.

    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged | Leave a comment
    Stephen Tall

    EXCLUSIVE: Tim Farron set to win contest for party presidency

    By Stephen Tall | Thu 11th November 2010 - 10:15 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the contest for the party presidency, the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Almost 600 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results over the next few days.

    First, we asked what party members thought of the campaigns of the two presidential candidates, Tim Farron and Susan Kramer:

    Regardless of how you intend to vote, which of the two candidates do you think has run the best campaign to become party president?

      50% – Tim Farron

    …

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    Posted in LDV Members poll and Party Presidency | Also tagged | 20 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Wanted: a hyperactive online MP

    By Mark Pack | Thu 4th November 2010 - 8:55 am

    Last week I talked about the role reversal facing the Liberal Democrats, with the party’s traditional stronger record at political tactics than strategy having been flipped around. In that, and the subsequent post Part 2 of the Nick Clegg reshuffle, I highlighted some tactical communication needs the party must get better at. Given my own habit of pointing out that people should not just criticise but should also offer solutions, here are my own suggestions.

    Middle-ranking ministers need to communicate more

    The large majority of Liberal Democrat ministers are not in the Cabinet. However, the departmental communication structures are set-up to …

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    Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged and | 4 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Kramer versus Farron: what sort of President does the party want?

    By Mark Pack | Tue 2nd November 2010 - 7:27 am

    Party members are unusually lucky with the current contest for President of the Liberal Democrats. It is rare for there to be two credible, high-profile candidates standing at the same time but this time there is a real choice between two such people.

    Some differences between Susan Kramer and Tim Farron were obvious from the start of the campaign and are swaying some voters, depending on their views on matters such as how important (or not) it is for one of the party’s most prominent posts to be held by a woman, whether an MP has enough time to do the job, whether a current MP from outside London or an ex-MP from London is more outside the Westminster bubble and so on.

    However, two further differences between the candidates have come out clearly during the campaign.

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged and | 18 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Tim Farron answers 10 questions about his campaign for Party President

    By Mark Pack | Tue 2nd November 2010 - 7:26 am

    Susan Kramer and Tim Farron were both asked the same ten questions about their bid to be LibDem President and given the option to reply in whatever format and at whatever length they wished. Tim’s answers are below and you can find Susan’s answers here. My own commentary on the answers and race more generally is here.

    1. Many parts of the Bones Commission were deferred until after the 2010 general election. Now that it has happened, what would your plans be for implementing, modifying or mothballing those outstanding parts?

    The Bones report was insightful and a lot of thought …

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Leave a comment
    Mark Pack

    Farron and Kramer: party should retain long-term aim of abolishing tuition fees

    By Mark Pack | Mon 1st November 2010 - 8:55 am

    Both of the candidates to be the next Liberal Democrat President have expressed their support for the party retaining a long-term aim of abolishing tuition fees.

    Tomorrow Liberal Democrat Voice will publish in full the answers from Susan Kramer and Tim Farron to a set of questions Lib Dem Voice has posed them. Their answers paint two different views on what the role should be of the Party President and how they would approach it. But on several issues they both agree, including on tuition fees:

    Do you believe the party should have a long-term commitment to the abolition of tuition fees?

    Kramer: …

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    Posted in News and Party Presidency | Also tagged , , and | 4 Comments
    Katy Riddle

    Opinion: Secret ingredients and the 2010 General Election

    By Katy Riddle | Sat 30th October 2010 - 10:25 am

    Over the past few months, many people within the Liberal Democrats have asked me for my views on the 2010 General Election campaign, and the lessons that we can learn from the experience ready for next time.

    In the South Central region (where I worked as the Campaigns Officer) the results were mixed. We had substantial swings towards us in both Portsmouth South and Eastleigh, but failed to win Oxford East from Labour, and sadly lost our previously held seats of Oxford West and Abingdon, Winchester, and Romsey to the Conservatives.

    Clearly any election result is the unique consequence of a combination …

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    Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged and | 17 Comments
    Iain Roberts

    Liblink: Liberal Vision grills Kramer and Farron

    By Iain Roberts | Tue 26th October 2010 - 5:34 pm

    Liberal Vision have published interviews conducted with each of the candidates for the Liberal Democrat presidency: Susan Kramer and Tim Farron.

    Read the Farron interview here and the Kramer interview here.

    As a taster:

    Liberal Vision: In one sentence why should people who read our blog back your campaign?

    Susan Kramer: Overwhelmingly it’s to be the voice for the grass roots of the party, creating that two-way connection between the grass roots and the leadership, and keeping us unified. We shouldn’t let other pull us apart

    Tim Farron: Because they want the Liberal Democrats to win, and because

    …

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    Posted in LibLink and Party Presidency | Also tagged | 4 Comments
    NewsHound

    Liblink: Liberator interviews the presidential hopefuls

    By NewsHound | Tue 26th October 2010 - 11:15 am

    Liberator magazine has asked the two Lib Dem presidential contenders those tough questions – read their responses here.

    A taster to whet your appetite:

    Q5: How will you ensure that you gain regular and meaningful access to the party leader?

    Farron: He won’t be able to get rid of me. Being an MP gives me direct access to the media to get our message across and it also gives me close access to Nick. I’ll be a critical friend to the coalition and a candid friend to Nick. As President, I would carry a mandate from the members to ensure that the

    …

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    Posted in LibLink and Party Presidency | Also tagged | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    LDVideo: Susan Kramer and Tim Farron’s online Presidential hustings

    By Helen Duffett | Fri 22nd October 2010 - 3:41 pm

    Tim Farron and Susan Kramer took part in an online hustings this week, taking questions from a live and online audience. Play the video below to watch the two candidates explain why they want to be Party President and discuss what they would do in the role.

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged | 3 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Farron and Kramer: their email pitches for President

    By Mark Pack | Mon 18th October 2010 - 6:05 pm

    Party members have been receiving emails today from Tim Farron and Susan Kramer setting out their pitches for party president. Of course, the emails can only go to party members for whom the party has an accurate email address. So I’ve reproduced the emails below – and if you’ve missed out but would like to get future party emails, get in touch with Membership Services on [email protected]

    If reading these messages moves you to want to ask the candidates a question, don’t forget the online hustings coming up.

    Susan Kramer

    Dear Mark,

    We in the Liberal Democrats are facing a time of …

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged | 10 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Online presidential hustings this week: send in your questions

    By Helen Duffett | Mon 18th October 2010 - 2:49 pm

    This Wednesday the two candidates for Liberal Democrat President will take part in the official Federal online hustings at party headquarters in Cowley Street, London.

    Susan Kramer and Tim Farron will answer questions which have been submitted online, and a video of the event will be posted afterwards on YouTube for all party members to refer to.

    I’ll be chairing the hustings, so please submit your questions via email to [email protected] or in the comments thread below by 5pm Wednesday.

    If you’d like to attend in person, a limited number of places are available. It’s on Wednesday 20 October at 7pm. …

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged | 6 Comments
    Paul Freeman

    Opinion: A first timer’s guide to Scottish Lib Dem Conference 2010

    By Paul Freeman | Thu 14th October 2010 - 9:55 am

    Saturday’s Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference was the first conference I’d been to, and aside from a local hustings at the general election, the very first political event I’d ever been to. I was very much a newbie and a little bit nervous and uncertain about what to expect from the day. I even had to ask what it was best to wear, although that was really to stop my wife insisting I go in a suit. I wouldn’t have looked out of place in a suit, but if I’d turned up in a pair of green wellies I wouldn’t have been the only one …

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    Posted in Op-eds and Scotland | Also tagged and | Leave a comment
    The Voice

    Liberal Youth support Farron for Prez

    By The Voice | Sun 26th September 2010 - 10:57 am

    The Liberal Youth Executive has voted to support Tim Farron in his bid to become the next President of the Liberal Democrats. Tim’s campaign was launched in the wake of the announcement by current President Baroness Ros Scott that she would not be seeking re-election.

    Commenting, National Chair Martin Shapland said: ”On behalf of the Liberal Youth Executive I am delighted to declare our support for Tim Farron. He is a first class campaigner, a fantastic public speaker, and is an entirely approachable character. He understands the fundamental importance of youth participation in politics, and has a strong desire to work …

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    Posted in News and Party Presidency | Also tagged and | 34 Comments
    Mark Pack

    Conference: the full-time score

    By Mark Pack | Sun 26th September 2010 - 9:20 am

    Having blogged ten questions for Liberal Democrat conference, along with a conference half-time update, how do things look now the dust has settled from Liverpool for those ten points?

    Party strategy

    Love your coalition partner all the time in public: that was the clear line taken by Nick Clegg, reinforced by other senior party figures and not challenged directly in any high profile way during conference (save for one question during the Nick Clegg Q&A). And yet… whether or not the party should let its strong debates with the Conservatives within the coalition show a little more in public was …

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    Posted in Conference and Op-eds | Also tagged , , , , , , and | 9 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem party presidency – first poll of Lib Dem members

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 21st September 2010 - 12:00 pm

    Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of the early race for the party presidency, the London mayoral selection, Trident, and the Labour leadership. Over 400 party members have responded, and we’ll be publishing the full results of our survey in the next couple of days.

    A fortnight ago, in a surprise announcement, Baroness (Ros) Scott said she would not seek a second term as Lib Dem party president, the only party post other than the Leader directly elected by Lib Dem members. Ever since there has been much speculation about …

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    Posted in LDV Members poll and Party Presidency | Also tagged , , and | 2 Comments
    Tim Farron MP

    Tim Farron: I’ll be a distinctive voice as President

    By Tim Farron MP | Thu 16th September 2010 - 12:19 pm

    The Liberal Democrats are getting a huge amount out of being in government: protection for the lowest paid, the most ambitious political reforms since universal suffrage, restoration of civil liberties… in fact the only thing we’re not getting is the credit we deserve!

    That’s why I’ve decided to run to be President of the Liberal Democrats.

    It’s not easy being in Government. As part of the Coalition, our distinctive message has often got buried, what we stand for has got blurred and our ability to campaign is blunted.

    I’m not having that.

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    Posted in Party Presidency | Also tagged and | 25 Comments
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    • Jason Connor
      I think this is the most insightful of all the articles I've read on the left behind because what it says is so true. And not a link to the upper middle class G...
    • Jana
      @Mick Taylor “ So, Ros, and all our other MPs, stop calling for referenda. They’re not democratic, they are always capable of manipulation and voters rarel...
    • paul barker
      I agree with the comments so far except for the calls to delay Electoral Reform until yet another General Election. The Voters have already spoken in favour of ...
    • Mick Taylor
      Ros, I was right with you until you used the word referendum. Every time there is a referendum, the power of MPs to make the decisions they were elected to mak...
    • Nonconformistradical
      @George Thomas "....but only if we recognise that many people get paid when they shouldn’t and many people don’t get paid (or paid enough) when they shou...