Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 500 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.
Vince, Ed and Michael: the Lib Dems’ top trio in government
LDV asked: In your opinion, which Lib Dem government minister has had the best year?
This question allowed an unprompted, free-text response, which c.450 of our respondents rose to. And here’s what you told us:
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1. Vince Cable (144)
2. Ed Davey (70)
3. Michael Moore (42)
4. Steve Webb (35)
=5. Danny Alexander (30)
=5. Nick Clegg (30)
7. Lynne Featherstone (22)
8. Norman Lamb (19)
9. David Laws (16)
10. Norman Baker (12)
11. Jo Swinson (11)
12. Jeremy Browne (10)
=13. Nick Harvey (5)
=13. Sarah Teather (5)
(Note: only Lib Dem ministers who scored 5+ votes are mentioned here.)
Vince topped this same poll last year, but by a narrower margin. In 2012, the Lib Dem business secretary scored more than twice as many votes as his nearest runner-up, Ed Davey. It was another good 12 months for the sage of Twickenham. Even the Lib Dem-phobic Daily Mirror championed ‘Plan V’ while many of the other papers chattered about the prospect of him eventually succeeding Nick Clegg (you can see what I thought of that prospect here).
One of last year’s runners-up to Vince was Chris Huhne: this year it’s his replacement as energy secretary Ed Davey. He’s had a busy year: fighting for renewable energy in the teeth of George Osborne’s opposition (and that of his deputy John Hayes) and producing an energy bill designed to decarbonise the economy while protecting consumers’ fuel bill in the medium/long-term.
And then in bronze medal position is Michael Moore, the Lib Dem scottish secretary rightly lauded for his pivotal role negotiating the Edinburgh Agreement that secured Scotland’s right to an in/out independence vote in 2014 (and indeed for giving 16/17 year-olds the right to vote).
Danny Alexander, who last year came second, again poll strongly — tying this year with Nick Clegg — but is edged into fifth place by the party’s pensions maestro Steve Webb.
Tomorrow we publish the results of which Lib Dem minister party members think has had the worst year…
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
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9 Comments
Its depressing that we have to go to 7th place to find a woman.
Your party is not overburdened with neither women nor ethnic minorities within its parliamentary representation though so why the surprise.
I have also been remarkably underwhelmed by their contribution – whether it is their fault is difficult to say – but it is up to your leadership to encourage talented women to be selected as candidates in winnable seats.
If David Laws is only behind one of your women then it cannot say much for them.
@Paul
It’s not ‘depressing’ at all; there are fewer women ministers than men and are generally in less publicly prominent positions.
Richard Shaw
I think Paul is right to call it depressing!
Why are there less women ministers and why do they need to be in less prominent positions? It i a question of quality and quantity.
In the latter the LD performance is pretty poor and in the former that is up to your party to change. It is just too easy for you to say there are less
From my point of view the performance of these has been underwhelming but I can hardly say the men have done much better either!
I thought it applied that “where we work we win”. The Lib Dems don’t really operate on the principle of having safe seats to parachute people into – and not should they.
Richard S
It is a shame then that noone seems to work hard on behalf of the women candidates the doesn’t it.
@ bazzasc
Don’t confuse less prominent with less important. An attention seeking minister can get themselves lots of coverage in a minor role. Some female ministers may just be getting on with the job and not out making a big fuss.
Also one female MP who probably would have been considered for the cabinet was Susan Kramer but she lost her seat so reduced the pool available.
There is a lack of female and ethnic minority MPs but there is not a “safe seat” position with the LibDems for them to be parachuted in as the two larger parties do.
Why does debate in this party have to immediately go to people’s gende, skin colour, etc.? As liberals why can’t we just see people as people?
David
A very glib answer
It seems that ‘people’ in a LD context are white, middle-aged males
What a success for liberalism