50 Most Recent Stories From News from the Liberal Democrats

Thu 29th Jul 2010:

Give workers freedom to choose retirement date, says Minister.

Commenting, Ed Davey said: “With more and more people wanting to extend their working lives we should not stop them just because they have reached a particular age. We want to give individuals greater choice and are moving swiftly to end discrimination of this kind. “Older workers bring with them a wealth of talent and experience as employees and entrepreneurs. They have a vital contribution to make to our economic recovery and long-term prosperity.”

Wed 28th Jul 2010:

ASBOs are a failed policy, says Brake.

Commenting on today’s speech by the Home Secretary in which she said  it was ‘time to move beyond’ Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Justice, Tom Brake said: “The Home Secretary has listened to Liberal Democrat concerns.  “With more than half of ASBOs breached in 2008, this was a policy more about posturing than effective policing.  Local communities know that other measures, such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts can nip problems in the bud before they escalate.  “Resorting to ASBOs was a sign of failure.”

Labour opposition to AV exposes staggering hypocrisy, says Hughes.

Commenting on Labour's decision to oppose legislation for a referendum on the alternative vote, which was a commitment in their manifesto, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said: “This is staggering hypocrisy from Labour. “Labour's shadow cabinet decision is not about principle, it is about naked opportunism. “With most of their leadership contenders claiming to back AV for a fairer voting system, it is astonishing they now wish to block the legislation to make that happen. “Each and every Labour MP campaigned on a manifesto committing to a referendum. Now they have the opportunity to make this happen but have chosen to say no for opposition's sake. “Labour can no longer claim to be the party of reform. It is now the party of vested interests and shameless self-interest.”

Tue 27th Jul 2010:

Evidence released shows Labour neglected Armed Forces, says Tim Farron.

The documents show that Labour ministers were formally warned that the military needed an alternative to the Snatch Land Rover in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a reaction to the revelations, Tim Farron said:   “This is yet another damning sign that the Labour Government ignored advice from its top military officials on their equipment needs. “As we long suspected, generals told ministers that they needed better equipment to protect their troops and to prevent more casualties. For years the Army had to make do with adding extra protection to their existing, unsuitable vehicles. “This is unacceptable in any situation and led to unnecessary casualties. I look forward to working with my Coalition colleagues to put these kind of indefensible practices behind us by making sure our brave soldiers are properly equipped.” To read the full document, please visit the Iraq Inquiry's website.

Coalition sets out ambitious climate change policies.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne today set out ambitious plans to tackle climate change and give the UK the secure, low carbon energy it needs. In his first Annual Energy Statement to the House of Commons, Chris Huhne laid out "a clear strategy for creating the 21st century energy system that this country urgently needs for an affordable, secure, low-carbon future." This included a series of measures to improve energy efficiency and boost renewables, protect vulnerable consumers, as well as pledging to push for ambitious action on climate change at home and abroad. Commenting, Chris Huhne said: “The coalition brings resolve and stability to energy and climate change policy.  Today’s Annual Energy Statement sets out 32 important actions, the beginnings of our efforts to introduce the transparency, certainty and long-termism needed by investors.  “Our future energy system is too important to rely on crystal ball gazing.  The 2050 Calculator provides the most comprehensive, long term analysis ever undertaken by Government.  The decision to publish this material is a watershed in government’s honesty with the public about what’s needed in the long term.  It will guide the decisions we make during this Parliament about the energy system we want in 40 years’ time.  “The challenge is ambitious but achievable.  We’re already on track to cut the UK’s emissions by 34% by 2020, and will do more if we can win the case for greater ambition across the whole EU.  But our line of sight needs to extend much further, through to the middle of the century. “The era of cheap, abundant energy is over, we must find smart ways of making the energy we use go further, and value it for the costly resource it is, not taking it for granted.  And even as we reduce overall demand for energy, we may need to meet a near doubling in demand for electricity, as we shift industry, transport and heating onto the grid. “There are big choices and big trade offs in how we do this.  The six pathways described today are only illustrative, but they highlight the scale and urgency of the task. “Choosing the high carbon alternative would be high risk.  It would lock in exposure to volatile oil prices, declining global reserves and rapidly increasing global energy demand.  We’d risk having a dead end economy lagging behind those with the foresight to grab a share of growth in green industries.” Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Energy and Climate Change, Andrew George added: “Climate change is the greatest threat we face as a society and a planet. I am proud that Liberal Democrats in Government are taking this seriously and proposing radical steps to tackle it. “The Coalition has today set out the most ambitious programme to create a secure, low carbon economy of any British Government in history. “It is vital that as we tackle these issues we protect the most vulnerable consumers, which is why rolling out measures like home insulation and smart meters is so important.”

Mon 26th Jul 2010:

Coalition announces Pupil Premium to provide extra money for disadvantaged pupils.

The Coalition Government today announced a Pupil Premium to target extra money at schools taking disadvantaged pupils. The proposed Pupil Premium would provide additional per pupil funding on top of the existing funding provided to schools. Schools will be free to spend the additional funding as they choose to raise the achievement of disadvantage pupils. This was a key manifesto commitment and one that Nick Clegg made clear was one of his absolute priorities. Liberal Democrats Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said: “For too long social background has been a deciding factor in a child’s achievement and future prospects. In a fair society, it’s the Government’s responsibility to close the gulf in achievement, where the poorest children are almost three times less likely to leave school with five good GCSEs than their richer classmates. “That’s why I’m delighted we are today announcing a new Pupil Premium, which will give extra funding to schools to help them tackle the inequalities that have been a part of our state system for far too long. Thousands of children will finally be getting the extra support they need to succeed.” Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Education, Dan Rogerson added: “Labour’s unequal education system left too many children falling behind. “The Liberal Democrats made clear during the election campaign that a Pupil Premium to targeted at the most disadvantaged pupils was an absolute priority. “This will allow schools to help all pupils in the way that they see fit, which could be reducing class sizes or providing more one-to-one tuition and catch-up classes. “This is vital if we are to give all children the fair start in life that they deserve.”

Police commissioners must have tough checks and balances, says Brake.

Commenting ahead of the Home Secretary’s statement on elected police commissioners, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Justice, Tom Brake said: “These proposals should lead to both more accountable and more effective policing.   “But elected police commissioners will need to be subject to tough checks and balances.  “These proposals should not be seen as a green light for the election of Judge Dredd characters more interested in populism than effective co-operative policing.”

Wed 21st Jul 2010:

Deputy Leader Simon Hughes on 10 weeks that have revitalised politics.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has written of his pride at the huge achievements the Liberal Democrats have made in the 10 weeks since the formation of the Coalition Government. Writing for the Guardian's Comment is Free website, Simon Hughes said the Lib Dems "have achieved greater political change than I could have ever imagined" and pointed to a host of the party's policies that are now going ahead. These include the scrapping of ID cards and intrusive government databases, the ending of child detention for immigration purposes, the review of 28-day detention without charge, the referendum on voting reform, the right to sack MPs guilty of serious misconduct, a Pupil Premium to target money at poor children, a banking levy and the raising of the income tax threshold. Simon Hughes said: "In the last 10 weeks we have seen three refreshing changes in the politics of Britain. "There has been change from a government which had lost direction and run out of steam, to a government clear about its direction and full of energy. "There has been change from one party government to coalition government for the first time for 65 years – doing what many of the public often say they want and bringing political leaders to work together in the interests of the nation. "And thirdly, we have seen Liberals enter government for the first time since the second world war. This is a huge opportunity for Liberals and Liberal Democrats. "Our great party at last has the chance to make sure we build for the first time in decades a truly liberal Britain. "As we tackle the three great challenges of the economic, environmental and political crises we inherited, we have all to play for. With confidence, but not with arrogance, we can help to deliver the fairer Britain our country desperately needs. "We have only just begun to show what a real transformation for the better this can bring." Click here for the full article.

10 weeks on the Lib Dems have had huge influence in Government.

In just 10 weeks since the start of the Coalition Government, the Liberal Democrats have exerted a huge influence over its agenda. Going into the election the Liberal Democrats made clear that they had four key priorities: fairer taxes; a fair start for children with extra funding for disadvantaged pupils; a comprehensive clean up of our politics, including a fairer voting system; and a green, sustainable economy. Thanks to Lib Dem involvement, the Government will deliver on each of these. There are also a large number of other Lib Dem policies and pledges that will now begin to make a real, positive difference to people’s lives because of our role in the Coalition Government. These include everything from rolling back the surveillance state and giving people back their civil liberties, to prison and NHS reforms, fairer pensions, the ending of child detention and the scrapping of the third runway at Heathrow. Delivering on our promises Fairer taxes The Liberal Democrats promised to make the tax system fairer by ensuring no one pays tax on the first £10,000 they earn and closing loopholes that allow the wealthy to pay a smaller proportion of their income in tax than people on low and middle incomes. The Coalition Government has already taken a huge step towards achieving this by raising the income tax threshold by £1,000 in last month’s Budget, saving low and middle earners £200 a year, and reforming Capital Gains Tax. The income tax threshold will continue to be increased every year during this Parliament. The Liberal Democrats also promised to restore the earnings link to pensions, which the Government will now do. We also promised wide scale banking reform, including a banking levy to make sure that banks pay for the financial support they received from the taxpayer. The levy, which will raise £2.5bn, was announced in the Budget. A fair start for children The Liberal Democrats promised to introduce a Pupil Premium to target extra money at disadvantaged children. The Coalition Agreement makes clear that this will now happen. We also promised greater freedoms for teachers over the curriculum, which will also be brought in as a key part of the Coalition’s education reforms. Fair politics The Liberal Democrats promised a comprehensive clean up of the rotten political system. This is now a key part of the Coalition’s agenda for which Nick Clegg has responsibility. The plans include: ·    A referendum on the Alternative Vote to take place in May 2011 ·    The right to sack MPs guilty of serious misconduct ·    Fixed term parliaments of five years ·    Reform of party funding ·    Moving towards an elected House of Lords, elected by proportional representation ·    A statutory register of lobbyists ·    A radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups   A green, sustainable economy The Liberal Democrats promised a raft of policies to help the economy recover and make sure that we build a new green and sustainable economy fit for the 21st century. A huge number of these policies will now become a reality, including: ·    Tough action to tackle the deficit ·    The creation of a green investment bank ·    Reform of the banking system to make sure that banks lend to viable British businesses ·    An independent commission on separating investment and retail banking ·    Measures to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses ·    Support for low carbon energy production and an increase the target for energy from renewable sources ·    Enabling the creation of a national high speed rail network ·    The creation of a smart electricity grid and the roll-out of smart meters ·    The establishment of an emissions performance standard that will prevent coal-fired power stations being built unless they are equipped with Carbon Capture and Storage Technology ·    Replacing Air Passenger Duty with a per-plane duty ·    The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as working to persuade the EU to move towards full auctioning of ETS permits Other Lib Dem policies that will now become a reality The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for the restoration of freedoms and civil liberties eroded under Labour and the rolling back of the surveillance state. A huge number of Lib Dem policies will now happen, including: ·    The abolition of Identity Cards, the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric passports and the ContactPoint Database ·    The repeal of unnecessary laws ·    Further regulation of CCTV ·    The outlawing of finger-printing of children at school without permission ·    Extending the Freedom of Information Act ·    Ending child detention for immigration purposes ·    Removal of innocent people from the DNA database There are also a host of other Lib Dem policies that will now happen under the Coalition Government. These include: ·    Fair compensation for Equitable Life victims ·    The modernisation of the Royal Mail ·    Flexible working and promotion of equal pay ·    Reform of the NHS to strengthen the voices of patients and the role of doctors ·    A commission on long-term reform of social care ·    Cutting Quangos and government bureaucracy ·    Implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission on Scottish devolution ·    A referendum on further powers for the Welsh Assembly

Yarl’s Wood closure a sign of Lib Dem influence in Government, says Brake .

Commenting on Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg’s statement that the child detention facility at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, where children are detained awaiting deportation, will be closed, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Justice, Tom Brake said: “The ending of child detention at Yarl’s Wood is a victory for British decency. “Locking up innocent children for months on end can lead to serious physical and psychological harm. It is a disgrace the Labour Government allowed this to take place in 21st century Britain. “The Liberal Democrats have had a huge influence in Government and this announcement is a sign of that. I am proud to be in a party which will end the cruelty of child detention.”

Fri 16th Jul 2010:

Nick Clegg sets out the aims of a liberal Parliament.

In his speech at the liberal think-tank Demos, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg set out his aims for a liberal Parliament. Full text below: Last year, I wrote a pamphlet for Demos, arguing that the liberal moment had come. I argued that demands for a new approach to politics, for a radical redistribution of power, would soon have to be met by a liberal agenda. That moment arrived on May 7. Our challenge now is to seize this moment, the liberal moment, and to ensure that we help to deliver a liberal parliament - a great reforming parliament that carries out a fundamental redistribution of power to the people. Liberal ideas have of course influenced politicians in other parties since the Liberal Party was last in office. Think of Roy Jenkins, as Labour Home Secretary, one of the great Liberal reformers. And today, James Purnell, since his escape from Westminster, has been pursuing his idea of ‘power egalitarianism’, which overlaps strongly with liberal thinking. The Prime Minister has described himself as a liberal Conservative. Now that the Liberal Democrats are in government, liberal ideas are being deployed directly. What you are seeing is liberalism in action. And I can tell you that as Deputy Prime Minister, my liberal instincts are stronger than ever. Our goal is clear. By the time of the next election, on 7 May 2015, Britain will be a more liberal nation. This goal will be delivered in partnership with the Conservative Party. Our two parties are distinct and independent, but we are united in our zeal for reform. David Cameron and I just this week wrote an article together arguing in favour of a radical redistribution of power. Sometimes the differences between us are on matters of substance; but very often they are merely questions of language. David Cameron’s eloquent description of what he calls the Big Society is what I would call the Liberal Society. Today I want to show how we are setting about working towards the goal of a more liberal Britain, against an extremely difficult economic backdrop, in alliance with our Conservative coalition partners. I will address four themes: Liberalism as a philosophy for government. Liberal Economics: the liberal thinking animating our economic policy Liberal State: the role of the state in a liberal society Liberal Politics: the liberalisation of politics and our political system Liberalism In my Demos pamphlet, I wrote that ‘the job of a liberal government is to disperse power’. Liberalism is based on the simple, profound belief that power should rest in the hands of people. Power is too often hoarded by elites, beyond the reach of citizens. When liberals see power hoarded in centralised political institutions, corporate monopolies, or unaccountable bureaucracies, we instinctively reach for the sledgehammer. I recognise that recent political history is littered with examples of politicians who were strong decentralisers in opposition but centralisers once they were settled in their Whitehall departments. It is not enough to declare a decentralising agenda: we have to deliver on it. Now that we are in government, I hope you will see that we meant it, and that this is an aspiration we share with our Conservative coalition partners. This Government is deeply committed to the decentralisation of power - in politics, economics and in public services. To take just a few examples: More powers for Local Authorities Greater autonomy in our schools A radical dispersal of power in the NHS Locally-based partnerships to promote enterprise This desire to put power in the hands of people is based on an optimistic assessment of human nature, and human capability. It is an article of faith for liberals that people with power and capability will make better choices about how to lead their lives than government, or other institutions. A free society is a better society, so long as people have the resources and opportunities to make the best of their lives. Indeed, I believe illiberal politics is usually based on pessimism. When politicians or political parties fall prey to the idea that people are not capable of creating good lives and good communities for themselves, they resort to central government fiat and regulation. I think the last government sometimes fell into this trap. One of the problems we face today is that the people do not trust politicians; but it is perhaps an even greater problem that politicians very often do not trust the people. I said a moment ago that individual liberty requires not only freedom from interference but also resources. Independence requires knowledge, health, money, skills – these are described by the Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen as capabilities. These capabilities do not emerge out of thin air. So liberal societies, populated by powerful citizens, must attend to the production and distribution not only of cash, but more importantly to the production and distribution of capabilities. As Sen puts it: “Responsible adults must be in charge of their own well-being; it is for them to decide how to use their capabilities. But the capabilities that a person does actually have depends on the nature of social arrangements, which can be crucial for individual freedoms. And there the state and the society cannot escape responsibility.” I agree.  This is a vital element of the liberal approach, as opposed to libertarians, or neo-liberals if you prefer. Libertarians believe that simply clearing away obstacles will set people free. Liberals understand that for a person to have power over their life, they need capabilities too. There is one further point to make on liberalism as a governing philosophy, which relates to responsibility. The Government’s programme will be based on the core values of freedom, fairness and responsibility. These values strongly reinforce each other. It should be clear, for example, that responsibility goes hand in hand with freedom. Liberal societies only function when people take responsibility for themselves, and for others. An irresponsible society necessarily becomes either an anarchic or authoritarian one. Jo Grimond, one of my predecessors, wrote that: ‘a corollary of freedom, just as important as order, is responsibility. Freedom entails the acceptance of responsibility. Responsibility is meaningless without freedom’. This, then, is the liberal political vision: a society made up of powerful, responsible citizens. Liberal Economics This vision animates the legislative agenda of the government in a wide range of areas, from civil liberties and criminal justice, to the environment and public service reform. But I want to look first at the economy, and in particular the colossal challenge of repairing the public finances. We are facing the biggest budget deficit since the Second World War. Britain will in 2010, carry the biggest deficit in Europe. For the financial year 2010/11, the structural deficit will be around 8 per cent of GDP. If we do not take action to tackle the deficit, by the end of this parliament we will be paying £70bn just to service our debts. Everybody accepts that decisive action was required. The Labour government had set out plans for spending reductions representing two-thirds of the cuts proposed by the Coalition government – without specifying what those cuts would be. David Cameron and I, along with our colleagues in both parties, decided that Labour’s plans did not go far enough. In our view, there was a clear and present danger to the economic sovereignty of the nation. It was called an emergency budget for a reason. It was a budget aimed squarely at retaining democratic control over the public finances. As a nation, we faced a real risk of losing control of the management of our economy to unaccountable financial markets. I understand that these economic judgements are contested ones. Reasonable people can disagree about our assessment, our judgement, of the relative risks involved here. But let me be crystal clear about where the Liberal Democrats stand. This was a Coalition budget, not a Conservative budget. The Liberal Democrats stand full-square behind the Budget judgement. There would be, to my mind, absolutely nothing liberal about handing over £70 billion to the bond markets to service the debt we inherited from the previous government. That is money that should go on public services – on schools and on hospitals – not bond dealers’ bonuses. The action we have taken on fiscal policy is also intended to keep down the cost of borrowing. The deficit outlook we inherited as a government was likely to force up interest rates, which would deal a devastating blow to families and businesses. Affordable borrowing – for the government, but also for businesses and families – is vital to the economic recovery. There is some concern that the budget measures risk creating a ‘double dip’ recession. The opposite is the case. If we had not taken action in the budget, and interest rates had risen, that would have been the quickest route to an early double dip recession. We are also committed as a Government to unlocking bank lending. Capital is the lifeblood of the economy, as we were reminded so brutally two years ago. We will be taking the necessary measures to get capital flowing again to British businesses.  Of course, getting there will be a painful process. Nobody could possibly have wanted to enter government to find a huge budget deficit waiting. The temptation, especially for politicians, is to delay the pain, to put off decisions that will be unpopular. That is a temptation to which the previous government succumbed, and the mess we are now clearing up is their legacy. But by acting now, we are very much more likely to see strong economic growth in the medium-term. It is pain for gain. It is absurd to claim that there is a chasm between the Government and the Opposition on the budget measures. We learn, courtesy of Lord Mandelson’s memoirs – produced, it has to be said, with a speed and efficiency sadly lacking by Labour in government – of Alistair Darling’s plans for last November’s Pre Budget Report. Mr Darling wanted to cut income tax at the bottom and reduce corporation tax - while raising VAT over successive years to 19 per cent. He also opposed a rise in National Insurance on the grounds that it would be a ‘tax on jobs’. If this sounds familiar, it might be because Mr Darling’s preferred options are uncannily similar to those in last month’s emergency budget. It is a shame Mr Darling could not persuade Gordon Brown. It is also shameful for Labour to attack the Coalition for measures their own chancellor wished to implement. Let me now set out some of the thinking behind some of the tax changes, which are a good example of liberalism in action. The Government increased the income tax threshold by £1,000 to £7,475 and raised Capital Gains Tax by a full ten percentage points to 28 per cent. As you know, the coalition government has pledged to prioritise cuts to taxes on income, particularly low income, rather than cuts in inheritance tax. In the budget we also announced that we would examine the case for switching aviation tax from per-passenger to a per-plane duty, as well as a review of the climate change levy to give more certainty and support to the price of carbon. These reforms and reviews are in line with long-standing liberal views about taxation, and two preferences in particular: for taxing ‘unearned’ income rather than ‘earned’ income; and for taxing pollution rather than people I don’t want to overstate the case on the basis on one emergency budget. But I do think it is reasonable to claim that the contours of a distinctly liberal approach to tax – of a fiscal liberalism – are now visible. Liberal State   There have been some fears expressed that the Budget represents an ideological exercise, designed to shrink the state. But the Coalition deficit reduction plans are driven by economic necessity, not by ideology. Too often, political philosophy is boiled down into these kind of binary questions: are you pro-state or anti-state? Do you want a small state or big state? The answer to these questions is then used a proxy for a political position. To be on the left, in this analysis, is to be in favour of a big state, high public spending and high taxation to pay the bills. To be on the right is to believe the opposite to all of these. For liberals, the questions are essentially meaningless. A liberal state cannot be equated to a particular level of government spending as a proportion of GDP. It is perfectly possible to have a state that spends small amounts on a highly authoritarian state apparatus. It is perfectly possible to have a state that spends large amounts in a manner that is liberating. Take education. A centralized, dictat-driven school system with no diversity, no choice, and no flexibility would be illiberal no matter how much it cost. A system that allows for choice, freedom, and diversity is a liberal one – with the price tag a separate question. Michael Gove’s plans to allow for greater autonomy in schools, along with more localized diversity of provision and more choice for parents is a quintessentially liberal approach. This is an area where the state needs to back off. But the education system is also failing to promote social mobility. Too often, poor children end up with a poor education, compared to their more affluent peers. Here is an area where the state does need to intervene more aggressively, by providing a targeted pupil premium, giving more power to the most disadvantaged children in the system. So: less state intervention in the running of schools, more state intervention in promoting social mobility. Is the state getting smaller or bigger in this scenario? To my mind, it’s a ludicrous way of framing the question. The liberal test for any form of state intervention is whether it liberates and empowers people. So it makes no sense whatsoever to use a phrase like ‘small state liberal’. Someone with a fixed view about the size of the state is not a liberal. It is not the size of the state - it is what the state does that matters. Does it hoard and exercise its own power, or disperse power and build capability in our citizens? Similarly, a liberal cannot hold a simple ‘for’ or ‘against’ view of regulation. It is clear that in many areas, we have not had enough regulation in the last decade – the banks and the housing market being the most obvious examples. On the other hand, we have seen far too much regulation for small businesses, and too much micro-management in the day-to-day lives of ordinary people. A liberal cannot say that a state is too big - but we can certainly say the state has become too big for its boots. Labour over-regulated in some areas, but under-regulated in others. Liberal Politics Last – but most definitely not least – I want to turn my attention to the urgent question of political reform. It is clear that a rotten political system has lost the confidence of the public, and rightly so. Power is hoarded in Downing Street, Westminster and Whitehall; the First Past the Post voting system is past its sell-by date; and the House of Lords is running behind the rest of society’s progress by approximately one hundred years. As I have said, the driving liberal mission is to place more power in the hands of people. In politics this means: More power to select, and deselect, their representatives More power to choose local priorities, rather than being dictated to from the centre More power for people to express their political preferences In all of these areas, this parliament will see great progress. The referendum on the voting system next May will give people the chance to choose a new voting system. The proposal to equalize the size of parliamentary constituencies will give each vote a more equal weight. The decentralization drive will put more power in the hands of local authorities, but also in the hands of community groups, neighbourhood associations and local public services. House of Lords reform has been on the liberal agenda for well over a century. I am not going to hide my impatience on this issue. In some ways, I feel like we are back to help finish the job we as liberals started in 1911. We need a House of Lords that is fit for purpose, and fit for the 21st century. I am acutely aware that this is an area of reform that has defeated countless previous administrations over the last few decades. But those administrations did not have Liberal Democrats in them. I am delighted, however, that today there is cross-party support for many of the measures I have mentioned. I look forward to working with people from all parties on the urgent task of political reform. We should not imagine, however, that political reform is only concerned with the systems and structures of politics – urgent though that reform is. We also need to reform the conduct of political life. For too long, British politics has been stuck in a stale, artificial duopoly. Differences of opinion within parties have been denied or hidden, disagreements between parties have been artificially inflated by what Grimond called ‘the distorting pressures of parliament’. Politicians have seen little contradiction between lecturing the nation on the need for civility and responsibility while operating in a House of Commons that has too often resembled a cross between a bear-pit and a football terrace. The fact of emergence of coalition government is changing the way politics is conducted, in a hugely positive direction. Of course it is challenging for all of us in government. It is challenging for the civil service. And it poses a challenge to the opposition parties too. But I am hugely excited not only by the measures being undertaken by the coalition government, but the way in which we are undertaking them. The biggest change is in the way political decisions are made. Open discussion is encouraged, not thwarted. We want robust dialogue and dissent in politics: indeed, from a liberal perspective, argument is a critical tool of progress. But we do not need poisonous tribalism. Sometimes we can agree to disagree. A compromise might sometimes be the best way forward, rather than representing a defeat for politician X and a victory for politician Y. Sometimes – and here I am going to court great controversy – we might even change our minds. It is too easy for politicians to fall into the trap of knee-jerk opposition, to spend all their time in a combat stance, to stop listening to those with whom they disagree. But the time for this kind of politics has passed. There is a thirst for a new and different way of doing politics, and I think we are responding. Politics is changing before our eyes, and I am genuinely afraid that the Labour party is blind to the transformation. This parliament will be a challenging one. But it is also set to be a truly reforming parliament – a liberal parliament. By 2015: power will have been radically redistributed towards people our civil liberties will have been restored our broken political system will be repaired our economy will be balanced, green and growing If the coalition Government succeeds, by 2015 Britain will be a more liberal nation, a nation of stronger citizens living in a fairer society. I am under no illusions about the scale of this ambition. But I am also in no doubt that we can achieve it.

Thu 15th Jul 2010:

Vince Cable makes speech on higher education funding.

Vince Cable today gave his first speech on higher education since becoming Business Secretary, in which he suggested that a graduate tax might be a fairer system for funding universities than tuition fees. An independent review, led by Lord Browne, is currently looking at how universities will be funded in the future and will report in the Autumn. Once it is published, the Coalition Government will judge its proposals against the need to: increase social mobility; take into account the impact on student debt; ensure a properly funded university sector; improve the quality of teaching; advance scholarship; and encourage a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Speaking at London South Bank University this morning, Vince Cable said: “My generation had the remarkable privilege of being educated free.  There was an implicit assumption that we paid for the graduate premiums in our income through higher income tax.  “But there was also a sense of unfairness articulated by Alan Johnson when he was Minister: why should a young postman contribute through his tax to pay for an already privileged group to avoid earning a living for three years and then emerge with higher earnings potential? “In any event, a model designed for 10% of the population could not be applied to 40%: hence the move to a graduate contribution.  “We currently have what is misleadingly called a system of ‘tuition fees’.  Many people believe, wrongly that when students arrive at university they or their parents are required to get out their chequebooks, or wallets, and pay more than £3000 for a year’s tuition.  “The idea that students are repelled from higher education by fees owes much to this erroneous belief.   “In reality of course most students meet these costs by taking a student loan, payable direct from income after graduation when earning a reasonable salary.  In this sense, we already have a form of graduate tax. The problem is that it is a fixed sum – a poll tax – regardless of the income of the graduate. It surely can’t be right that a teacher or care worker or research scientist is expected to pay the same graduate contribution as a top commercial lawyer or surgeon or City analyst whose graduate premium is so much bigger.  “The current system has the further disadvantage that it reinforces the idea that students carry an additional fixed burden of debt into their working lives.  Yet, most of us don’t think of our future tax obligations as ‘debt’. “I am interested in looking at the feasibility of changing the system of financing student tuition so that the repayment mechanism is variable graduate contributions tied to earnings. I have spoken to Lord Browne about this and he has assured me that he is looking at this issue as part of his review. “By looking at the periods of time over which contributions are made, the level of thresholds that trigger the contribution, the rate at which contributions are paid, and the other key variables, it may be possible to levy graduate contributions so that low graduate earners pay no more (or less) and high earners pay more.  ... “I do not want to see a complicated new system or one that creates uncertainty over the future funding of universities. Or one which deters anyone from university with the ambition to go, irrespective of background. There is a long way still to go in this debate and no decisions have yet been taken. But I would urge universities to help us think creatively about fairer mechanisms than the current one, recognising that for students and their families a central issue is securing an equitable system of graduate contributions.”

Wed 14th Jul 2010:

Lord Ashdown to lead review of emergency aid .

Lord Ashdown will lead a taskforce of humanitarian experts from inside and outside Government to review all aspects of how the UK Government responds to disasters and work with the international community to speed up the delivery of aid. The review will also look at how the UK can best work with international bodies and UN agencies in emergency situations and to ensure that the global response to disasters improves. Commenting, Lord Ashdown said: “The emergency response taskforce will ask searching questions of the UK and international response to ensure we are fully prepared and equipped, as well as providing value for money. “As the number of natural disasters is set to increase dramatically, the emergency response taskforce will make sure the Government is well prepared for future catastrophes.”

Tue 13th Jul 2010:

Terror law review a big step towards making Britain fairer says Brake .

Commenting on the Home Secretary’s announcement of a review of counter-terrorism laws, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs, Tom Brake said: “Under the Labour Government, hard won rights and liberties that have been a fundamental part of British life for centuries were eroded or simply cast aside. “The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for years to give citizens back their freedoms, including scrapping control orders and reducing detention without charge. This review will be a big step towards realising these aims and making Britain a fairer country. “The Government’s first duty is to protect its citizens. I have no doubt this review will ensure public safety is balanced with the rights of the British people.”

Wed 7th Jul 2010:

Court ruling secures freedom from persecution for gay asylum seekers.

Commenting on today’s Supreme Court ruling that it is not acceptable to refuse asylum to an individual on the basis that they can hide their sexuality to avoid persecution,  Simon Hughes, said: “I am delighted this ruling recognises the rights of gay asylum seekers, ensuring their freedom from persecution around the world. “This plight is one that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have campaigned on for years. It is an issue that the Coalition Government is committed to addressing as we seek to restore Britain’s reputation around the world as a leader in the protection of human rights. I believe that today’s ruling will go some way to restoring that reputation. “Other countries around the world must now follow the UK’s lead and recognise freedom of expression and freedom of sexuality for all people.”

Tue 6th Jul 2010:

Torture inquiry to restore Britain’s reputation says Brake .

Commenting on the Government’s announcement that there will be an inquiry into the treatment of terror suspects, Tom Brake MP said: “At long last we can hope to see an end to Labour’s shameful legacy on human rights. “This Inquiry will be the coalition Government’s opportunity to get to the bottom of what are very serious allegations levelled at our security services. “From Iraq to accusations of Government complicity in torture, Labour has left Britain’s international reputation in tatters. “Hopefully, the implementation of this key Liberal Democrat manifesto pledge, with access to all relevant material and people, will start the process of restoring Britain’s standing in the world.”

Mon 5th Jul 2010:

Clegg announces welcome political reforms says Simon Hughes .

Commenting on today’s announcement of a referendum on AV, Simon Hughes said: “After 13 years of Labour inaction, Nick Clegg today announced a welcome and major series of progressive political reforms. “The coalition Government has decided in one move to give all voters a much greater say in who is chosen to represent them and to give Parliament a much greater say in the business of Government. “With an easier and more up to date electoral register in the future, the whole of Britain will have a much more representative democracy.  We will also end the scandal where votes have been of unequal value and in many places of no value at all – and where many people have scandalously not even been allowed to vote.”

Nick Clegg's statement on Political and Constitutional Reform.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Government’s proposals for parliamentary reform. Mr Speaker, every member of this House was elected knowing that this parliament must be unlike any other; that we have a unique duty to restore the trust in our political system that has been tested to its limits in recent times.   And, if anything was clear at the General Election, it was that more and more people realised that our political system is broken and needs to be fixed. They want us to clean up politics. They want to be able to hold us properly to account.  So the government has set out an ambitious programme for political renewal, transferring power away from the executive to empower parliament, and away from parliament to empower people. That programme includes: Introducing a power of recall for MPs guilty of serious wrongdoing. Tackling the influence of big money as we look again at party funding. Taking forward long overdue reform of the other place. Implementing the Wright Committee recommendations, and taking steps to give people more power to shape parliamentary business. Speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration. And increasing transparency in lobbying, including through a statutory register. Today I am announcing the details of a number of major elements of the Government’s proposals for political reform.  First, we are introducing legislation to fix parliamentary terms. The date of the next General Election will be 7 May 2015. This is a hugely significant constitutional innovation. It is simply not right that General Elections can be called according to a Prime Minister’s whims. So, this Prime Minister will be the first Prime Minister to give up that right. I know that when the coalition agreement was published there was some concern at these proposals. We have listened carefully to those, and I can announce today how we will proceed, in a Bill that will be introduced before the summer recess: First – traditional powers of no confidence will be put into law, and a vote of no confidence will still require only a simple majority.  Second – if, after a vote of no confidence, a Government cannot be formed for 14 days, Parliament will be dissolved and a General Election will be held. Let me be clear: these steps will strengthen parliament’s power over the executive. Third – there will be an additional power for parliament to vote for an early and immediate dissolution. We have decided that a majority of two thirds will be needed to carry the vote, as opposed to the 55% first suggested, as is the case in the Scottish Parliament. These changes will make it impossible for any government to force a dissolution for its own purposes. These proposals should make it absolutely clear to the House that votes of no confidence and votes for early dissolution are entirely separate. And that we are putting in place safeguards against a lame duck government being left in limbo if the House passes a vote of no confidence but does not vote for early dissolution. I am also announcing today the details of the Government’s proposals to introduce a Bill before the summer to provide for a referendum on the Alternative Vote system and for a review of constituency boundaries in order to create fewer and more equally sized constituencies, cutting the cost of politics and reducing the number of MPs from the 650 we have today to a House of 600 MPs. Together these proposals help correct the deep unfairness in the way we hold elections in this country. Under the current set up, votes count more in some parts of the country than others, and millions feel that their votes don’t count at all. Elections are won and lost in a small minority of seats. We have a fractured democracy: where some people’s votes count and other people’s votes don’t count; where some people are listened to, and others are ignored. By equalising the size of constituencies we ensure that people’s votes carry the same weight, no matter where they live. Only months ago the electorate of Islington North stood at 66,472, while ten miles away, in East Ham, the figure was 87,809. In effect that means a person voting in East Ham has a vote that is worth much less than a vote in Islington North. That cannot be right. These imbalances are found right across the United Kingdom. Reducing the number of MPs allows us to bring our oversized House of Commons into line with legislatures across the world. The House of Commons is the largest directly elected chamber in the European Union, and it’s half as big again as the US House of Representatives. It was never intended that the overall size of the House should keep rising, yet that is precisely the effect of the current legislation – the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. Capping the number of MPs corrects that, and it saves money too. 50 fewer MPs saves £12m a year on pay, pensions and allowances alone. On the referendum, by giving people a choice over their electoral system, we give that system a new legitimacy. Surely when dissatisfaction with politics is so great, one of our first acts must be to give people their own say over something as fundamental as how they elect their MPs?     The question will be simple – asking people whether they want to adopt the Alternative Vote, yes or no. And the precise wording will be tested by the Electoral Commission. As for the date of the referendum, in making that decision we have been driven by three key considerations: That all parties fought the General Election on an absolute pledge to move fast to fix our political system, so we must get on and do that without delay. That it is important to avoid asking people to keep traipsing to the ballot box. And, finally, that in these straitened times we must keep costs as low as possible. That is why the Prime Minister and I have decided that the date for the referendum in the Bill will be 5 May 2011, the same day as the elections to the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and local elections in England. That will save an estimated £17m. I know that some Honourable Members have concerns over that date, but I believe that people will be able to distinguish between the different issues on which they will be asked to vote on on the same day.  Our Bill will make explicit provision for the Boundary Commissions to report on more equally sized constituencies for the process to be completed by the end of 2013, allowing enough time for candidates to be selected ahead of the 2015 election, and we will ensure the Boundary Commissions have what they need to do that. That means that, in the event of a vote in favour of AV, the 2015 General Election will be held on the new system, and according to new boundaries. Let me be clear: these are complementary changes - the outcome of the referendum is put in place as the new boundaries are put in place. The Bill will require the Boundary Commissions to set new constituencies within 5% of a target quota of registered electors, with just two exceptions: Orkney and Shetland, and the Western Isles, uniquely placed given their locations. We have listened, also, to those who have very large constituencies – so the Bill will provide that no constituency will be larger than the size of the largest one now. And we intend that, in the future, boundary reviews will be more frequent to ensure that constituencies continue to meet the requirements we will set out in our Bill. I understand that this announcement will raise questions on all sides of this House – these are profound changes. But let me just say this: yes there are technical issues that will need to be scrutinized and approached with care as these Bills pass through Parliament. But ensuring that elections are as fair and democratic as possible is a matter of principle above all else. These are big, fundamental reforms we are proposing, but we are all duty bound to respond to public demand for political reform. That is how we restore people’s faith in their politics once again. I commend this statement to the House. For more information on the Liberal Democrat position on AV, please visit: www.fairervotes.org.uk.

Norman Baker announces £15m Government funding for green buses .

The funding is intended to put low carbon buses within the reach of as many operators and local authorities as possible throughout England. Bus operators and councils can bid for the money which they can then use towards the additional up front cost of buying low carbon buses. Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "We want to support new transport technologies to help make our transport system greener and more sustainable. "This investment will stimulate the market for low carbon buses by reducing some of the initial costs for operators and councils. It will deliver significant benefits, in particular reducing the impact of road transport on climate change and improving air quality." Low carbon buses use at least 30 per cent less fuel and emit nearly a third less carbon than a conventional bus, yet they currently make up just 0.2% of buses on the road. The funding will support investment in more low carbon buses as well as addressing the information gap about their performance by requiring the winning bidders to share information with others in the industry.

Sat 3rd Jul 2010:

Nick Clegg's message ahead of London Pride 2010.

Pride London is a special event with a proud tradition of 40 years - fighting, working and protesting for change, for recognition, for equality. The Liberal Democrats are passionate supporters of equality for the LGBT community and strong supporters of Pride London. That's why we have been clear on opposing Section 28, supporting equal adoption rights, promoting civil partnerships, pushing for gay marriage, working against homophobic bullying and banning discrimination in the workplace. I'm especially proud that the in the new Government it is Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone who is the new Minister for Equalities. In Lynne you have an effective champion who will work for equality for all. Each year Pride seems to get even better and so it's genuinely a happy ruby anniversary on Pride's 40th Year.

Thu 1st Jul 2010:

Vince Cable to chair new cabinet committee on reducing regulation.

As the Deputy Prime Minister launched the “Your Freedom” campaign to change the balance of power away from the state, the Reducing Regulation Committee discussed its fundamentally different approach to regulation and began its major review of all regulations in the pipeline inherited from the last Government. The Committee, which includes Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, will ensure that there is a robust case for any new regulations. It has the unprecedented power to send burdensome red tape back to Departments and also guarantees that all other options have been considered before more regulations are introduced. Chair of the Committee, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “As the Deputy Prime Minister said today, we need to change the balance of power away from the state and back to individuals, businesses and communities.  For too long, there has been a misplaced notion that Government’s job is to regulate. That is not the case. Regulation should be the last resort. “This committee, along with the new “challenge group”, will help change the culture of Government and find new ways of solving problems, reducing the red tape that is strangling enterprise. “We need businesses to drive the growth our economy needs, not be tied up with form filling, and the Government is determined to do all it can to make that happen.”

Nick Clegg delivers speech on freedom in the UK.

This morning I want to talk about freedom. For too long new laws and regulations have taken away people’s freedoms, interfered in everyday life, and made it difficult for businesses to get by. The state has crept further and further into people’s homes, the places they work, their private lives. That intrusion is wrong; it’s illiberal; it’s disempowering and it’s going to change. This government is putting freedom under the spotlight in a way the previous government never did. We want the British people have their say on where the state should step in, and where it should butt out. We are asking people for ideas on restoring hard won liberties that have been lost... On repealing unnecessary laws that have no place on the statute book... And on stripping away the excessive regulation that stops businesses from innovating. Your views will shape directly the steps we take. It is a radically different approach. Because this Coalition trusts people to get on with their lives… It’s probably the thing Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have most in common. We don’t think every problem can be fixed by passing a new law. We understand that Whitehall doesn’t have all of the answers, and doesn’t have a monopoly on the best ideas. So gone are the days of know-it-all, do-it-all government. Because a liberal society, a prosperous society, is one where citizens and businesses have the space and power to thrive. Today I am asking the people of Britain to help us to begin building that society.  Protecting civil liberties, repealing unnecessary laws, and cutting restrictive red tape. Civil liberties First, civil liberties. One of the Coalition’s immediate acts was to halt ID cards. Plans are underway to restrict the storage of innocent people’s DNA; to properly regulate CCTV; to restore the right to non-violent protest; to protect trial by jury... To end the scandal of children being fingerprinted at school without their parent’s consent. The vetting and barring scheme for people wanting to work or volunteer with children is being scaled back to common sense levels. And we are looking again at counter-terrorism and security legislation to make sure it can provide the necessary powers to the police and the security services… Without inhibiting the freedoms it’s meant to protect. As someone who has spent years campaigning for these changes, I am enormously proud to see them in motion.  But I want us to go further. Our ambition is to create a society where no law-abiding individual ever feels intimidated by the state, just for going about their day-to-day business. Where people aren’t cast under suspicion simply because of who they are, or where they’re from. But that means redoubling our efforts to restore the great British traditions of freedom and fairness. The culture of snooping and mistrust has become so ingrained that we must tackle it with renewed vigour. Don’t accept it. If you’re sick of the state prying into your private affairs, tell us. If you feel harassed when you haven’t done anything wrong, tell us. If there are ways that we can better protect your dignity, tell us. And tell us what you want us to do about it too. Unnecessary laws This isn’t just about the laws that make you feel under threat. This is also about the laws that serve no real purpose. Obsolete rules that are out of date or that are duplicated by other laws. Take seditious libel – a 17th Century offence, under which writing something contemptuous about the government could be punished by life imprisonment. Not only do such laws make a mockery of our justice system... Just having them on our statute book gives succour to regimes in other parts of the world that use similar offences to restrict freedom of speech. That’s why I was delighted to see campaigners successfully work to get those particular laws abolished last year. And there are other laws that are now completely obsolete. It’s a little know fact, for example, that under old laws that are still in place, failing to report a grey squirrel in your back garden is technically a criminal offence. That’s one I think we could probably do without. We need to work through legislation to identify laws we don’t need. Looking, also, at how they work on the ground. And, my colleague, Eric Pickles, will shortly be asking Councillors and Council staff to identify outmoded, outdated and obsolete secondary legislation which could be cut down to size. On laws that have fallen into disuse, some people may ask ‘what’s the point?’ Why bother getting worked up about a law that just sits there and does no any harm? But I say: that misses the point. Squirrels aside, whether seemingly harmless or not, laws that serve no purpose obscure what legislation is for in the first place. Over the last decade thousands of new laws have been added to the statute book. Thousands of new ways of turning us into criminals. Laws for the sake of laws – as if every problem can be solved by an Act of Parliament. But it doesn’t work; it’s a distraction. The purpose of the law is to protect and empower citizens. That is the only time the state ever has the right to restrict your behaviour. As soon as we forget that we open the door to state intrusion. We lose that kneejerk indignation we should all feel when the state sticks its nose in where it doesn’t belong. And that complacency is dangerous. And so to end the habit of compulsive law-making, all new criminal offences and civil wrongs will now be specially screened. They will only come into effect if we can demonstrate that they are needed, that there is no alternative, and that existing penalties are not sufficient. And, because no one has been keeping track of new offences, we will start to keep count, making that information public. Regulation Third, regulation. Regulation is enormously important; not least in protecting employees and ensuring standards. But we have to get the balance right. Too many of the business and voluntary groups I meet tell me that they feel overwhelmed with forms to fill out and boxes to tick... Whether it’s a fledgling business looking to take on more staff… Or a charity struggling with the complex record checks their volunteers have to undergo. And too many ordinary people are burdened with costly bureaucracy...  Which is why, within weeks of coming into office, the Coalition scrapped Home Information Packs – pointless red tape that was hampering the housing market. We need regulation that makes sense. Regulation that we can afford and that people can have confidence in. Ensuring businesses and organisations are run fairly, offering high quality services... But also allowing them the space to be creative and to adapt to changing circumstances. According to the British Chamber of Commerce, the cumulative cost to business added since 1998 has now reached £88 billion. That is an unacceptable drain on the entrepreneurs and innovators we need to get the economy back on track. Today, our new Reducing Regulation Committee, chaired by Vince Cable, is meeting for the first time. Their immediate task will be to look at all of the regulations approved by the previous government which are due to be introduced this year, to establish whether or not they are really necessary. They will be central in helping to develop a one-in-one-out rule. Ministers intending to bring in a new regulation will have to get rid of an existing one. They will also need to convince the Reducing Regulation Committee that their proposed regulation is necessary. That’s a fundamental shift in Whitehall: regulation will be the last, rather than the first, resort. And I would also like to highlight the very good work that is going on in Defra, where an industry-led Task Force has been set up to reduce the burden on the farming community specifically. More broadly, we are looking closely at the timing and implementation of new EU rules so that British businesses are not at a disadvantage compared to their competitors abroad. But the key to all of this is you. You – the small business owner, the social entrepreneur, the volunteer. You know better than government departments, better even than Vince, what rules and regulations are holding you back. The whole point of this exercise is to get Whitehall out of the driving seat. We want to know where regulation works, where it doesn’t, and what we can do to help. A new kind of engagement And it isn’t just the outcome of this process that is important, it is the process itself. This is the most ambitious online crowd sourcing exercise ever attempted by any British government. It is an entirely new way for government to engage with people. One we want to make a habit of… And we will shortly be asking for your input into how we improve our public services and make savings to help get the public finances in order. Something we started last week when the Prime Minister and I wrote to 6 million public sector workers… Doctors, teachers, nurses – people on the front line who know best.   Our aim is for the best suggestions on freedoms and regulations to be included in parliamentary bills, this year and in the future. As for what they’ll look like, I don’t know. The government may have got the ball rolling, but now the debate is totally out of our control. We don’t know what ideas are going to end up on the site; how they will spread across other sites and forums; which of them will capture imaginations and which won’t. If a specific reform is popular, Ministers won’t be duty bound to act on it, but we won’t be able to hide it either; it will be right there for everyone to see. And, yes, there will be clashes – arguments over which ideas are good and which are bad; over what we can do and what we can’t. But it is precisely because this process is so unpredictable that it is worth doing at all. Real democracy is unspun; it is the raucous, unscripted debates that always throw up the best ideas.  Conclusion The Your Freedom project is part of our bigger political reform agenda. It is one of a series of ways of transferring power away from government and the state and into your hands. Part of the most radical shake up of our politics for decades. The other steps we are taking – include, among other things, fixing parliamentary terms, giving people a choice over the system they use to elect their MPs, reforming the House of Lords, introducing the power of recall, getting big money out of politics... And I will be making further announcements on some of that next week. But today, let me end by saying this: This government is determined to give people back their freedom. But we cannot do it without you. So be demanding about your liberty, be insistent about your rights... This is about your freedom, and this is your chance to have your say. Thank you.

Review of reducing short sentences welcome says Brake .

Commenting on today’s speech by Ken Clarke in which he outlined the need for radical prison reform, Tom Brake said: “Stopping vast numbers of people being locked up for non-violent crimes on short sentences was a key Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment. “The Labour Government liked to talk tough on crime while reoffending rates in this country rose sky-high. We know that short-term prison sentences don’t reduce reoffending or cut crime. “Liberal Democrats believe that criminals should be caught and punished, but they should also be set back on the straight and narrow.  Prison places should be for violent criminals not first time petty offenders. “Labour spectacularly mismanaged our prison system.  The Government’s decision to review the number of short sentences is a welcome first step to getting it right."

Tue 29th Jun 2010:

Nick Clegg launches £1 Billion fund to help regional business.

The fund, which will operate in 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 will help areas most dependent on public sector employment as the country makes the transition to private sector-led growth and prosperity. Both private bodies and public-private partnerships will be able to bid for funding by demonstrating that their proposal will bring in private investment and support sustainable increases in private sector jobs and growth in their area. Speaking in Bradford after the first Coalition Cabinet meeting outside of London today, Nick Clegg said: "While we sort out the nation's finances we can also help to foster a thriving and more balanced economy so that no region or community gets left behind. "The Regional Growth Fund will create the conditions for growth and enterprise in the regions by stimulating investment and create sustainable private sector jobs. "Alongside our commitment to waive some employment taxes for new businesses starting up in targeted regions of the country, this fund can make a real difference to companies during difficult times." Nick Clegg also set out plans for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that will bring together councils and business on an equal footing with one voice, replacing the current Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). In a joint letter sent to councils and business leaders today, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles have asked them to consider forming new Local Enterprise Partnerships that can provide strategic leadership in their local areas and create the right environment for business success and economic growth. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary said: "We are determined to rebalance the economy towards the private sector, so it's important we create a more effective structure to drive economic growth and development across the country."

Thu 24th Jun 2010:

We will reinvigorate retirement says Steve Webb.

Liberal Democrat Pensions Minister Steve Webb signalled his intention to restore the earnings link and incentivise pensions saving. Today he outlined the bold steps the government plans to take to fundamentally reform and repair Britain’s outdated and inadequate pension system. Steve Webb said: “I’ve worked all my life to get a fairer deal for pensioners.  Up to ten million people are not saving enough and we cannot allow this situation to continue. “Our plans to reinvigorate pension saving will be underpinned by automatic enrolment into workplace pensions from 2012.  But we need to make sure we get the details right, which is why we’re announcing a thorough and speedy review, to make sure that it pays to save.”

Nick Clegg launches the 'Spending Challenge'.

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister has today written to every public sector worker in the country, asking them to help with the Spending Review set out in this week’s Budget. The Chancellor announced a 25 per cent cut in spending for unprotected departments over four years. Now, as part of the Spending Review, the Government is launching a ‘Spending Challenge’ aimed at engaging the whole country in rethinking public services in order to deliver more for less. The first phase of the Challenge aims to harness the experience and insight of those at the front line, including NHS workers, police officers and civil servants, who will be asked to look at three areas: Government-funded activities that they believe are non-essential and should not continue. How the Government can better target activities or provide them more effectively. Activities that can be provided completely differently to save money, including by providers other than Government A website has been set up at where the country’s six million public sector workers can submit their answers to the question, “How do we rethink services to deliver more for less?” Take part: Here In their letter, The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister say: “We want you to help us find those savings, so we can cut public spending in a way that is fair and responsible. You work on the frontline of public services. You know where things are working well, where the waste is, and where we can re-think things so that we get better services for less money.”

Tue 22nd Jun 2010:

Liberal Democrat policies at the centre of the budget says Nick Clegg.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has addressed party members about the budget. In a letter to members he said: “We have had to take difficult decisions to tackle the deficit and lay the foundations of a fairer society. These are not decisions any government wants to take but we have no choice except to clear up the financial mess that Labour left us. Today’s Budget takes these difficult decisions in an honest and fair way and with the clear stamp of Liberal Democrat values running through it. “In the past, efforts to tackle a big deficit have always hit the poorest the most. The coalition has ensured that – for the first time – this will not happen. The richest will pay the most, while pensioners and children will be protected. “These measures will ensure that the burden of deficit reduction is shared fairly across society. “This Government is being honest with people about the road ahead. Together, we can make it through these difficult times and restore health to our economy and to the public finances. These difficult choices are the foundation stones for the fairer Britain we will build over the next five years.” Look through the Budget and you will see key policies we campaigned for being put into effect. The £1,000 increase in the Income Tax allowance will mean that 880,000 low paid workers will be freed from Income Tax altogether. This is the first step towards delivering our manifesto commitment to ensure no-one pays tax on the first £10,000 they earn. The Budget puts in place our promise of a new tax on banks, ensuring that they help to pay to clear up the mess left by the financial crisis. Top earners will pay a full 10% more in Capital Gains Tax than under Labour, with no loopholes or tapers or get-out clauses. That change helps ensure those with the broadest shoulders take the greatest strain. We will guarantee that pensioners get a fair deal, putting into effect the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment for a “triple lock”, so state pensions rise every year in line with earnings, inflation, or by 2.5%, whichever is the highest. Never again will pensioners be allowed to fall behind. The Coalition Government will not let regions, towns or cities that depend heavily on the public sector be forgotten. That’s why this Budget establishes a regional growth fund to ensure those parts of the country get meaningful support to help create jobs and opportunities for all. Tackling Child Poverty remains at the heart of the government’s approach. So while we have decided to cut child tax credits for those who can most afford it, we have increased tax credits for the poorest families and put up to £ 2 billion into child tax credits to help ensure children of all backgrounds get a fair start in life.

Budget will protect the needy and the vulnerable says Simon Hughes.

Commenting on today’s budget, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes said: “Today’s budget clearly reflects many of the tax priorities which won the Liberal Democrats almost seven millions votes at the election. As a result of this budget millions of pensioners and those on low incomes will be helped and people with greater wealth will contribute most. Of course today’s budget required compromise, but the country can clearly see the Liberal Democrats have a major influence on UK economic policy. From now on, Britain will be a fairer place. Liberal Democrats made the correct judgement last month to be influential partners in a majority coalition, rather than be marginalised opponents of a minority Government entirely implementing Conservative policies. We will make sure that the spending reductions reflect Liberal Democrat priorities and always protect the needy and the vulnerable.”

Thu 17th Jun 2010:

Nick Clegg's speech on supporting families and children.

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today announced a Government taskforce to look at ways to support families and give every child a fair start in life. In his speech to Barnardo's this morning, Nick Clegg said: On Monday I set out the need to get Britain's public finances in order, so that our children don't pay the price for our mistakes. I argued that, without swift and decisive action to pay down our Budget deficit, we condemn the next generation to higher interest rates, poorer public services, and fewer jobs. So, this Government's first priority is pursuing sound fiscal policy for the sake of our children. But, my commitment to the future of Britain's children doesn't end there. In fact, it's one of the biggest reasons I'm in politics. When you're a parent, your first thought is for your children, and what kind of life they're going to have. That's what being a parent is all about: your fundamental responsibility to those you brought into the world. I believe we have that responsibility not just as individuals but as a generation, too. We have to think about the world we are creating for those who will follow us. We have to think about the lives they will live as much - or even more than - we think about ourselves. And that's a responsibility I think this generation has neglected. We have built a Britain not fit for our children to grow up in.For too many British children, childhood has become a time of stress, anxiety and insecurity... When it should be a time of discovery, learning and adventure. My purpose in politics - and the job of this Coalition Government - is to change that. To live up to our responsibility, as a generation, to lay the foundations for better lives for our children. Paying off debts instead of racking them up is just a first step.So today, I'm going to set out this Government's wider agenda for children and families to put this generational failure right. First I want to look at how childhood in this country has changed. Many British children now experience complex problems that undermine their self-confidence and their security.  Then, I will explain how this government plans to help children and families overcome these problems, putting this agenda right at the heart of the Coalition. Let me say at the outset: we will not be limited in our ambitions; I want us as a country to rediscover the spirit of childhood, so we can give every child the best chance to flourish. But we are realistic: it is not Government's job to create happy families. Our job is to dismantle the barriers that prevent families from giving their children the best start. Where Labour nannied you, we will empower you. This government will make your choices possible. So, let me start with the scale of the challenge - the legacy of the previous Government. Across the country dedicated and committed professionals work tirelessly, and with great skill, to improve the life chances of vulnerable children. But their aspirations for the children and families they work with are regularly thwarted. Because they haven't had the support or the freedom to do the job in the way they know it should be done.  And because, frankly, there are just so many children who need their help. Out of every five children, one is currently living in poverty.  2 million live in poor housing - crowded rooms, squalid conditions, dangerous buildings too. These kinds of beginnings can hold a child back for his or her whole life. At just 22 months a poor child's skills already trail behind those of better off toddlers.  At age 5 that poor child, even if he or she is very bright, will have been overtaken at school by a less talented but more privileged classmate. By 16 he or she is just half as likely to get five good GCSEs, including English and maths. And, at the other end of their life, a child born today in England, in the poorest neighbourhoods will still die, on average, 7 years before a child born in the richest. Releasing these children from that trap, unleashing their potential, is critical if we are to create a society that is truly fair. That is why this government has committed to funding a pupil premium - money targeted specifically to disadvantaged pupils - despite the needs to make cuts elsewhere in public spending. It's why we want to refocus Sure Start Children's Centres on the most disadvantaged families, putting in place 4,200 new Sure Start Health Visitors to help achieve this. Because we recognise the importance of early intervention; the importance of helping families prevent problems, rather than just trying to pick up the pieces once it's already too late. And it is why we are determined to reform welfare to get people into work. Creating a new Work Programme to give the unemployed tailored support... As well as making work pay, by increasing the income tax threshold for working families on low and middle incomes. Yes, some of these plans will cost money at a time when money is tight. But if we are taking action to pay down our deficit for the sake of the next generation - and we are - it makes no moral sense to abandon poorer children along the way. Equally, we have to realise that this isn't just about money.  And it isn't just about children from disadvantaged households - it's much broader than that.  We, as a country, have stopped celebrating the innocence of childhood. In 2007, UNICEF ranked Britain bottom of the world's developed nations on child wellbeing. Last year, the OECD conducted similar research, and while we were not at the bottom of the table, the UK was still only middling compared to other countries. Despite the best efforts of parents, teachers, and children's charities too... Nearly half of British children report having been bullied; teenage obesity is on the rise; and one in ten children suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder. There are surveys that show that at age 11, a fifth of boys and a quarter of girls think they're fat - at age 11. And the number of children contacting Childline has shot up; twice as many boys compared to 1997, that's tens of thousands more. These children are being subjected to the kind of stress we associate with adulthood. When it is introduced into a child's world so early on, it takes seed and it does damage. And when growing up becomes so much harder, it is inevitable that being a grown up becomes harder too. There's no single explanation; childhood has evolved because of a number of trends that have shaped our society over time: One is the pace of modern life, and the difficulties it creates for parents seeking to juggle work and home. Children have also lost the support that in the past came from traditional community networks... Where friends, relatives and neighbours played a much more hands on role in their upbringing. And the explosion in advertising and marketing has meant that children see themselves as consumers - and are treated that way by companies - at an extraordinarily young age. Government can't undo all these changes. And it's not up to us to tell people how to live their lives. But we can empower parents so that they can better navigate this less forgiving, less supportive world... Recognising that what happens in the home has a profound affect on a child's outcomes. I know there are many parents already doing a fantastic job at raising their children - and we should be proud of that success. But I also know how hard it is - I have three young sons myself. Britain has just had thirteen years of a government so busy trying to micromanage the country from Whitehall, they forgot what families out there, in the real world, really need. They just didn't get the balance right. I don't doubt their good intentions, and resources were allocated to education and to helping families... But all that was offset by far too much regulation far too many central targets. And while many parents and frontline staff do enormously well at working around these constraints, aren't we better off giving them the freedom to get on with the job in the first place? And we need to recognise that it isn't just parents who raise children - it's the whole family, the whole street, the whole community. That's why the Government has this week halted the vetting and barring scheme planned by our predecessors...  Allowing us to scale the scheme back to common sense levels. If parents, for example, want to help each other out by taking it in turns to pick up their children from school sports matches, they shouldn't be treated like criminals. Yes, we need to protect our children, but we need to maintain a sense of proportion too. And, crucially, we need to reverse the trend of making families ever more dependent on the state. The previous Government believed social change must always be driven from the centre. But that's government at its worst - insecure government, government that creates needy families. Take tax credits. Under the old regime around nine out of ten families with children were eligible for child tax credits.  To put that another way, the previous government thought that it was right for 90% of all families with children to be dependent on means tested benefits. That's madness. Instead we should be giving families their independence, giving them much more control over how they live their lives. That's why this Government is going to raise the income tax personal allowance so that families can keep more of the money they earn. And on tax credits, we have also said that we are going to scale back tax credits for higher earners. In light of the giant black hole in the public finances, there is simply no other choice. So, independent but supported families. That is this government's approach. And it's one that the Coalition arrived at very naturally. Liberal Democrats and Conservatives believe that we strengthen our society by giving people the power to make choices over their lives. We both place great value on the informal networks that can be such a tremendous source of support... As well as the strong sense of community identity that helps make children feel secure. Both the Prime Minister and I have made the welfare of the next generation central to our individual political identities... He has talked many times about making Britain more family-friendly; I have always made it clear that I believe a society must be judged on how it treats its children... And one of our very first acts in office together was to declare an end to child detention for immigration purposes. So it should come as no surprise that this agenda is being driven right from the heart of government. I can announce today that we are setting up a Childhood and Families Task Force, chaired by the Prime Minister, and made up of senior Ministers from across Government departments, including myself. The role of this group will be to identify and prioritise a small number of specific policy proposals that will make the biggest difference to children and families... A hardcore of everyday bottlenecks that frustrate family life. That will include proposals that have already been put forward in Coalition Programme for Government... Working out how to take these forward, as quickly as possible, and as effectively as possible, in order to deliver practical help for families. And the group will also explore new thinking on how we can empower families in a meaningful way. That work will be completed over the autumn, and the proposals will be developed in the context of the upcoming Spending Review. Without wanting to prejudge the action that will be taken by the Task Force, I would like to set out some of the areas we are going to be looking at. It's not an exhaustive list, by any means. But these are the problem areas we can already identify, where we know that we can help. The first is parental leave. The Coalition is committed to encouraging shared parenting from the earliest stages of pregnancy - including through the promotion of a system of flexible parental leave. The Task Force is going to look at how we now put that commitment in to practice. Many couples find it enormously difficult to strike the right balance between work and home. And traditional arrangements that see mothers take the lion's share of leave simply don't suit everyone's needs. I know from my own experience - my own measly two weeks off following the birth of my third son - how frustrating it is for fathers who want to spend more time with their young children. Breaking down the old, outdated attitude to who-should-give-up-work-when is hugely important for men, hugely important for women... But most importantly, children benefit enormously from having both parents actively involved from day one. We're also going to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting with business on the best way to do that. By encouraging more people to work flexibly, we make it more commonplace... And that in turn will help eliminate the stigma that still discourages men from asking for these arrangements. And, on the role of men more generally, I also believe we need more men in childcare. Men currently make up just 2% of the childcare workforce. That's not good enough.  We need a diverse range of providers, with a greater gender balance, surrounding children with a range of role models - different people to learn from and relate to. Secondly, the Task force is going to look at how we can provide greater support to disabled children. So many of these families are under enormous pressure. That's why the Government agreed very early on that we would find a way of using direct payments to carers and better community-based care to give them more support. And it's why we have since announced that we will invest in respite care for these families, an additional £20m a year, starting in 2011-12. That money will be recycled from the ending of the Government's contributions to Child Trust Funds. While our towering deficit means we can no longer afford these payments across the board... It is right that we make special provision for children with disabilities. For them and their families, respite care can be a lifeline. Third, we need to look at how we can protect children in the event of family breakdown.  Preventing breakdown where we can, making it as painless as possible where we can't. Separation and divorce can be deeply traumatic for any family...  Healthy, loving relationships are the cornerstone of any happy childhood... And we know that family breakdown plays a big part in cycles of disadvantage. Families, of course, come in all shapes and sizes. And when couples come up against difficult times, only they can ever know what is right for them. But every couple also knows how tough it can be to get through those difficult patches. So where government can help, it should. That's why we want to improve the access families have to help and advice. Across the country there are organisations - charities and faith based groups - who provide counselling and support for couples and families whose relationships are under stress. But they don't manage to reach everyone who could benefit from their help. This is partly a cultural problem. People feel, rightly, that relationships are private and personal. So if things begin to go wrong, they don't like to ask for outside help. They wait until their relationship has completely broken down. As a society we need to say that it's ok to ask for help sooner. And many of the organisations that could help don't have a secure funding basis.  They have to spend a lot of time fundraising and often have to charge for their services.  That means it's especially difficult for poorer families to use them. So we have committed to putting funding for relationship support on a stable, long-term footing. And we also want to foster greater networks of support, valuing the role that the all the people who don't necessarily live inside the family home - grandparents, neighbours, friends, community organisations, charities - the role they play in keeping that family strong. There is also already a comprehensive review of family law underway... Looking at how we can increase the use of mediation when couples do break up...  And how best to provide greater access rights to non-resident parents, and grandparents too. Fourth, every parent understands the importance of a secure environment for their children. Spaces where they can play, where they can feel completely free, where they can safely push at the boundaries, learning and experimenting. Places where different generations can meet, binding the community together... If you ask adults if they used to play near their homes as children, 71% will tell you they did. Every single day. That compares to just 21% of children now. It's not right, and it has to change. But, despite how obvious that is, I do appreciate that there's no easy answer. It isn't up to central government to start handpicking the areas where children across the country should play. Given the lack of money in the Treasury's coffers, we wouldn't now be able to do that, even if we wanted to. But isn't that even more reason to get the Task Force looking at this? There's no more money to throw at these problems, and even when there was money, Labour didn't fix them. So we have to be innovative, we have to find new solutions. No, we need to work out how we can empower people to deliver these changes in their own neighbourhoods... By giving councils more power over how they spend their money.. By giving communities more control over what gets built in their neighbourhoods... And by making it easier for volunteers and charities to get involved. Finally, we need to take steps to help children avoid the adult pressures that force them to grow up too quickly. Like the irresponsible advertising that sexualises children... That makes them anxious about how they look... That encourages them to place too much value on brands. I see it for myself when my own children remember the adverts better than they remember the programme. And I know lots of other parents will know exactly what I mean. We are committed to cracking down on irresponsible advertising and marketing... Drawing on previous reviews, including Dr Tanya Byron's review on internet safety. And Professor Buckingham's review of commercialisation. If we are really going to restore and protect the innocence of childhood, action here is absolutely key. So, these are the areas we'll begin with. But I don't want to present the Task Force's agenda as in any way limited. This is about practical help, in whatever way we can deliver it. Because, in five years time, I want us to be able to turn around and say that Britain is a place every family wants their children to grow up in. I want us to be able to look back and say: we tackled the deficit, we protected our children's future, and we rediscovered childhood, so that every child gets the best start. These are big ambitions. But if we're not in government to do this, what are we here to do? Thank you.

Fri 11th Jun 2010:

Nick Clegg wishes England good luck at World Cup.

He said: “I’d like to join millions of people across the country in wishing the England team good luck in the World Cup. And I hope to be wishing them good luck again for the final in a month’s time.”

Thu 10th Jun 2010:

Liberal Democrat Peers re-elect Lord Dholakia as Deputy Leader.

Following elections yesterday , Lord Alderdice was elected to the new position of Convener, who will chair a backbench forum for Liberal Democrat peers.  Baroness Bonham-Carter was elected to the position of Deputy Convener in the same vote.   Lord Dholakia will continue to support Lord McNally in his role as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.   Lord Alderdice and Lady Bonham-Carter will provide an essential link between backbench Liberal Democrat peers and Liberal Democrats in Government.   Commenting, Lord Dholakia said:   “There was an overwhelming turnout in support of the new structure for the Liberal Democrat Paliamentary Party in the House of Lords.   “Lord McNally and I are looking forward to working with the new team.”   Lord Alderdice said:   “I am honoured by the confidence my colleagues have shown in me and excited by the opportunity to contribute to the work of the party in the Lords, especially with new and challenging opportunities of coalition government.   “The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party has a broad and invaluable range of skills, experience, ability and integrity. I am proud to be part of it and delighted to have the opportunity to serve it in this new role.”

Wed 9th Jun 2010:

Simon Hughes elected as Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader.

Speaking after the vote, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “I am delighted Simon has been elected as deputy leader. “Simon has been a huge figure in the Liberal Democrats for decades. He’s a tireless campaigner, a relentless fighter for the vulnerable and marginalised in our society, and one of the hardest working MPs Parliament has ever seen. “There are huge challenges and opportunities ahead for our country and our party, but with Simon by my side I am sure that we can meet those challenges and work to build a fairer, more equal Britain.” Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes said: “It is an honour and a privilege for me to follow Vince Cable as the new Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. This is not a responsibility I will ever take lightly. “I will fight every day for the principles which underpin our party: fairness, freedom, openness, equality, stewardship of our environment and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. “I will work tirelessly with Nick Clegg and all other Liberal Democrats to help liberal democracy blossom and flourish throughout the land.”

Mon 7th Jun 2010:

Nick Clegg's speech on radical political reform plans.

The plans include: A referendum on the Alternative Vote The right to recall MPs who break the rules Fewer, more equal-sized constituencies Making the House of Lords wholly or largely elected Fixed five-year parliaments Devolving greater powers to the Scottish Parliament by implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission A referendum on devolving more powers to the Welsh Assembly Key extracts of Nick Clegg’s speech are below: We all share a single ambition: to restore people’s faith in their politics and their politicians. This government’s plans will do just that. Because our programme turns a page: On governments that hoard power. On parliaments that look inwards rather than outwards. On widespread disengagement amongst people who feel locked out of the decisions that affect their everyday lives.  So this is a moment when we have a real opportunity to change our politics for good... …This government is determined that no government should be able to play politics with the dates of a General Election. Parliamentary terms should be fixed for five years. So we need a new right for parliament to request a dissolution, taking away the Prime Minister’s traditional right to call an election when he or she wishes… …We plan to strengthen the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly too, implementing recommendations from the Calman Commission’s Final Report. And, equally, Wales will get a referendum on further devolution. A decision that will be taken by the Welsh people... …It’s time to finish what was started three years ago in the cross party talks on party funding. Every party has had its own problems, but we all now have an opportunity to draw a line under them. So we’ll seize that opportunity - we will pursue a detailed agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding in order to remove big money from politics for good… …We will bring forward legislation to ensure that, where it has been proven that an MP has been engaged in serious wrongdoing...Their constituents will have the right to organise a petition to force a by-election.  When people have been let down by their MP in that way, they must not be made to wait until the next election to cast their judgement… …The power of recall is just one of a range of reforms intended to shift power directly to the British people. We also want people to be able to initiate debates here in the Commons through public petitions. We want a new public reading stage for bills. We want people to be able to instigate local referenda on issues that matter to their neighbourhoods. And, we want people to decide directly if they want to change the system by which they elect their MPs, which is why there will be a referendum on AV, and I will be announcing the date of that referendum in due course...   …It should be up to the British people to elect their second chamber. To that end, I want to announce the following: One: I have now set up a committee, which I will chair, to take forward this reform, composed of members from all three major political parties, as well as from both Houses. Two: it will be explicitly charged with producing a draft bill by no later than the end of this year. The first time legislation for an elected second chamber will have ever been published… I will not hide my impatience for reforms that are more than a hundred years overdue.

Thu 3rd Jun 2010:

Nominations sought for recognition of outstanding service to the Lib Dems.

Nominations are sought for: Harriet Smith Liberal Democrat Distinguished Service Award Open to any Party Member never elected to public office President’s Award Open to any Party Member elected to public office The Belinda Eyre-Brook Award Open to political assistants to Liberal Democrat Council Groups These awards are awarded to members of the Party who have given outstanding service in promoting liberal democracy. The awards are normally made at the Party’s Autumn Conference.   To nominate a candidate for either of these awards, please download this form, complete it in full and return it to Kate Heywood at kate.heywood@libdems.org.uk. The closing date for receipt of the nomination papers is July 12, 2010.

Tue 1st Jun 2010:

Welcome to our new Liberal Democrat Peers.

Liberal Democrat life peers: Richard Allan, Nick Clegg’s predecessor in Sheffield Hallam and Chairman of the Information Select Committee. Matthew Taylor, Chairman of the National Housing Federation and former MP for Truro and St Austell. Phil Willis, former MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough who chaired the Science and Technology Select Committee. Liberal Democrat working peers: Floella Benjamin, Charity worker and former presenter of children’s television programmes. Mike German, former Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly. Meral Ece, councillor in Islington and Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Sir Ken Macdonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions. Kate Parminter, former director Campaign to Protect Rural England and Trustee of the Institute for Public Policy Research. John Shipley, Leader of Newcastle city council.

Thu 27th May 2010:

Victory for Liberal Democrats as ID cards to be scrapped within 100 days.

The Liberal Democrats have campaigned against the introduction of ID cards since they were first announced by the previous Labour Government. Commenting on today's announcement, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The wasteful, bureaucratic and intrusive ID card scheme represents everything that has been wrong with government in recent years. "By taking swift action to scrap it, we are making it clear that this government won't sacrifice people's liberty for the sake of Ministers' pet projects. "Cancelling the scheme and abolishing the National Identity Register is a major step in dismantling the surveillance state - but ID cards are just the tip of the iceberg. Today marks the start of a series of radical reforms to restore hard-won British freedoms."

Wed 26th May 2010:

Vince Cable stands down as Deputy Leader.

The text of Vince Cable’s letter is below: Dear Nick, I am writing to offer my resignation in my role as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. It has been an honour to serve as the Deputy Leader of our party. However, in joining the cabinet I have taken on many new challenges and responsibilities and it is right that I focus wholeheartedly on the job in hand. These are exciting times to be a Liberal Democrat, and despite all the challenges we face we have a real opportunity to change Britain for the better. There are great opportunities for the party alongside our working in coalition. I wish my successor all the best in what is a rewarding and important role. Yours ever, Vince Cable Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “Vince has been a fantastic Deputy Leader during an exciting time for the party. I look forward to us continuing to work together in government.”

Camden election win fantastic result for Lib Dems says Ros Scott .

Commenting on the result, Liberal Democrat Party President, Ros Scott said: “This is a fantastic result and is testament to the hard work and dedication of our Liberal Democrat councillors in Haverstock. “Labour was crowing that it would mop up votes from Lib Dem supporters who are supposedly upset about the Coalition Government. This result, in the Milibands’ old backyard in the heart of Labour territory, shows that was just arrogant nonsense.”

Tue 25th May 2010:

Liberal Democrat policies announced in Queen’s Speech.

The policies include: Making the tax and benefits system fairer and simpler, including a significant increase in the personal allowance and an ambition to increase it to £10,000 Restoring the earnings link to pensions Greater freedoms for teachers over the curriculum Measures to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses Support for low carbon energy production Financial services regulation to learn the lessons of the financial crisis Fixed term parliaments of five years A referendum on the Alternative Vote The right to sack MPs guilty of serious misconduct Reform of party funding Moving towards a wholly or partly elected House of Lords, elected by proportional representation A Bill to restore freedoms and civil liberties, through the abolition of Identity Cards and repeal of unnecessary laws Giving greater powers to councils and giving neighbourhoods and communities more control over planning and housing decisions Ending child detention Fair compensation for Equitable Life victims Enabling the creation of a national high speed rail network The modernisation of the Royal Mail Flexible working and promotion of equal pay Strengthening the voices of patients and the role of doctors in the NHS A commission on long-term reform of social care Cutting Quangos and government bureaucracy Implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission A referendum on further powers for the Welsh Assembly A full list of Bills and other items from the Queen’s Speech is available here.

Thu 20th May 2010:

The Coalition: our programme for government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Prime Minister David Cameron today published the full policy agreement for the coalition. You can read Nick Clegg's speech in full here: Nick Clegg's speech on the new politics at the launch of the coalition programme You can read the full document below: Open publication - Free publishing - More uk

Wed 19th May 2010:

New Politics: Nick Clegg's speech on constitutional reform.

Speaking at his first major speech as Deputy Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today said: “I have spent my whole political life fighting to open up politics. So let me make one thing very clear: this government is going to be unlike any other. “This government is going to transform our politics so the state has far less control over you, and you have far more control over the state. “This government is going to break up concentrations of power and hand power back to people, because that is how we build a society that is fair. “This government is going to persuade you to put your faith in politics once again.”   “I’m not talking about a few new rules for MPs; not the odd gesture or gimmick to make you feel a bit more involved. “I’m talking about the most significant programme of empowerment by a British government since the great enfranchisement of the 19th Century. “The biggest shake up of our democracy since 1832, when the Great Reform Act redrew the boundaries of British democracy, for the first time extending the franchise beyond the landed classes. “Landmark legislation, from politicians who refused to sit back and do nothing while huge swathes of the population remained helpless against vested interests. “Who stood up for the freedom of the many, not the privilege of the few. “A spirit this government will draw on as we deliver our programme for political reform: a power revolution. “A fundamental resettlement of the relationship between state and citizen that puts you in charge.” “So, no, incremental change will not do. “It is time for a wholesale, big bang approach to political reform. “That’s what this government will deliver.” “It is outrageous that decent, law-abiding people are regularly treated as if they have something to hide. “It has to stop. “So there will be no ID card scheme. “No national identity register, no second generation biometric passports. “We won’t hold your internet and email records when there is just no reason to do so. “CCTV will be properly regulated, as will the DNA database, with restrictions on the storage of innocent people’s DNA. “And we will end practices that risk making Britain a place where our children grow up so used to their liberty being infringed that they accept it without question. “There will be no ContactPoint children’s database. “Schools will not take children’s fingerprints without even asking their parent’s consent.”   “This will be a government that is proud when British citizens stand up against illegitimate advances of the state. “That values debate, that is unafraid of dissent. “That’s why we’ll remove limits on the rights to peaceful protest. “It’s why we’ll review libel laws so that we can better protect freedom of speech.   “And as we tear through the statute book, we’ll do something no government ever has: “We will ask you which laws you think should go. “Because thousands of criminal offences were created under the previous government... “Taking people’s freedom away didn’t make our streets safe. “Obsessive lawmaking simply makes criminals out of ordinary people. “So, we’ll get rid of the unnecessary laws, and once they’re gone, they won’t come back. “We will introduce a mechanism to block pointless new criminal offences.”

Sun 16th May 2010:

Liberal Democrat Conference approves Coalition Agreement.

Speaking after the vote, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:   “It is five days since I accepted the position of Deputy Prime Minister.   “Just five days, and we now know there will be no ID cards, no third runway at Heathrow, no more fingerprinting in schools without parents’ consent, no more child detention.   “Changes Liberal Democrats have spent months, years, campaigning for, are happening.   “Promises we were making to people on their doorsteps just a few weeks ago are becoming realities.     “Fair taxes. The income tax threshold is now going to rise to £10,000. That is this Government’s priority, not tax cuts for millionaires.   “The best start at school for every child. Extra money is now going to be targeted to pupils who need it most. That is a huge leap in creating a truly mobile society.   “A new, sustainable economy. The banks are going to be taxed, the bonus culture is going to be cracked.   “And instead of pinning all our hopes on financial wizardry in the City of London we’ll build a new economy where we rediscover our talents for building and making things again, with green industry given new prominence as we head towards a zero-carbon future.   “New politics.   “Fixed term parliaments – happening.   “The power of recall to get rid of corrupt MPs – happening.   “A clean up of party funding, a clamp down on lobbying in Parliament, an elected House of Lords – all happening.   “Our Freedom Bill is going to come off our leaflets and go onto the statute book, ending gross state intrusion into people’s every day lives.   “Patients, parents, communities are all going to have a much greater say over the decisions that affect them.   “And voting reform is going to be put to the British people, in a referendum in which Liberal Democrats will fight to deliver real change. “I know the stakes are high – for me personally, as well as the party.   “But I came into politics to change things, and that means taking risks.   “Real, big change never comes easy.   “So it would simply be wrong for us to let this chance of real change pass us by.   “The chance to transform politics, the chance to hardwire fairness into our society, the chance to change Britain for good.”

Special Conference passes 'Building a fairer Britain in government'.

Conference reaffirms the long-standing desire of the Liberal Democrats to see parties working together in partnership to tackle the serious economic, environmental and social problems facing the United Kingdom and its international partners, and to implement far-reaching reforms to the British political system. Conference notes that negotiations with the Labour party were not fruitful, despite the best endeavours and good faith of the Liberal Democrat negotiating team, because many in the Labour Party did not wish to participate in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats or to continue in government; and that therefore it was not possible to form a stable administration with the Labour Party. Conference further notes that a stable coalition with the Conservatives with a clear partnership agreement has significant advantages for the country, for the implementation of progressive policies and for the creation of a more cooperative style of politics compared to the remaining option of a minority Conservative administration. Conference also notes the constructive nature of the coalition negotiations with the Conservative Party, and applauds the efforts of the Liberal Democrat negotiating team, which together have produced a coalition agreement which makes possible the implementation in government of key Liberal Democrat manifesto commitments, including: 1.         Fair taxes that put money back into your pocket, including an increase in the personal allowance for income tax, reforms to capital gains tax and a switch from a per-passenger to a per-plane duty for aviation tax. 2.         A fair chance for every child, including additional resources for a pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils and greater freedom for schools over the curriculum. 3.         A fair future, creating jobs by making Britain greener, including action to reduce the structural deficit while protecting those on low incomes, the introduction of a banking levy, the establishment of a commission to reform the banking system, the creation of a green investment bank and measures to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. 4.         A fair deal by cleaning up politics, including a freedom bill to restore civil liberties, the scrapping of ID cards, the establishment of fixed-term parliaments, a referendum bill on electoral reform, the creation of a power of recall of MPs and the establishment of a House of Lords elected by proportional representation. Conference further believes that the coalition agreement represents the best chance to create a stable government that can address the serious economic challenges facing the country in a fair and sustainable manner. Conference recognises that party members in government and in parliament will be bound by the usual conventions and by the terms of this agreement but declares that the Liberal Democrats remain an independent political party and that nothing in this agreement prevents the party from developing new policy through it’s democratic processes. Conference therefore endorses the agreement for a coalition government between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party. Conference calls for Liberal Democrats to work constructively in government to ensure that the net income and wealth inequality gap is reduced significantly over the course of this parliament. Conference notes that many Liberal Democrat MPs signed the NUS ‘vote for students’ pledge against any real terms rise in the tuition fee cap. Conference calls upon Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs to ensure that on any decision made on Lord Browne’s report on higher education funding, they above all else take into account the impact on student debt. Conference affirms the Liberal Democrat objective of scrapping tuition fees. Conference urges Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs to take all possible steps to ensure the repeal of those sections of the Digital Economy Act 2010 which are inconsistent with policy motion Freedom, Creativity and the Internet as passed at Spring Conference 2010. Conference also calls on Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs, in line with the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment to protect the Human Rights Act 1998, to oppose moves by any party or individual towards repeal of this act. Conference reaffirms the party’s long-standing and unparalleled commitment to matters relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality. Conference calls on Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs to seek to include proportional representation for local government elections in England and Wales as apart of the political reform programme of the coalition government. Conference regrets that it proved impossible to agree the introduction of a system of proportional representation for elections to the House of Commons, and reaffirms the party’s long-standing commitment to the introduction of such a system.

Wed 12th May 2010:

Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition agreements.

This document sets out agreements reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on a range of issues. These are the issues that needed to be resolved between us in order for us to work together as a strong and stable government. It will be followed in due course by a final Coalition Agreement, covering the full range of policy and including foreign, defence and domestic policy issues not covered in this document. The parties agree that deficit reduction and continuing to ensure economic recovery is the most urgent issue facing Britain. We have therefore agreed that there will need to be: a significantly accelerated reduction in the structural deficit over the course of a Parliament, with the main burden of deficit reduction borne by reduced spending rather than increased taxes; arrangements that will protect those on low incomes from the effect of public sector pay constraint and other spending constraints; and protection of jobs by stopping Labour’s proposed jobs tax. The parties agree that a plan for deficit reduction should be set out in an emergency budget within 50 days of the signing of any agreement; the parties note that the credibility of a plan on deficit reduction depends on its long-term deliverability, not just the depth of immediate cuts. New forecasts of growth and borrowing should be made by an independent Office for Budget Responsibility for this emergency budget. The parties agree that modest cuts of £6 billion to non-front line services can be made within the financial year 2010-11, subject to advice from the Treasury and the Bank of England on their feasibility and advisability. Some proportion of these savings can be used to support jobs, for example through the cancelling of some backdated demands for business rates. Other policies upon which we are agreed will further support job creation and green investment, such as work programmes for the unemployed and a green deal for energy efficiency investment. The parties agree that reductions can be made to the Child Trust Fund and tax credits for higher earners. The parties agree that a full Spending Review should be held, reporting this Autumn, following a fully consultative process involving all tiers of government and the private sector. The parties agree that funding for the NHS should increase in real terms in each year of the Parliament, while recognising the impact this decision would have on other departments. The target of spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid will also remain in place. We will fund a significant premium for disadvantaged pupils from outside the schools budget by reductions in spending elsewhere. The parties commit to holding a full Strategic Security and Defence Review alongside the Spending Review with strong involvement of the Treasury. The Government will be committed to the maintenance of Britain’s nuclear deterrent, and have agreed that the renewal of Trident should be scrutinised to ensure value for money. Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case for alternatives.  We will immediately play a strong role in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, and press for continued progress on multilateral disarmament. The parties commit to establishing an independent commission to review the long term affordability of public sector pensions, while protecting accrued rights. We will restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011 with a “triple guarantee” that pensions are raised by the higher of earnings, prices or 2.5%, as proposed by the Liberal Democrats. The parties agree that the personal allowance for income tax should be increased in order to help lower and middle income earners. We agree to announce in the first Budget a substantial increase in the personal allowance from April 2011, with the benefits focused on those with lower and middle incomes. This will be funded with the money that would have been used to pay for the increase in Employee National Insurance thresholds proposed by the Conservatives, as well as revenues from increases in Capital Gains Tax rates for non-business assets as described below. The increase in Employer National Insurance thresholds proposed by the Conservatives will go ahead in order to stop Labour’s jobs tax. We also agree to a longer term policy objective of further increasing the personal allowance to £10,000, making further real terms steps each year towards this objective. We agree that this should take priority over other tax cuts, including cuts to Inheritance Tax. We also agree that provision will be made for Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain on budget resolutions to introduce transferable tax allowances for married couples without prejudice to this coalition agreement. The parties agree that a switch should be made to a per-plane, rather than per-passenger duty; a proportion of any increased revenues over time will be used to help fund increases in the personal allowance. We further agree to seek a detailed agreement on taxing non-business capital gains at rates similar or close to those applied to income, with generous exemptions for entrepreneurial business activities. The parties agree that tackling tax avoidance is essential for the new government, and that all efforts will be made to do so, including detailed development of Liberal Democrat proposals. The parties agree that reform to the banking system is essential to avoid a repeat of Labour’s financial crisis, to promote a competitive economy, to sustain the recovery and to protect and sustain jobs. We agree that a banking levy will be introduced. We will seek a detailed agreement on implementation. We agree to bring forward detailed proposals for robust action to tackle unacceptable bonuses in the financial services sector; in developing these proposals, we will ensure they are effective in reducing risk. We agree to bring forward detailed proposals to foster diversity, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry. We agree that ensuring the flow of credit to viable SMEs is essential for supporting growth and should be a core priority for a new government, and we will work together to develop effective proposals to do so. This will include consideration of both a major loan guarantee scheme and the use of net lending targets for the nationalised banks. The parties wish to reduce systemic risk in the banking system and will establish an independent commission to investigate the complex issue of separating retail and investment banking in a sustainable way; while recognising that this would take time to get right, the commission will be given an initial time frame of one year to report. The parties agree that the regulatory system needs reform to avoid a repeat of Labour’s financial crisis. We agree to bring forward proposals to give the Bank of England control of macro-prudential regulation and oversight of micro-prudential regulation. The parties also agree to rule out joining the European Single Currency during the duration of this agreement. We have agreed that there should be an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK to live and work. We will consider jointly the mechanism for implementing the limit. We will end the detention of children for immigration purposes. The parties agree to the establishment of five year fixed-term parliaments. A Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government will put a binding motion before the House of Commons in the first days following this agreement stating that the next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015. Following this motion, legislation will be brought forward to make provision for fixed term parliaments of five years.  This legislation will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour. The parties will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. Both parties will whip their Parliamentary Parties in both Houses to support a simple majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take during such a referendum. The parties will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP was found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents. We agree to establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper chamber on the basis of proportional representation.  The committee will come forward with a draft motions by December 2010. It is likely that this bill will advocate single long terms of office. It is also likely there will be a grandfathering system for current Peers. In the interim, Lords appointments will be made with the objective of creating a second chamber reflective of the share of the vote secured by the political parties in the last general election. The parties will bring forward the proposals of the Wright Committee for reform to the House of Commons in full – starting with the proposed committee for management of programmed business and including government business within its scope by the third year of the Parliament. The parties agree to reduce electoral fraud by speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration. We have agreed to establish a commission to consider the ‘West Lothian question’. The parties agree to the implementation of the Calman Commission proposals and the offer of a referendum on further Welsh devolution. The parties will tackle lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists. We also agree to pursue a detailed agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding in order to remove big money from politics. The parties will promote the radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups. This will include a full review of local government finance. The parties agree to phase out the default retirement age and hold a review to set the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, although it will not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women. We agree to end the rules requiring compulsory annuitisation at 75. We agree to implement the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman’s recommendation to make fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policy holders, through an independent payment scheme, for their relative loss as a consequence of regulatory failure. The parties agree to end all existing welfare to work programmes and to create a single welfare to work programme to help all unemployed people get back into work. We agree that Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants facing the most significant barriers to work should be referred to the aforementioned newly created welfare to work programme immediately, not after 12 months as is currently the case. We agree that Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants aged under 25 should be referred to the programme after a maximum of six months. The parties agree to realign contracts with welfare to work service providers to reflect more closely the results they achieve in getting people back into work. We agree that the funding mechanism used by government to finance welfare to work programmes should be reformed to reflect the fact that initial investment delivers later savings in lower benefit expenditure. We agree that receipt of benefits for those able to work should be conditional on the willingness to work. Schools We agree to promote the reform of schools in order to ensure: that new providers can enter the state school system in response to parental demand; that all schools have greater freedom over curriculum; and, that all schools are held properly accountable. Higher education We await Lord Browne’s final report into higher education funding, and will judge its proposals against the need to: increase social mobility; take into account the impact on student debt; ensure a properly funded university sector; improve the quality of teaching; advance scholarship; and, attract a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. If the response of the Government to Lord Browne’s report is one that Liberal Democrats cannot accept, then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote. We agree that the British Government will be a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century: global competitiveness, global warming and global poverty. We agree that there should be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament. We will examine the balance of the EU’s existing competences and will, in particular, work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom. We agree that we will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any proposed future Treaty that transferred areas of power, or competences, would be subject to a referendum on that Treaty – a ‘referendum lock’. We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that the use of any passerelle would require primary legislation. We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament. We agree that Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament. We agree that we will strongly defend the UK’s national interests in the forthcoming EU budget negotiations and that the EU budget should only focus on those areas where the EU can add value. We agree that we will press for the European Parliament only to have one seat, in Brussels. We agree that we will approach forthcoming legislation in the area of criminal justice on a case by case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system. Britain will not participate in the establishment of any European Public Prosecutor. The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion. This will include: A Freedom or Great Repeal Bill. The scrapping of ID card scheme, the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric passports and the Contact Point Database. Outlawing the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission. The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency. Adopting the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database. The protection of historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury. The restoration of rights to non-violent protest. The review of libel laws to protect freedom of speech. Safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation. Further regulation of CCTV. Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason. A new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences. The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy, including: The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters. The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs. Measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion. The creation of a green investment bank. The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills. Retention of energy performance certificates while scrapping HIPs. Measures to encourage marine energy. The establishment of an emissions performance standard that will prevent coal-fired power stations being built unless they are equipped with sufficient CCS to meet the emissions performance standard. The establishment of a high-speed rail network. The cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow. The refusal of additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted. The replacement of the Air Passenger Duty with a per flight duty. The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as efforts to persuade the EU to move towards full auctioning of ETS permits. Measures to make the import or possession of illegal timber a criminal offence. Measures to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitats and restore biodiversity. Mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Continuation of the present Government’s proposals for public sector investment in CCS technology for four coal-fired power stations; and a specific commitment to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months. We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the Climate Change Committee. Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new national planning statement) and provided also that they receive no public subsidy. We have agreed a process that will allow Liberal Democrats to maintain their opposition to nuclear power while permitting the government to bring forward the national planning statement for ratification by Parliament so that new nuclear construction becomes possible. This process will involve: the government completing the drafting of a national planning statement and putting it before Parliament; pecific agreement that a Liberal Democrat spokesman will speak against the planning statement, but that Liberal Democrat MPs will abstain; and clarity that this will not be regarded as an issue of confidence.

Fri 7th May 2010:

Nick Clegg's statement on the results of the election.

Last night was a disappointment for the Liberal Democrats. Even though more people voted for us than ever before, even though we had a higher proportion of the vote than ever before, it is of course a source of great regret to me that we have lost some really valued friends and colleagues and we have returned to Parliament with fewer MPs than before. Many, many people during the election campaign were excited about the prospect of doing something different, but it seems that when they came to vote, many of them, in the end, decided to stick with what they knew best. And at a time of great economic uncertainty, I totally understand those feelings. But that’s not going to stop me from redoubling my efforts and our efforts to show that real change is the best reassurance that things can get better for people and their families, that it shouldn’t be something which unsettles people. Now we’re in a very fluid political situation with no party enjoying an absolute majority. As I’ve said before, it seems to me in a situation like this, it’s vital that all political parties, all political leaders, act in the national interest, and not out of narrow party political advantage. I’ve also said that whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties, and I stick to that view. It seems this morning that it’s the Conservative party that has more votes and more seats, though not an absolute majority, and that is why I think it is now for the Conservative party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest. At the same time, this election campaign has made it abundantly clear that our electoral system is broken, it simply doesn’t reflect the hopes and aspirations of the British people, so I repeat again my assurance, that whatever happens in the coming hours and days and weeks, I will continue to argue not only for the greater fairness in British society, not only the greater responsibility in economic policy making, but also for the extensive, real reforms that we need to fix our broken political system. Thank you very much.

Wed 5th May 2010:

In 24 hours we can change Britain forever says Nick Clegg .

Addressing a rally in Eastbourne this morning, Nick Clegg will say: “In 24 hours we can change Britain forever. “Change is possible and change is coming, if you choose it. “Your vote can make the difference. “In your heart of hearts you know that if either of the two old parties win this election, nothing will really change. “You’ve been let down by them a hundred times before, you know how little to expect. “We cannot let that happen. “We cannot let politics as usual triumph. “We can choose something different this time and we will choose something different this time. “If change is what you want, don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way. “It may be just a small cross on the ballot paper but it is a big opportunity. “Yours may be just one vote but it could be the one that makes the difference: so use it.”

Tue 4th May 2010:

Nick Clegg launches My Personal Guarantee .

“This is my personal guarantee that I will use all the support you give me on Thursday to deliver fairness in Britain. “We need a fairer tax system. I will use your votes to cut taxes for those at the bottom and in the middle and close the loopholes for those at the top. “We need to support our children. I will use your votes to ensure extra funding for schools, to cut class sizes and give all children a fair chance. “We need to clean up politics. I will use your votes to reform Parliament, to deliver a fairer voting system, protect your freedoms and give you the right to sack corrupt MPs. “We need a new economy. I will use your vote to split up the banks, get them lending again, invest in green infrastructure and so create jobs. “This election campaign has shown us that millions of people want us to do something different this time. “Politicians should work together to solve the nation’s biggest problems. “That is why, whatever the outcome on Thursday, I believe we should be prepared to work together to fix the terrible state of our public finances and ensure economic stability. “These are the key steps to a new, fairer Britain. Give me the power of your vote and we can make it happen. “Together, we can make the difference.” View Nick Clegg's guarantee here.

Nick Clegg campaigns on plans to give children a fair start.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will be campaigning in Liverpool and Glasgow today, focusing on Liberal Democrat policies to create a fairer country by investing an extra £2.5bn in our schools. He will contrast the Liberal Democrats’ positive agenda with Labour’s schools system, which has left many children behind, and expose Conservative plans to cut nearly £29bn from the education budget. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “Labour has built an education system where only some do well, while others are left to struggle. “My ambition is to make sure every child gets the best start. “Liberal Democrats will not let our children pay the price for Labour’s failures. “We have identified an extra £2.5bn for our schools, fully funded by cuts elsewhere in government, to allow schools to cut class sizes, provide more catch-up classes, more one-to-one tuition so that every child gets the individual attention they need to thrive.   “That couldn’t be more different from Conservative plans. “They will cut the school building budget. “The Swedish-style free schools they want to introduce, will, according to Swedish politicians themselves, be a disaster for standards. “On top of that, what the Conservatives don’t want us to know is that they will be targeting schools for cuts. “The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the budgets in unprotected areas are going to have to be slashed by almost 22%. “David Cameron is going to have to cut nearly £29bn from schools over the course of the next five years. “And that means fewer teachers, fewer computers, and a return to the days of tumble down classrooms.   “Liberal Democrats won’t let that happen. “Join us and we can deliver fairness for every single child. “Join us and in 48 hours you can make the difference. “Choose the Liberal Democrats.”

Mon 3rd May 2010:

Nick Clegg Election 2010: Day 28 - Lewisham, Streatham and Richmond.

Lewisham Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today visited the campaign of Pete Pattisson in Lewisham East, holding a public rally in Montpellier Vale, Blackheath speaking to the crowd and taking any questions. Streatham Nick and Miriam then visited Liberal Democrat Candidate for Streatham Chris Nicholson at a rally at the Palace Project in Streatham with Floella Benjamin and Brian Paddick. UK Citizen's Speech Richmond Nick then held his latest public meeting in Richmond with Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable.

Who's voting for the Liberal Democrats?

"I hear that a vote for the Lib Dems is a wasted vote. "I disagree I think that a vote for the Lib Dems will send a breath of fresh air through the third rate, inefficient and corrupt world of British politics. Some waste eh?" "As a once committed Labour voter I, like so many, have been appalled by the abandonment of the values they advocated while in opposition. For me, their conduct on asylum alone is reason enough never to be able to contemplate voting for them again. "Those who, like me, have despaired of political alternatives, should take a second look. I believe they could open a space for real dialogue, where values of compassion and tolerance take centre ground." "For those of us who firmly believe in human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of the environment, the Liberal Democrats are the only party who can be trusted. They were the only major political party to oppose the war in Iraq, and they are still the only party committed to a full public inquiry into allegations of British complicity in torture. "Nick Clegg is the only leader willing to challenge Labour and Conservative commitment to renewing Trident and the use of nuclear power. He has consistently spoken out for our civil liberties and human rights. That is why Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrat party have my full support." “Parliamentary democracy depends on both a Government and an Opposition - an arrangement intended to subject policies and legislation to critical scrutiny. For many years now, there hasn’t been a real Opposition: the two old parties have agreed on almost all significant issues, and run headlong together into disaster. "We need a new voice, somebody to think differently, and the Lib Dems can offer that.” Brian outlines his reasons for supporting the Liberal Democrats for the past ten years in this video. “I am supporting the Liberal Democrats because one of their key pledges is to give all children a fair chance in life. "Their 'pupil premium' will give extra funding to disadvantaged children to ensure that no child is left behind because of their background or their parents bank balance and that's change I can believe in." Watch Floella's video, outling more reasons why she supports the Liberal Democrats. "I shall vote Lib Dem mostly because scrapping the ludicrous 'first past the post' system will turn us into a proper democracy whose benefits will long outlast the next parliament, and also because my local candidate in Oxford is Evan Harris, one of the few MPs in any party who doesn't pander to 'faith'." "If all the people who liked the Lib Dems voted for them you could change politics overnight and we could have a proper three party system." "I'll be voting Lib Dem this election because they represent the best chance in a lifetime to make lasting and fair change to how the UK is governed." "This is a revolutionary moment. The first time for real change in 100 years." John also recorded this video giving more reasons why he supports the Liberal Democrats. "I support Nick Clegg because his policies they are clear, fair and innovative." "I'm voting Lib Dem because of their defense of Civil Liberties, determination to reform the voting system, resolve to put green policies at the heart of mainstream politics, the visibility of women MPs on serious media discussions, their attempts to be honest about tough (and unpopular) subjects and their grown up attitude to Europe.” "Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats have shown that they are the only party with the courage and understanding to tell the truth, stand up for our rights, and reform this unequal political system. "By supporting the Lib Dems I hope that we can finally achieve the representative democracy that we all deserve." "I am supporting the Liberal Democrats because they were the only party brave enough to vote against the war in Iraq."

Earlier Stories

Complete archive on the official site.

News from the Liberal Democrats.