tagged w/ Lib Dems
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Whatever happened to Cleggmania? It's a question Lib Dem MPs will be asking themselves as they survey today's local election results as they come in.
This morning Nick Clegg spoke to media amid the Liberal Democrats worst local elections performance in 30 years. The Lib Dem leader said his party are being "blamed" for spending cuts inflicted by the coalition.
It's a stark contrast from only 12 months ago when 'Cleggmania' saw the Liberal Democrats soar ahead of Labour in opinion polls after Nick Clegg's convincing performances in the leadership elections.
But unpopular decisions taken by the coalition government, including drastic public sector spending cuts and Mr Clegg's backing for the £9,000-a-year limit on tuition fees, have sparked opposition even from staunch Lib Dems.
All the results aren't in yet but the Lib Dems have already lost almost 300 councillors in total, whilst the Tory vote seems to be holding up. Labour is making advances in English councils and the Welsh Assembly.
Mr Clegg told press the Lib Dems were facing "the brunt of the blame" for coalition spending cuts, adding that, for some voters, they were bringing out "memories of things under Thatcher".
But he promised to "redouble our efforts" and "get up and dust ourselves down".For the Conservatives,
Foreign Secretary William Hague defended the Lib Dems, saying membership of the coalition had been "the right thing to do for the country".He added: "Whether it's the right thing for them for an electoral point of view will be determined over the next few years, over five years, not just over one year of coalition, and I think they know that."Whatever happened to Cleggmania? It's a question Lib Dem MPs will be asking... more
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Sixth form student Edward Woollard was jailed for two years and eight months today after he was found guilty of violent disorder.
The 18-year-old admitted hurling a fire extinguisher of the roof of the Tory Party headquarters on November 10th last year, after film emerged of him in the act.
Woollard will serve at least half of his sentence in a young offenders institution.
In sentencing, the judge said: 'It is deeply regrettable, indeed a shocking thing, for a court to have sentence a young man such as you to a substantial term of custody.
'But the courts have a duty to provide the community with such protection from violence as they can and this means sending out a very clear message to anyone minded to behave in this way that an offence of this seriousness will not be tolerated.
'The right of peaceful protest is a precious one. Those who abuse it and use the occasion to indulge in serious violence must expect a lengthy sentence of immediate custody.'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8252480/Tuition-fees-sixth-form-student-jailed-for-throwing-fire-extinguisher.htmlSixth form student Edward Woollard was jailed for two years and eight months today... more
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As 20-year-old undergraduate Alfie Meadows recovers in hospital from bleeding on the brain after he was hit by a police truncheon during last week's fees protests, fellow students from Middlesex University plan to "kettle" Scotland Yard.
Hundreds of students are expected to take part in the move today, in protest at alleged police brutality in the recent demonstrations.
In an open letter from staff and students, the signatories expressed their “disgust” at the behaviour of police in recent weeks and called for a peaceful protest.
It said: “Over the last month, we have been witness numerous times to police attacks on young protesters, many of school age, with nothing to defend themselves but their passion, anger and sense of injustice.
“The spectacle of brute, armed force marshalled against the young and innocent holds up an unflattering mirror to the society that condones it.”
A second “kettling” protest is being organised at Brixton police station in south London.
As 20-year-old undergraduate Alfie Meadows recovers in hospital from... more
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In his first party conference speech as Deputy PM, Nick Clegg asked Liberal Democrat MPs to "stick with him" and serve a full five years in government.
Against a backlash from some MPs, Clegg backed controversial government spending cuts and said they were the "only choice" for improving the economy.
The Lib Dem leader also again defended taking his party into a coalition with the Tories, and told MPs that the country would never have taken the Lib Dems seriously again if they'd opted out of governing in nation interest at a time of crisis.
In a 37 minute speech, he told delegates:
"We confounded those who said that coalition government was impossible. We created a government which will govern and govern well for the next five years.
"Of course there are those who will condemn us. We are challenging years of political convention and tradition and our opponents will yell and scream about it.
"But I am so, so proud of the quiet courage and determination which you have shown through this momentous period in British political history.
"Hold our nerve and we will have changed British politics for good. Hold our nerve and we will have changed Britain for good."
He said: "We will take risks in government. But we will never lose our soul. We haven't changed our liberal values. Our status is different but our ambition is the same."
Mr Clegg praised Prime Minister David Cameron for thinking "beyond his party", adding: "In life, two heads are usually better than one."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11366009In his first party conference speech as Deputy PM, Nick Clegg asked Liberal Democrat... more
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The government has unveiled the latest budget cuts and called the measures "tough but fair". The BBC says it's "the biggest package of tax increases and spending cuts in a generation", so how will this year's budget affect you?
Below are some of the changes coming into force. For full details, have a look at the Treasury's website or the BBC.
Taxes:
From January, VAT will rise to 20%, generating £13bn by the end of this parliament.
Capital Gains Tax will stay at 18% for low and middle-income earners but from midnight, taxpayers on higher rates will pay 28%.
Income tax: the personal allowance will increase by £1,000 to £7,475 in April.
Cigarettes, alcohol, fuel:
No increase on duties on these.
By the end of the month, Labour's decision to increase duties on cider by 10% above inflation will be reversed.
Benefits:
Child benefit will be frozen for the next 3 years.
Sure start maternity grant will only go to the first child.
The child element of the child tax credit will increase by £150 above inflation.
Tax credits will be cut for families earning £40K plus next year.
Public Sector workers:
2 year pay freeze on staff earning more than £21,000. Those on less than that get a £250 pay rise for each of those two years.
Operational allowance for troops in Afghanistan has been doubled to £4,800.
More sources for budget summaries:
GuardianTelegraphIndependentBBC
The government has unveiled the latest budget cuts and called the measures... more
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The Government's security advisors have told Coalition MPs that they it's not a good idea for them to use iPhones when sending sensitive official communications.
4 million Brits use the iPhone, and many ministers are known fans, but Whitehall's security experts say the touch-screen devices are vulnerable to hacking; Apple denies this.
As an alternative, staff have been advised to use Blackberrys or other approved phones.
http://www.thinq.co.uk/2010/6/16/uk-ministers-banned-using-iphone/The Government's security advisors have told Coalition MPs that they it's... more
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According to a report in The Guardian, David Cameron has said that he's prepared to declare himself the winner of the 2010 election if the Conservatives come first, but fail to secure an overall parliamentary majority. This apparently goes against an age-old convention which allows Gordon Brown to remain prime minister in the event of a hung parliament - or to put it another way, Brown gets first dibs on setting up a coalition government because he's already in charge.Another article in The Guardian explains that whoever wins "Thursday's vote is not automatically granted the keys to No 10. Gordon Brown will remain prime minister until he chooses to resign or is defeated in the House of Commons." So, whoever forms a government needs to know they have enough votes to pass the Queen's Speech on May 25 - something considered a confidence vote - where they lay out their priorities and plans for their term in power. If Cameron did declare himself the winner this could apparently put the Queen's political impartiality in danger, as accepting or rejecting one leader's victory claims could be seen as taking a political decision. Presumably she'd have to step in and say things like "It's not worth it Gordon. Just go home and forget about it." Though if it comes to a fight, my money's on her Madge - apart from being alive for over a thousand years, she knows where all the swords and armour is kept in Buckingham palace. Who knows how nervous all this is making the Queen - an article in the New York Times helpfully reminds us that in the past, attempts by monarchs to rule in the face of parliamentary opposition ended badly - beheading or exile. I'm sure we wouldn't do that this time. We'd just make her volunteer in a charity shop, sorting out old underwear.According to a report in The Guardian, David Cameron has said that he's... more
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One of today's big election stories concerns "tactical voting" - excellent, something else to make the election seem even more X Factory. The Mail reports that Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain have suggested that "party supporters in some marginal seats should back the Liberal Democrats to stop the Conservatives winning the General Election." Wow. Labour MP's suggesting people don't vote Labour? Well, yes. In the article, which sadly doesn't have the headline "Balls To The Wall!", it says that Ed et al. suggest voting for Clegg in Lib Dem-Tory marginal constituencies would increase the chance of the Conservatives falling short of an overall majority, and give Labour the chance to form a coalition with the Lib Dems in a hung parliament. Or as the Telegraph puts it "that nasty little game that the Eastern European countries employ to ensure that one of their number wins the Eurovision Song Contest."So now it's not just about voting for the local MP or party you agree with most, it's also about keeping parties you don't like out of parliament. Check and mate. Excuse me while I lie down in a dark room and think about this. Thankfully, luddites like me don't have to think too much about it, becuase the Mirror have conveniently made a print-out-and-keep tactical voting guide (it'll go on the wall next to my Sun World Cup wallchart and that massive poster of dinosaurs I got from the Guardian ages ago). At the top, the guide lists constituencies that Lib Dem voters should vote for Labour in, at the bottom it lists places Labour supporters should vote Lib Dem in. And in case you were wondering which way the ever-subtle Mirror was going in the election, the line "Smug David Cameron faces defeat if people vote with their heads and not their hearts on Thursday" might give you a clue. So how does everyone feel about the election being turned into a big game of Risk? None of the other parties seem to be suggesting voters should tactically vote. Former Lib-Dem leader Paddy/Lord Ashdown/Pantsdown said during a Radio 4 interview that the call was "patronising" and that the public "were quite intelligent enough" to work out how to vote. Even Gordon Brown himself has played down the tactical voting message, telling GMTV that "I want people to vote Labour and I want a majority Labour government." The Conservatives say that the call showed "utter desperation" and stood in stark contrast to Mr Cameron's "positive campaigning". Are we sure about that?
Personally, you can keep your wall-charts and tactics, I like my politics explained to me the same way the BBC did in the 2008 election - by getting Jeremy Vine to dress up like a cowboy, and shoot computer generated tin cans in a virtual studio. One of today's big election stories concerns "tactical voting" -... more
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A recent blog on The Telegraph called "What the Lib Dems really think about children and pornography" brought up a story from 2004 about a Lib Dem working party that called for changes in the law to allow 16-year-olds to legally view and buy pornography. Or, as the Daily Star puts it "Under Clegg’s rule, children as young as 16 would not only be allowed to buy hardcore porn films – they could star in them too." Because we all know when you buy a porn film, it's merely a matter of weeks before you end up starring in the sequel. That's how the jizz-industry works.
The Telegraph blog's way of making a six-year-old story relevant is that members of the Mumsnet forum are now calling for the Lib Dems to review this policy, or according to The Sun "FURIOUS mums have slammed Liberal Democrat plans". If you actually take a look at Mumsnet it's interesting to see that the reaction is very mixed - actually more along the lines of "this isn't news" rather than fury and outrage. One person points out how the story has been sensationalised by the tabloids and directs people to the actual policy document - far from forcing your kids to star in Trousers Snakes On A Plane, it talks about stricter regulation of the sex industry to protect workers and under 16s. So is the Lib Dems idea to lower the age you can buy porn at such a bad (or indeed shocking) thing? After all, at sixteen you're old enough to join the Army, buy cigarettes, get married and have sex (what a heck of a night out that would be), but can't legally watch or buy a film with people having sex - maybe you could find these 'films' on this 'Internet' thing I keep hearing about. Or does this just come across as anti-Clegg media desperately trying to dig up dirt on the Lib Dems?
A recent blog on The Telegraph called "What the Lib Dems really think... more
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The historic first live election debate has finally taken place with the leaders of the main parties going head to head in front of an estimated 20million tv audience.
A recent populus poll suggested that smooth talking David Cameron would come out on top in the debate with the awkward Gordon Brown expected to struggle. Very few who took part in the poll fancied Nick Clegg to be in with a shout.
A poll on yougov.com that rates the leaders debate performances, however, puts Clegg top with a whopping 51% support, compared to 29% to Cameron and 19% to Brown. An ITN poll showed a result of: 43% to Clegg, 26% to Cameron and 20% Brown (11% didn't know) out of a sample of 4000 voters.
But who came out on top for you? More importantly, will these poll results be reflected in the votes come May 6th?The historic first live election debate has finally taken place with the leaders of... more
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Voters are deeply pessimistic about the state of Britain today, believing that society is broken and heading in the wrong direction, a Populus poll for The Times has found.
Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could.
But worries over the pace of social change and dislocation are balanced by the belief that life will get better, according to the survey undertaken at the weekend.
It suggests that 70 per cent believe that society is now broken, echoing a Conservative campaign theme of the past two years, while 68 per cent say people who play by the rules get a raw deal and 82 per cent think it is time for a change.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7020009.eceVoters are deeply pessimistic about the state of Britain today, believing that society... more
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In the run up to the election I'm sure plenty of people will be asking themselves why they should even bother voting at all. You'd be forgiven for thinking that if Cameron gets in we'll face the prospect of having to hug a hoodie, National Service run by Michael Caine, and his Eton mates (With names like "Toppo" Todhunter) running the country. If Gordon Brown doesn't get evicted from No. 10 then it'll be another five years of misery and weird facial ticks. And of course there's always Nick Clegg - recently pictured sitting in his back garden having a nice biscuit and a cuppa with Ming Campbell. Snore.
Electoral reform is not something usually discussed much at election time - it's a bit like cooking a bad meal and blaming it on the saucepan. But this year, with opinion polls pointing to the prospect of a hung parliament and the need for cross-party collaboration-type-stuff, there's been a lot of talk of whether British politics is capable of (and might benefit from) a period of coalition government. Couple this with the upcoming U.S.-style TV debates giving the Lib Dems manifesto more media coverage, and the fact that disenchanted Labour voters might be drawn to Lib Dems policies, the prospect of a hung parliament is very much a reality.
Although hung parliaments are extremely unusual in our parliamentary system, if it does happen, the Lib Dems might well hold the balance of power. Clegg himself has been vague about the prospect of a power-sharing coalition with another party, saying it's up to the voters. Teaming up with either the Conservatives or Labour could prove toxic and reflect badly on the Lib Dems - or "crushed between the rock of Labour and the hard place of Cameron" as the Guardian puts it.
Currently in the UK we have a "first past the post" system of voting - to become an MP, all a candidate has to do is to gain more votes than any rival in that constituency - a candidate doesn't have to win a majority of the votes cast. The UK is divided up into 659 constituencies, each constituency elects a single MP and each voter casts a single ballot. The votes are added up and the candidate with the highest total is declared the winner and the party with the most MPs generally forms the new government. To paraphrase that annoying insurance sales-meerkat, simples, yes? Simplicity is one of the main benefits of this kind of system, along with the fact it's quick and decisive.
Critics of this system argue that MPs are often elected without an overall majority of all the votes cast. This means that most of the voters MPs are employed to represent don't actually want them. And then we get into the whole "wasted vote" thing - because of their electoral make-up, some seats are so "safe" for one party that supporters of any other group have only a meaningless vote.
It has been argued that both Labour and the Tories have the most to lose from any changes to the first past the post system and why the Lib Dems have long advocated proportional representation. Supporters of the system claim it more clearly represents the wishes of the voters as expressed at the ballot box, fewer votes are "wasted", so greater participation may be encouraged.
Forms of proportional representation has been used in the UK a number of times, in elections for devolution in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and in the London mayoral election. Critics argue that this kind of voting system is just as unrepresentative as first past the post - it could give disproportionate power to small parties. It also demands more knowledge of party beliefs and manifestos and greater effort on the part of the voters. It's a lot more complicated than picking up the phone and voting Geoff or Geoff off this week's X Factor. Of course, many would say that this would be a good thing, voters may welcome the opportunity to be better informed, feel more integral to the election and to exercise greater choice, so turnout may actually increase.
So, is a vote for the Lib Dems a wasted one, given the current voting system in the UK? It depends on whether you see the election as a national matter, or are more concerned about your local constituency. The national swing required to bring them to government is huge, but if you agree with your local Lib Dem MP, then it's not a wasted vote. Apathy is the only wasted vote.
In the run up to the election I'm sure plenty of people will be... more
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"The party is also pledging to scrap income tax for four million people earning less than £10,000 a year" how nice of them, now maybe these people earning this amount will be able to feed themselves properly!
The Liberal Democrats have doubled the threshold at which they say homeowners should pay an annual "mansion tax".
Properties will now have to be worth at least £2m to incur a 1% charge - the previous plan was to charge 0.5% a year on a property's value above £1m.
Party leader Nick Clegg said the "principle" remained the same but "we just looked at the figures".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8385575.stm"The party is also pledging to scrap income tax for four million people earning... more
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The elections watchdog has ruled that the Liberal Democrats can keep £2.4m in donations which it had been suggested came from a fraudster.
Michael Brown was convicted of stealing £30m from clients - his trial heard he had channelled money through his firm, 5th Avenue Partners, to the Lib Dems.
But the Electoral Commission said there was no "reasonable basis" to conclude he had personally donated the money.
The Lib Dems welcomed the ruling and said they had acted in "good faith".
The money was donated to the Lib Dems - the UK's third largest political party - by 5th Avenue Partners Ltd in 2005, ahead of its general election campaign.
£2.4 million??!! What's the point the lib dems will not be in power for a long time!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8370284.stmThe elections watchdog has ruled that the Liberal Democrats can keep £2.4m in... more
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How many people know that in 1998, BNP leader Nick Griffin was convicted of "inciting racial hatred for articles that denied the Holocaust" and given a nine-month suspended sentence?
Who's read the BNP's constitution in which the party states that they are "committed to stemming and reversing the tide of non-white immigration and to restoring, by legal changes, negotiation and consent, the overwhelmingly white make-up of the British population that existed in Britain prior to 1948."?
Who thinks "Billy Brit", the party's ginger-haired mascot of the BNP youth wing, is a little bit messed up?
With Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC's Question Time in mind, it's worth reading these ten tidbits compiled by The Independent to get some more details on the party and the people behind all the controversy. To be fair, it does seem like the newspaper ran out of ideas towards the end of the list. Reasons 9 and 10 can basically be summed up as "a small minority of supporters of the party have turned out to be murderers or violent" - something which could be applied to any of Labour, The Tories and Lib Dem easily enough.How many people know that in 1998, BNP leader Nick Griffin was convicted of... more
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richjm
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A Liberal democrat councillor has uploaded a video to YouTube of him rapping his manifesto in an effort to attract the youth vote.
Describing his cringeworthy efforts as "a funky mix with a little bit of flare," Cllr Allan Witherick, 30, lists six gripping problem areas in Herfordshire that he wants to tackle, including poor roads and a rubbish home help system. You know, all the things the youth of today really care about.
I'll be honest, I'm annoyed. Any innovative attempts at appealing to younger voters is completely over-shadowed by his soul-sapping lack of charisma. He's not even rapping! He's just talking a little bit too fast!
The youth of America gets Obama to get them all excited about politics and we get *this*?A Liberal democrat councillor has uploaded a video to YouTube of him rapping his... more
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