Clegg's hollow rhetoric
There was much for social liberals to cheer in Nick Clegg's Bloomberg speech: infrastructure investment; education; environment; and progressive taxation.However, it had two fundemental flaws.Firstly,...
View ArticleAn endangered species?
This weekend I'm taking part in my first Lib Dem social gathering since rejoining the party. Every Lib Dem in the town can attend; all three of us.Depressingly, that represents a fifty percent increase...
View ArticleThe South Wales Valleys' political deficit
My friend is very rare indeed. He serves as a Liberal Democrat on one of the local community councils. He managed to get through the 2012 local elections and found himself re-elected.I'm sure that you...
View ArticleTime to address the rural penalty
The view of rural Wales from the rare train that ploughs along the Heart of Wales line is picture postcard perfect, but the scenery only helps to mask some deep seated problems.The 'rural penalty' is...
View ArticleOn a hiding to nowhere: a Valleys by-election
I don't envy the Welsh Lib Dem candidate in the forthcoming Penaderyn by-election in Merthyr. I applaud Bob Griffin for the simple fact that he chose to stand as a candidate in the first place.Let's be...
View ArticleBedroom Tax: my letter to Nick Clegg
The Liberal Democrats' support for the 'Bedroom Tax' symbolised everything that is wrong with your leadership of the party. Under your stewardship the party has taken an approach to policy that is...
View ArticleReflections on the Social Liberal Forum Conference
To be amongst Liberal Democrats in a conference setting for the first time in nearly 10 years was, at first, surreal, made even more so by the invitation to stand as a PPC in Teesside during a five...
View ArticleFurther reflections on the Social Liberal Forum Conference
As well as making no philosophical sense, David Howarth's forensic analysis of voters at yesterday's Social Liberal Forum Conference also exposed the electoral danger of pursuing an Orange Book...
View ArticlePoliticians are scared of pensioners
'Politicians are scared of pensioners because they vote', half joked Vince Cable at last week's Social Liberal Forum Conference.Of course, he's right. This is why the UK's pensioners have had a much...
View ArticleThe Teflon State of Israel
Baroness Wasi is to be applauded for her principled stance on Gaza, and the albeit tardy call by Clegg and Cable for an Israeli arms embargo is to be welcomed.But still the condemnation of the Israeli...
View ArticleArmchair membership isn't for me
With my renewed Lib Dem membership under my belt, I can now focus on fulfilling the promise that I made to myself on becoming active again.I've got two principle avenues in my sights: the Social...
View ArticleAlexander's stance on currency union applies as much to the Euro as it would...
Yesterday's Scottish independence referendum debate in Inverness saw Danny Alexander oppose currency union with the UK in the event of independence. In doing so, has he also outed himself as being...
View ArticleWelsh funding proposals are pragmatic rather than fair
Whilst welcoming the commitment to 'top up' the funding Wales receives through the Barnett Formula, this Lib Dem policy commitment does nothing to address the fact that Scotland does significantly...
View ArticleIs an elected Monarch such a mad idea?
An elected monarch is, on the face of it, a crazy idea, but there is a presidential model that lends itself to the possibility.I'm firmly wedded to the principle of power by consent, but strongly...
View ArticleThe Rennard affair: walking away in protest at the outcome only hands victory...
The lifting of Chris Rennard's suspension owes much to his campaining record, friends in high places and the inadequacies of the party's disciplinary process. Legally, he is not guilty of any...
View ArticleApprehension: facing the local party for the first time in a long time
It is with a little apprehension that I look forward to my first local party meeting for several years this evening.As well as some new faces, there will be plenty of old ones too. How will they...
View ArticleMixed messages and inadequate messengers
In his recent blog post, Glasgow Conference cancelled?, Gareth Epps rightly defends the sovereignty of the Federal Conference in determining the content of the Federal General Election manifesto.I am,...
View ArticleAnother Lib Dem departs
Today the news broke that one of our most proactive and long-standing campaigners in Merthyr has defected to Plaid Cymru. Whilst not wholly unexpected - she publically stated that she was 'lending' her...
View ArticleFederalism and hypothecation don't mix
I was dismayed to read in Mohsin Khan's recent piece calling for an NHS contribution that the leadership is, again, considering an NHS tax.How history repeats itself. Ten or so years ago, when working...
View ArticleThe divisive wedge that is nationalism
The divisive and dangerous impact of nationalist ideology has been amply demonstrated during the Scottish referendum campaign. Salmond, Sturgeon et al have created, and driven, a wedge through the...
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