Monthly Archives: February 2013

1st	Welcome to my day… 1 February (0) by Mark Valladares
	EU’s Youth Guarantee to end “social emergency” of youth unemployment (5) by Richard Davis
	Liberalism, youth & the new Arab awakening: a Tunisian perspective (0) by NewsHound
	Next week in the Lords: 4-7 February (0) by Mark Valladares
	Putting the party’s message in a distinctively liberal context – Part 3: a fairer society (28) by Nick T
	Israel/Palestine: trying to find some balance (20) by Charles Beaumont
	Marriage for same sex couples, but not yet equal for all… (86) by Ed Fordham
	This week in Europe – 28-31 January(ish) (7) by Mark Valladares
	The LDV Friday Five: 1 February 2013 (1) by Helen Duffett
2nd	Our congratulations to Mark Pack – and, alas, a farewell to him (5) by Stephen Tall
	MPs call for recognition of Mary Seacole in the history syllabus (13) by Joe Otten
	Opinion: We feel the handbrake of history on our Liberal reforming. (45) by Andrew Tennant
	Budget: No tax break for married couples (16) by Joe Otten
3rd	Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Ignore the papers, here’s the real truth about the Coalition’s plans for childcare” (7) by Stephen Tall
	Majority back same-sex marriage (46) by Mark Pack
	Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #311 (1) by Caron Lindsay
4th	Opinion: Tackling homophobic bullying in schools (6) by Richard Giddings
	++ Chris Huhne pleads guilty to perverting the course of justice (17) by NewsHound
	Opinion: UK sets the right example on same sex marriage (14) by Daniel Russell
	++ Chris Huhne to resign as MP (10) by NewsHound
	The end of Chris Huhne’s career in politics: initial reactions (78) by Stephen Tall
	Opinion: Boundary nonsense (9) by Neville Farmer
	LibLink: Willie Rennie – after the referendum (3) by Paul Walter
	Equal marriage: 2 Lib Dem MPs against and a further 9 (or 10) Missing In Action (167) by Stephen Tall
	An earlier Letter from the Leader (0) by Antony Hook
	Huhne – human frailty and the family (17) by Paul Walter
	Tessa Munt and Tim Farron on Chris Huhne’s downfall (11) by The Voice
5th	Opinion: Michael Gove’s plans are a disaster for schools (60) by Helen Tedcastle
	Osborne, Hague and May on equal marriage (1) by Mary Reid
	Eastleigh by-election (28) by Mary Reid
	Julian Huppert MP writes: Quick update on secret courts (6) by Julian Huppert
	Norman Lamb writes: Tackling gun and knife crime – hospitals and police working together (0) by Norman Lamb MP
	MEPs to vote on crucial overhaul of Common Fisheries Policy (3) by Mary Reid
	++ The ayes have it! Equal marriage approved with 225 vote majority (4) by Stephen Tall
	Project Cameron RIP: more Tory MPs vote AGAINST than vote for equal marriage (26) by Stephen Tall
	Gilbert and Williams lead Lib Dem speakers in Equal Marriage debate (35) by Caron Lindsay
6th	Equal marriage: the speeches of Stephen Gilbert, Stephen Williams and Simon Hughes (4) by The Voice
	Equal marriage: who voted which way (49) by Stephen Tall
	Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes (0) by Michael Moore
	Opinion: Rights for cohabiting couples (49) by Roger Crouch
	LibLink – Lynne Featherstone MP: Moving towards a world free from Female Genital Cutting (10) by Caron Lindsay
	Jenny Willott MP “thrilled” at equal marriage vote (5) by Caron Lindsay
	Lunchtime debate: Should we ban domestic violence offenders from drinking alcohol? (7) by Caron Lindsay
	Ece, Pidgeon and Swinson nominated for Women in Public Life awards (2) by Caron Lindsay
	Spring 2013 Conference agenda now online (4) by Helen Duffett
	LibLink – Lucy Care: Gay marriage struggle for equal rights is a Quaker one too (1) by Caron Lindsay
	Greg Mulholland explains his abstention on equal marriage bill (4) by Caron Lindsay
	How would you use an extra £600? Preview tonight’s Lib Dem Party Political Broadcast (30) by Helen Duffett
	++Eastleigh by-election on February 28 (20) by Helen Duffett
	Jeremy Browne MP writes…There is no opt out clause for equality for women and girls in a liberal society (6) by Jeremy Browne MP
7th	Gove forced into GCSE U-turn ‘under Lib Dem pressure’ (27) by The Voice
	Lib Dem conference to vote on whether it can ‘no-con’ the party leader (41) by Stephen Tall
	Norman Lamb MP writes…The government will act in response to the Francis Report (5) by Norman Lamb MP
	Call Clegg: The one where Boris agrees with Nick (6) by Caron Lindsay
	Baroness Tyler writes… Developing character and resilience in young people (9) by Claire Tyler
	Lord Carlile writes…Examining the evidence on assisted suicide (6) by Alex Carlile
	LibLink: David Laws – Incentive for UK schools to promote talent (3) by Nick T
	Opinion: Government must act to encourage healthier diets (21) by Oliver Sidorczuk
	David Laws MP writes… Ambitious for every child (6) by David Laws
	+++ Neck and neck: first Eastleigh constituency poll (47) by Mark Pack
8th	Welcome to my day – 8 February (0) by Mark Valladares
	5 reasons for Lib Dems to campaign in Eastleigh (just in case you needed any more) (7) by Stephen Tall
	Opinion: Does the debate over equal marriage reveal our blind spots? (58) by James King
	Next week in the Lords: 11-14 February (0) by Mark Valladares
	Opinion: Getting back to sanity – EBC plans now dropped (9) by Helen Flynn
	This week in Europe: 4-7 February (1) by Mark Valladares
	Julian Huppert MP writes… Have your say – Coalition plans to regulate CCTV (7) by Julian Huppert
	The LDV Friday Five: 8 February 2013 (0) by Helen Duffett
9th	Opinion: Whatever this government is, it is not neo-liberal (43) by David Thorpe
	Fairer Tax day of action today (20) by Joe Otten
	The PM and the EU: Cameron’s zen art of compromise maintenance (13) by Stephen Tall
	An apology to Dr Vince Cable (6) by Sam Lawes
	Opinion: Talking at cross purposes about equal marriage (145) by Joe Otten
	Mike Thornton selected for Lib Dems in Eastleigh (39) by Helen Duffett
	Opinion: Aspiration exasperation (9) by Karen Wilkinson
10th	Your essential weekend reader — my personal pick of the week’s must-reads (2) by Stephen Tall
	New edition of the Liberator magazine (4) by The Liberator Collective
	Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “If you want fairer taxes, there’s only one party for you: the Lib Dems.” (20) by Stephen Tall
	Libby Local, Episode 10: “Stalled!” (5) by Libby Local
11th	Maria Hutchings, Eastleigh Conservative candidate, plays hide and seek with the media (1) by Mark Pack
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of all the weekend’s news (0) by Stephen Tall
	EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem Voice supplies secret weapon to Eastleigh campaign (1) by Paul Walter
	Social care reforms – open thread (4) by The Voice
	The real political battle isn’t Conservative vs Labour or Cameron vs Miliband (13) by Mark Pack
	LibLink: Adrian Trett – Why do Europe and LGBT equality measures cause such splits in mainstream parties? (15) by Paul Walter
	LibLink: George Lyon MEP – EU budget cuts must not sacrifice research and investment (4) by Paul Walter
	Jeremy Hunt announces Social Care reform (2) by NewsHound
	Norman Lamb MP writes… Ending unlimited care costs: an historic step (4) by Norman Lamb MP
	Three things we’ve learned from today’s opinion polls (131) by Stephen Tall
12th	Excellent Abingdon Action Day (0) by Neil Fawcett
	LibLink: Vince Cable – Investors deserve red carpet, not red tape (2) by Mary Reid
	Nick Clegg writes … A fairer and more prosperous world (2) by Nick Clegg MP
	Don Foster MP writes… Report back on planning changes (22) by Don Foster MP
	Opinion: Liberal Reform urge MEPs to oppose a secret vote on the EU Budget (12) by Simon McGrath
	Nigel Farage’s disappearing fish act (3) by Mary Reid
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (12 Feb) (5) by Stephen Tall
13th	Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes (0) by Michael Moore
	Mike Thornton in favour of equal marriage (5) by Helen Duffett
	Opinion: Our NHS – the good, the bad and the ugly (23) by Matthew Green
	George Lyon MEP writes: Lib Dem MEPs will resist secret EU vote (13) by George Lyon MEP
	Lib Dem peer Avebury on working in your 80s (1) by Caron Lindsay
	Caron’s pick of the Federal Spring Conference agenda (3) by Caron Lindsay
	Mark Pack to appear on Question Time as @BBCExtraGuest (0) by Stephen Tall
	Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #312 (0) by Caron Lindsay
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (13 Feb) (12) by Stephen Tall
14th	Notice: Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats’ AGM going ahead with new venue (0) by Nick T
	Lib Dems should lead the European push for a US trade deal (4) by Nick T
	Rejoice! Labour has a policy. Even better it’s a Lib Dem policy. (31) by Stephen Tall
	Opinion: Let’s stop pussyfooting over property prices (50) by Neville Farmer
	LibLink…Paddy Ashdown: If you’re opposed to drones, then think again (19) by Caron Lindsay
15th	IFS verdict: Labour’s 10p tax idea “has no plausible economic justification” (12) by Stephen Tall
	Caroline Pidgeon AM challenges London Mayor over unpaid congestion charges (7) by Mary Reid
	Lord Avebury writes… Gay asylum-seekers: we’ve come a long way, but much still left to achieve for LGBTI people around the world (27) by Eric Avebury
	Stephen Williams MP writes… Making tax taxing again – 2013 is the Year of Tax Justice (1) by Stephen Williams
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the week’s campaign news (11) by Stephen Tall
	The LDV Friday Five: 15 February 2013 (1) by Helen Duffett
16th	LibLink…Danny Alexander: The Liberal Democrats are the only fair tax party (23) by Caron Lindsay
	Saturday Forum: Genetic Engineering (13) by Joe Otten
	Opinion: David Jones is wrong on same sex parenting (162) by Linda Jack
	LibLink: Nick Thornsby – Why Miliband’s tax move is good news for the Lib Dems (8) by NewsHound
17th	Opinion: Oh no! Ed’s got us! (58) by Mark Thompson
	Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “From Eastleigh to Africa – and back again!” (0) by Stephen Tall
	Your essential weekend reader — my personal pick of the week’s must-reads (1) by Stephen Tall
	Libby Local, Episode 11: “Door knocking” (3) by Libby Local
	What Google reveals about the current state of play in Eastleigh (7) by Mark Pack
	Top of the Blogs: The Lib Dem Golden Dozen #313 (0) by Caron Lindsay
18th	Doctors criticise Tory Eastleigh candidate (3) by Paul Walter
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of all the weekend’s news (18 Feb) (2) by Stephen Tall
	Eastleigh campaign borrows slogan from Chicago 1951 (3) by Paul Walter
	LibLink: Lynne Featherstone – mobile money opens new opportunities in Africa (1) by Paul Walter
	Opinion: Radioactive waste consultation – a loss of public trust (50) by Rebecca Hanson
	Opinion: Why do the government tax people on the value of their home? (40) by William Townsend
	Half a defence of John O’Farrell’s comments on Margaret Thatcher (68) by Stephen Tall
19th	That ‘jewelry tax’ proposal (21) by Jeremy Hargreaves
	Two-thirds of email newsletters sent to teachers and schools by the Department for Education are not read (16) by Mark Pack
	Opinion: Iraq War, one year on (36) by Tony Dawson
	Job shares for MPs? (20) by Mary Reid
	A hole in his sock (4) by Mary Reid
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (19 Feb) (6) by Stephen Tall
20th	Don’ forget #CallClegg on at 9am today (0) by Stephen Tall
	“Bedroom Tax” – should social landlords be doing more to encourage swaps? (69) by Caron Lindsay
	LibLink..Lord Lester QC: Five days to save free speech (5) by Caron Lindsay
	Good news from Chelmsford: Liberal Democrat Graham Pooley wins Council by-election (1) by Caron Lindsay
	Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes (3) by Michael Moore
	++Breaking News: Jury in Vicky Pryce trial discharged after failing to reach a verdict (14) by Caron Lindsay
	How Ofsted outperforms the Department for Education in the email stakes (8) by Mark Pack
	Call Clegg 20 February: E-cigarettes, London NHS, taxes, special needs and Arsene Wenger (4) by Caron Lindsay
21st	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (21 Feb) (3) by Stephen Tall
	Eastleigh Tory candidate “running scared” from hustings (8) by The Voice
	Don Foster MP writes… The Integration Strategy: one year on (8) by Don Foster MP
	Opinion: Planning in Rochdale descends into farce (10) by David Hennigan
	Opinion: Rational energy policy must be central to 2015 manifesto (25) by Alex Meredith
	Lynne Featherstone MP writes…the Aid budget and the Ministry of Defence (8) by Lynne Featherstone
	The Independent View: Clegg is right to worry about the North (9) by Graeme Henderson
	Opinion: Jury duty: in need of some government assistance? (26) by Alex Paul Shantz
	Party launches investigation over C4 News allegations (0) by The Voice
22nd	Missing out on history (0) by George Kendall
	By-election news (4) by Mary Reid
	Chris Rennard steps aside from party roles to avoid “embarrassment” to Lib Dems (0) by The Voice
	Eric Avebury writes … Caste discrimination in the UK (13) by Eric Avebury
	LibLink: Eastleigh by-election and mansion tax (0) by Mary Reid
	Opinion: The case for NGDP targeting (1) (11) by Theo Clifford
	Opinion: Where is evidence based decision making about the NHS? (24) by Anthony Hawkes
	The LDV Friday Five: 22 February 2013 (0) by Helen Duffett
	Chris Rennard allegations – the party needs to do better than this (0) by Stephen Tall
	UK loses its triple-A rating – George should’ve listened to Danny (54) by Stephen Tall
	++ New Eastleigh poll: Lib Dems have 5% lead over Tories, Labour trail in 4th place behind Ukip (19) by Stephen Tall
23rd	The Independent View: Why reforming football is a liberal agenda (9) by Sam Tomlin
	LibLink…Tavish Scott: Community councils empower the people (2) by Caron Lindsay
	Allegations regarding the conduct of Lord Rennard and the Party’s response (0) by Tim Gordon
	Allegations regarding the conduct of Lord Rennard: a statement from Jo Swinson MP (0) by Jo Swinson MP
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the week’s campaign news (0) by Stephen Tall
	++ Another new Eastleigh poll – and this time it shows the Tories in front by 4% (56) by Stephen Tall
24th	Chris Rennard allegations: where we’re at (26) by Stephen Tall
	Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Five days to make a difference.” (0) by Stephen Tall
	Libby Local, Episode 12: “Vox Pops” (1) by Libby Local
	LibLink: Nick Clegg – the Conservatives need to adopt the politics of fairness (40) by NewsHound
	Statement from Nick Clegg on Chris Rennard allegations (11) by The Voice
	Nick Clegg’s statement on Chris Rennard: 5 key points (11) by Stephen Tall
25th	Today’s front pages: the Chris Rennard allegations dominate (8) by Stephen Tall
	Farron: “We screwed this up” (4) by The Voice
	CentreForum: Three tax changes to help rebalance the economy (36) by Adam Corlett
	Team EastLY – making a difference (5) by Paul Walter
	Clegg slams Tories at Eastleigh for “breath-taking opportunism” (0) by NewsHound
	The tale of Nick Clegg, 36 celebrities and 3 wishes (1) by Caron Lindsay
	Update on the Party’s processes following the allegations concerning the conduct of Lord Rennard (0) by Tim Gordon
	Stephen Tall on Sky News comments on today’s Chris Rennard allegations (9) by The Voice
26th	Mark Pack on BBC comments on Chris Rennard allegations (0) by The Voice
	Final Eastleigh poll puts Lib Dems narrowly ahead of Tories – but all within margin of error! (12) by Stephen Tall
	Eric Avebury writes…We must heed the cries of the Hazaras (7) by Eric Avebury
	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (26 Feb) (8) by Stephen Tall
	Inquiries into Rennard allegations must be as public as possible (8) by Mark Pack
	Opinion: Five reasons to go to Eastleigh to help Mike Thornton’s campaign… (6) by Ruth Edmonds
	Robin Meltzer selected as PPC for Richmond Park (5) by Caron Lindsay
	Lord Rennard: further reports and a new statement (14) by The Voice
27th	Michael Moore MP’s Westminster Notes (0) by Michael Moore
	Don’t forget #CallClegg on at 9am today (2) by The Voice
	Eric Avebury writes: Rare disease Day – a new report on care co-ordinators (2) by Eric Avebury
	Call Clegg: “There were serious mistakes and the women were let down” (7) by Caron Lindsay
	Opinion: Reflections on sexual harassment (30) by Gillian Gloyer
	Sarah Teather on “deeply upsetting” report on pregnant women in asylum system (6) by Caron Lindsay
28th	Eastleigh by-election: your essential round-up of the latest campaign news (28 Feb Polling Day Edition!) (8) by Stephen Tall
	What are you doing to help Mike Thornton win today? (0) by Caron Lindsay
	Julian Huppert MP writes…An update on the Justice and Security Bill (10) by Julian Huppert
	How are you spending your lunch hour today? (1) by Caron Lindsay
	Jo Swinson launches consultation on parental leave (5) by Caron Lindsay
	LibLink…Tavish Scott…SNP’s mistakes will be their downfall (0) by Caron Lindsay
	Mike Thornton says thank you (0) by Caron Lindsay