We told you on Sunday about Paul Tyler’s involvement in an attempt to defeat the Government in the Lords over the Trade Union Bill:

The Independent has an interesting story about the Liberal Democrats and Labour working together to defeat the Government on the party funding aspect of the Trade Union Bill. When you read the story, it’s a real collaboration, with Paul Tyler drafting the amendment now in the name of the Labour leader in the Lords, but the headline makes it look like we are simply supporting the Labour effort.

Ahead of the vote this afternoon, Paul said:

The Government must not get away with this blatant manipulation of the rules in their favour.

Even with their tiny majority the Tories have consistently loaded the dice to their advantage, fiddling the electoral register process and now attempting unilateral changes to party funding.

The Lib Dems will stand up to any attempts to rig the political system and we will continue to ensure that the Government is opposed whenever it puts party advantage ahead of the public interest

The Lib Dem Lords are pretty much on fire at the moment with all sorts of initiatives aimed at diluting the worst of the awful Tory legislation. They are also renewing their efforts, as they did in the run up to the General Election, of going to help campaigning and motivate grassroots activists across the country.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings