So this afternoon Alex Salmond has announced that he stepping down as leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland. So as well as asking what next for the UK nation as a whole we are now asking what next for the SNP? Firstly as has long been muted Salmond himself has already been grooming his successor, it was she who had a major role in planning the referendum agenda and steering the Yes Campaign. Nicola Sturgeon the MSP for Glasgow Southside has been the Deputy First Minister since 2007 and been the Depute Leader of the ...
[IMG: Dorothy Thornhill in new Watford CCTV control room] Great news from Watford where Dorothy Thornhill, the directly elected Mayor with an amazing record of success both in office and in the ballot box, has been selected: I'm over the moon that Watford #LibDems have selected @MayorDorothy as our PPC for 2015. She will be a brilliant MP and community champion. — Tim Farron (@timfarron) September 19, 2014 For the background to the contest, see Liberal Democrat Newswire #51.
#74260758 / gettyimages.com Over the years I have posted several songs by Sandy Denny (photographed here in about 1970): Solo (with Fairport Convention)Bushes and BriarsFotheringayWho Knows Where the Time Goes (with the Strawbs)Read more about Sandy Denny.
Having had a day to mull it, here are some of my thoughts on the outcome of the independence referendum. 1. Phew! This was a case where – regardless of where in the political spectrum who hail from – the conservative argument about not trading known current benefits for speculative future ones should have been [...]
"A revolutionary moment in the world's history is a time for revolutions, not for patching." - William Beveridge The Scottish Referendum Scotland has just voted to remain a part of the United Kingdom by 55% to 45%. The Scottish referendum has been the most extra ordinary display of democracy and political engagement. The turnout figure of 85% in itself has broken all modern records for British electoral turnouts. Now the UK will never be the same again. Britain must see radical political reform in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum. Time for a Constitutional Convention This radical political reform must ...
As the smoke clears from yesterday's referendum there are a couple of lessons that can be learnt. Firstly, I want to say that the whole referendum was a good thing for democracy and the democratic process. It has been so disheartening looking at voter turnout to elections over the last few years in the UK - as a democrat I found it hard to accept that the people of this country have so little interest in the future or selecting the best party to lead and form a government. Even if the people of the UK voted BNP or Raving ...
Catherine Bearder is pressing for action to scrap roaming charges in the EU altogether by December 2015. Already charges have been halved from July 1st following Lib Dem campaigns. In April the European Parliament voted to abolish roaming fees in the EU by December 2015 but this now has to be agreed with national governments in the EU Council. Catherine Bearder said "Halving the cost of data roaming will mean fewer nasty bill shocks and more freedom to use your phone when abroad. But this is just a small step, not the giant leap that we need. That is why ...
Church Street, Billesdon © Andrew Tatlow No, Billesdon is not an enclave of Scottish Nationalism. It is a village in Leicestershire and it had its own referendum yesterday. In it, local residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed neighbourhood plan. The 84 per cent Yes vote came from a turnout of 55 per cent. I hope the plan will give them real control over the development and preservation of their village.
-Follow and keep in touch!Alex Salmond has announced that he will quit as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party, after his Yes campaign was heavily defeated in the Scottish independence referendum, the result of which was announced this morning. Salmond will officially leave his roles in November, when the SNP [...]
Fri 19th
17:28
Catherine Bearder writes... Now the referendum is over, we need a unifying vision for Britain
Now that the people of Scotland have voted to remain a part of the UK, discussions over what further devolution of powers for Scotland will take place - as well as for the other British nations and regions – will inevitably dominate public debate. However, a big risk facing us as a country is that we become too introspective, turning in on ourselves rather than looking at the wider picture. That's because as well as a new constitutional arrangement, we desperately need a unifying vision of Britain and its place in the world. Indeed, it's the lack of such a ...
A few thoughts: 1) We don't need a Dangerous Devolution Act After decades of people talking about Britain needs to change, David Cameron appears to have put the accelerator right down, and in order to balance Scotland's Devo Max England, Wales and Northern Ireland are going to get new powers at a lightning rate too. It's the British system at it's worst, with everyone running round like headless chickens to get something, anything done as quickly as possible in order to be seen to be doing something. As has been seen time and time again and the Dangerous Dogs Act ...
Fri 19th
16:37
On Alex Salmond's departure, walking on eggshells and Clackmannanshire (check spelling - Ed)
[IMG: clackmannanshire photo] Photo by SwaloPhoto What an extraordinary week in British politics! I write as a lot of "++"s get used to send the news of Alex Salmond's resignation round the world. What amazes me is that Salmond gets written up as a very clever politician. Well, he is clever in a very short-term tactical sense. But he is one of the most ludicrous small-minded point-scoring politicians I have ever known of. The classic example is when he berated Nick Robinson last week. As I wrote at the time, he focussed all his huge skill and energy on the ...
As I write Alex Salmond is holding a press conference where he is announcing his resignation as First Minister of Scotland and (again) as leader of the Scottish National Party. While his cause is not one that is endorsed much here on Liberal Democrat Voice, he has clearly brought his party and the independence movement a very long way indeed. That is an achievement to give credit for, even if we rather wish he hadn't. So the thread below is open for your comments on Salmond's contribution to politics, and it wouldn't be entirely inappropriate to lean more towards tributes ...
[IMG: Piggy Bank] Frank N. Newman was Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the US and so he has some good experience to call on in his slim book about why people – politicians especially – shouldn't be scared of national debt. Though written about and for America, his arguments that concern over the size of accumulated debt dominates political discussion far too much also have relevance in the UK. [IMG: Freedom from National Debt by Frank Newman] The book's brevity (90 pages) makes it a quick read, though also one I suspect that will not persuade sceptical readers on ...
Fri 19th
16:16
Liverpool's Opposition Leaders Unite in call for a Constitutional Convention for City Region
Earlier today I wrote to all the other 3 Party Leaders in Liverpool asking them, in effect, to establish a Constitutional Convention for the Liverpool City Region. I am pleased that Cllr Joyn Coyne, (Green Leader) and Cllr Steve Radford ... Continue reading →
I've just submitted an article for the 'Youth 100' for this year. I'm honoured to have been asked to contribute to the publication, still regarded as a national expert on youth issues. Having spent most of my career working with or on behalf of young people I am constantly exercised about how we as a party connect with them. Post tuition fees – how do we once again become the party of choice for young people? It's not easy, but I think the popular brands I've been reflecting on this week have some lessons for us. Among other things, they ...
[IMG: Mike Hancock] Not often I welcome the departure of someone from the party, but thank goodness for this: Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock has resigned his membership of the Liberal Democrats the party has confirmed. The move came after the veteran MP, who had already been suspended by the party, was forced publicly to apologise to a vulnerable woman constituent for making improper sexual advances. In June Mr Hancock gave an "unreserved" apology at London's High Court over an "inappropriate and unprofessional friendship" with a single mother known as Annie, who had sought his assistance as her MP and ...
Here is a press release Wokingham Borough Council Lib Dem group has sent out after last night's Council meeting. Hopefully it speaks for itself. At last night's Council Meeting the Liberal Democrats were shocked when Conservatives voted down a proposal to bring in a fairer, more democratic and transparent process for appointments and payments to Councillors who sit on the boards of Council owned companies such as OPTALIS and Wokingham Housing Ltd. Cllr Lindsay Ferris (Twyford ward) said "The appointment and removal of councillors as directors is currently a completely closed process in which effectively a clique of Conservative councillors ...
The UK Prime Minister is making extrapolations on future policy on the governance of the UK based on one vote on a different issue in one part of the UK. That is hardly democratic is it?
Ed Miliband has to concede that home rule for Scotland must mean that Scottish MP's should no longer vote on English only matters. Not to do so would be unreasonable, unfair, and also deeply unpopular in England. It would give the Tories the biggest stick they could wish for to beat Labour with up and down England in May next year. If Ed does agree to withdraw Scottish (and Welsh) Mp's from English legislation though, any future non Conservative UK government might be paralysed by a Conservative majority of English MP's elected on a minority of the English vote. Labour ...
[IMG: Vampire, female] "Macroeconomic policy and the optimal destruction of vampires" (1982) by Dennis Snower is one of the selections in Yoram Bauman's Top 11 Funniest Papers in the History of Economics: Although human beings have endured the recurring ravages of vampires for centuries, scarcely any attempts have been made to analyze the macroeconomic implications of this problem and to devise socially optimal policy responses. The full list of well worth a read – enjoy! Hat-tip: Tim Harford
So the only land border in these British Isles will remain the one that starts on the western shore of Lough Foyle just south of Muff and stretches around the six most north easterly counties of the second largest isle and into Carlingford Lough beside Newry. The talk of course, in light of the result in Scotland's independence referendum last night, is that there will be a deal deal on devolution to not just them but England, Wales and Northern Ireland too. So what does it mean to those six counties surrounded by than only land boundary with the Eurozone. ...
So it wasn't "neck and neck" after all, but a fairly substantial majority, 55% to 45%*, for remaining in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, Alex Salmond is to be congratulated on two massive achievements: initiating a debate which encouraged nearly 85% of the electorate to turn out and vote;placing devolution for the whole UK, including England, firmly on the political agenda, something the Liberals/Liberal Democrats have been trying, but failing, to do for much longer than the half century that I've been a member.The campaign has raised some interesting questions. 1. Salmond was clever in obtaining the right to pose the ...
That's the question I was asked – alongside Charles Clarke (former Labour cabinet minister), Andrew Cooper (newly-appointed peer and Director of Strategy at No 10 from 2011 to 2013), and Craig Woodhouse (Political Correspondent at The Sun on Sunday) – by MHP Communications after our lates political panel yesterday. Here's what we all said...
Fri 19th
12:55
All three parties' worst nightmare - winning the next election: my 'what happens' next predictions.....
[IMG: con home cartoon] Here's my latest The Other Side column for ConservativeHome, published here last week – but I forgot to post it here too. My thanks as ever to the site's editors, Paul Goodman and Mark Wallace, for giving a Lib Dem space to provoke – constructively, I hope. Forget trying to forecast the 2015 general election. We already know what will happen then. What matters now to the parties is thinking ahead to what happens afterwards. When I say we know about the 2015 election already, I don't actually mean I know who wins. How could I? ...
Following yesterday's debate at cabinet panel on the Conservative plans to slash opening hours at the county's Household Waste sites, Cllr Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Environment said: "Yesterday's decision was a glass half full, a glass half empty. The Conservatives caved in on shutting any of the sites completely and they recognised the common sense of moving to later opening hours on the days when the sites will be open. Their minds were certainly concentrated by the thousands of petition signatures across much of the county. "But they still need to show more flexibility even if they ...
One reason why getting more democracy and devolution is going to be a tough fight, illustrated in three tweets from the last few hours: It's the people who should decide what's in the Constitutional Convention, not politicians – please sign! http://t.co/wtmaw0i1y9 #indyref — Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 19, 2014 That's three different petitions for a constitutional convention from three sources you would expect to have had some contact with each other in recent times and so would have been able to co-ordinate their efforts. There's lots of support out there for the idea of a constitutional convention and lots of ...
So Scotland voted No to independence, and by a margin of nearly 11%. That's a big relief. A Yes vote would have ushered in three or more years of hard negotiation and uncertainty that would have served no very useful purpose. But what next? There are signs that the political elites both sides of the border are on manoeuvres. But I am backing the Electoral Reform Society's call for a Constitution Convention. There is a link where you can sign up here – though this is confused by a focus on just Wales; I hope they get their act together ...
I am so relieved this morning. I don't think I have ever been as scared and anxious about any political event in my life as I was about the result of the referendum on independence. I really do think that a win for Yes would not have brought the help for the most vulnerable in society that was promised. I don't feel any great sense of victory. I know that many of my friends, who have the same values and want the same things for our society as I do, are feeling distraught this morning. I've been on the receiving ...
From Sheena Wellington : Internationally renowned fiddler and local girl, Patsy Reid will be teaching and performing in Dundee tomorrow, Saturday 20th September. Patsy will give a fiddle workshop and concert in the Wighton Centre, upstairs in Dundee Central Library. The workshop will start at 9.30am as soon as the Library opens. The workshop will be followed by a Cappuccino Concert; coffee and newspapers will be served from 10.30am and the concert will run from 11 till 12. Admission to the workshop is £5, and admission to the concert is also £5. Both sessions are open to all; participation in ...
Whatever we may think of it, the Yes camp in Scotland succeeded in building a powerful movement. Turnout in the Scottish Referendum was a staggering 84 percent, putting the typical General Election turnout of 60 percent very much in the...Read more ›
This originally took the form of a post on my Facebook wall, and received a lot of positive feedback so I thought I'd share it here. I read this article on "digital detox" recently. Some of it's a bit hippy-dippy for me, but the general theme of managing variable intermittent reinforcement rings true. Political activism [...]
Fri 19th
10:51
Calls for more powers for English regions – Liberals have been saying that for generations!
This piece is from prior to the Scottish referendum result, although let's face it that result was never in doubt despite the tedious incessant media hype of recent weeks. Graham Allen MP, chairman of the House of Commons political and constitutional reform committee, has said that English regions should get the power to spend the tax collected from local residents in the wake of further Scottish devolution. He said that devolution should not just be for Scotland if it is to be credible. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Devolution isn't just for Scotland. This week I'd ...
I think we Lib Dems can all be happy about the turnout in the referendum, and the result it gave us. It truly showed that if you give people the democratic opportunity to have a voice, they will seize it. While that very specific question is answered there are many more that remain. While it's early days yet, all it seems we've been offered by Cameron is English votes on English issues within the present structure. At the risk of being cynical, the simple barring of non-English MPs seems to serve to retain FPTP in a legislature that will serve ...
Last night Scotland voted to remain part of the UK. As I've blogged before, the time is right that we should consider what powers, rights and responsibilities should be devolved to Cornwall. I'd be grateful to hear from as many people as possible - particularly those in Cornwall - as to what you think is the right balance. I've created a short survey which takes a couple of minutes to fill in. You can find that survey here. Tweet
Liberalism 101 Part 2: Free Speech: What it is and What it isn't (tags: ) The prospect of a "Brexit" as seen from Europe and beyond (tags: ) Brighouse gripped by festival fever (tags: ) Rotherham & Race - not an easy post to read, but an important one. (tags: ) Dear DC Comics, This Is Why You Shouldn't Leave Creative Little Girls Behind (tags: ) Federal Conference: Amendments to Motions - a question and a poll for my fellow LDs (tags: ) How a Cat Parasite Affects Your Behaviour, Mental Health and Sex Drive (tags: ) Homeless and alone... ...
[IMG: FuckYes pic] At some point in my early twenties, I was at an extremely dull party. That's an essential part of being in your early twenties, at least that was my experience of it, attending boring parties. Mostly because you haven't figured out what's what quite yet and can't discern the shit from the shinola. Or at least, you're so desperate for booze and the off chance you might get laid that you'll go anywhere. I did what I often did at these affairs - I scanned the bookshelves for anything readable. Almost always this search was fruitless, but ...
Here's some of the articles that have caught my attention this week... After the referendum, the reckoning: why Cameron should fear for his future | Gaby Hinsliff | Comment is free | The Guardian Very good from Gaby Hinsliff on why #indyref (probably) marks the beginning of the end for Cameron http://bit.ly/1s9hsmp Reflections on the revolution in Scotland | Nick Herbert MP's Blog Excellent piece of writing from Nick Herbert > Reflections on the revolution in Scotland http://bit.ly/1mh4qkv Nine things the indyref campaign has taught us | Rafael Behr | Comment is free | theguardian.com "The Tories are in a ...
The people of Scotland have spoken. As that sound echoes, here's what I think its rejection of independence means... The SNP are strengthened: 45% of the Scottish electorate voted Yes. That's a far higher figure than many of us would have predicted even a few weeks ago. Yes Scotland's campaigning, driven by the SNP, has proved far superior to Better Together's, driven by Labour. If the Nationalists resist the temptation to turn in on themselves they can expect to reap the electoral rewards of their grassroots activity next May. The Scots, by decisively rejecting independence, have lost their negotiating leverage: ...
Scotland has voted to stay in the Union, we're glad to say, but that's far from the end of the story. Politicians across the political spectrum in Westminster have promised more powers for the Scottish Parliament, the so-called "Devo Max". That's a good thing: there are plenty of areas where the Scots will do a better job of running their own affairs than Whitehall can, and being in the United Kingdom doesn't mean every decision has to be made in London. But what about the rest of us? The Coalition government has done more than any other in recent decades ...
The sovereign will of the Scottish people, by a margin of, give or take a bit, 55%-45 %, is to stay in the UK. In voting No, they put their trust in David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to deliver more powers to the Scottish Parliament. Here's how senior Liberal Democrats reacted. First, Nick Clegg: I'm absolutely delighted the Scottish people have taken this momentous decision to safeguard our family of nations for future generations. In a dangerous and uncertain world I have no doubt we are stronger, safer, and more prosperous together than we ever could be apart. ...
Controversy over the blue badge scheme continues to dominate my work. Here is the response of the Minister for Economy Science and Transport to the issues I raised in my short debate at the end of last term:
Quite a few people are unhappy with politics. In Scotland this has resulted in 45% of the country voting for independence with all of its potential problems. I see that as being in part driven by increased alienation from politics more generally. I am in the end pleased that they have voted to remain part of the UK although I don't like the Barnet Formula. I also support proposals to
Fri 19th
08:02Labour's Bootle bust up – You could have put money on this after the comrades ditched Joe Bent...
The Liverpool Echo has the story – see link above. I have commented on this situation before because, as a Liberal, I am able to put political tribalism to one side and say what a good MP Joe Benton is and indeed will be until the next General Election. For Labour to stab him in the back says more about those that did it than Joe whom I have always had a huge amount of respect for. Now the ferrets are fighting in the sack and let's face it you really could have put money on this happening. My ...
Speaking after the result of the referendum became clear, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said, "Today Scotland is stronger. "Scotland has made. Proud and conscientious choice. "The people of Scotland have examined our relationship with the people of the rest of the United Kingdom and have decided no to walk away. "Scotland will never be the same again. "And as a result of Scottish votes, Britain will never be the same again. "These are exciting times. This No vote means we can get on with delivering more powers inside the UK this morning."
What a day and what a night! And what a vote! A turnout of 86%! Politicians, the press, pollsters and pundits will be dissecting and spinning this verdict for weeks to come. But I am hoping it will change attitudes in Westminster forever. Has there ever been a bigger turnout for a non-compulsory democratic election [...]
I'm writing this before we know the result of Scotland's referendum although it's already clear which direction it's heading. In England at least there is now lots of discussion as to what the future will be for government across the United Kingdom and that will continue no matter what the outcome, but it's a debate [...]
Whatever the outcome of Scotland's independence referendum, we should all be shocked at the magnitude of the Yes vote. Surely we should never expect more than a few percent of any population to wish to renounce their citizenship due to dissatisfaction with their government and country, and opt instead for some smaller, weaker, largely untested and unknown alternative. That around half of a population may wish to do this might be expected in Iraq or Syria, but not in one of the more stable, peaceful, prosperous and free parts of the world. How, then, has it come to this? Yes, ...
Sorry for the lack of proper content today and yesterday — yesterday I was functioning on only three hours' sleep, and today I accidentally had a sip of lemonade (which had enough aspartame to give me a mild migraine and a major case of paranoid brain). Proper posts tomorrow and the weekend. It's possible that [...]
