Dear LDV reader, you may or may not have noticed that we have discontinued our strand of writing that used to appear under the Daily View heading, following a decision of the team last week. All of us writing it found it took a great deal of time for little reward, and some of us thought the clunky title with its numbers and acronyms did little to help our site’s readability. What we’ll miss is Daily View’s helpful punctuation of the day, marking the passage of time, and the daily opportunity to spread the linky love through the Lib Dem blogging community.
The quid pro quo of axing Daily View is a revival of the hated much-missed Weekly Catchup feature, which, in the latter months of its short run on these pages became less weekly and more catchup. After more than a year away, it’s like we’ve never been gone.
Iain kicked off the week with a look at the polls. They’re inconclusive and inconsistent.
We’ve had four big debates this week, with comment numbers running in the dozens.
James Graham led the charge with a plea for Lib Dems not to compromise on fairer taxes. What will next week’s budget reveal? Will we get Lib Dem tax cuts without the redistributive linked Lib Dem tax rises to make a cohesive package? Only time will tell.
The Deputy Prime Minister made a speech. Helen posted the video. You all had your say in the comments. You wrote over 12,000 words. Cripes.
Mark Pack explored the ramifications of the timing of the AV referendum. Me? I’d prefer it wasn’t at the same time as my re-election campaign. But it doesn’t look like it will pan out that way.
And Mark pointed out a tiny inconsistency in Labour’s approach to public spending. If you can call £44bn tiny.
Iain found something scary but exciting for our local government colleagues to think about in the coming weeks.
David Thorpe called for renationalising our railways. Merlene Emerson reflected on UK-China relations. Jo Shaw found healthy scepticism at Liberty’s AGM. And Linda Jack found the FPC in combative mood in its first post-coalition meeting.
Lib Dem Voice has a strand of writing called the Independent View, intended for people who are not Lib Dems themselves, but who would like to talk to vaguely Lib Demmy people. Availing themselves of the opportunity this week were Thomas Cawston, of Reform, reflecting on the Budget; and Sinead Doyle telling us about the Red Cross’s campaign for Refugee week. Look Beyond the Label.
Personal news this weekend. Chris Huhne is to get a divorce. Eek. Jo Swinson and Duncan Hames are getting married. Woo!
What Newshound sniffed out this week:
Jerry Hayes’s swearword
Nick Clegg says families should come first
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The street in Australia named after my great great grandfather
Lib Dems pick Richard Kilpatrick as candidate for the Greater Manchester Mayoral election
Roland
David Warren
Peter Chambers
Carl Pierce
Martin Eggleston
One Comment
I am impressed by the wide diversity of Liberal opinions on cutting the budget deficit. Of course it must come down, there is no argument about that. However, if nothing were done in the current year ithe deficit would be likely to drift lower according to Budd because of a Teasury bias which overstates (surprise!): So is an emergemcy budget need for economic or political reasons? If the latter, the Coalition is is playing fast and loose with the legitimate hopes and ambitions of many families. The scale of the Colaition’s ambitions is often understated. To do what boy George wants us to do cuts of 118 billion pounds are required over a five year period. Anything like that would produce darker days than Thatcher’s England. Is that why so many people voted Lib Dem?