Archive: Liberal Democrats

Can the Lib Dems wreak havoc in the Home Counties?

Recent polling suggests the Remain party could unseat some big Tory names, but does it hold up to scrutiny?

BASC: Liberal Democrats recognise the importance of shooting and fishing

The importance of shooting and fishing was highlighted at a rural reception hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Angling Trust at the Liberal Democrats' conference in Brighton.
Another empty promise from the Liberal Democrats

Chris Keates General Secretary of the NASUWT: 'The Liberal Democrats are right to raise concerns about the cuts to the pay of those who are delivering vital public services'.
NUT: Nick Clegg’s Speech at Liberal Democrats Conference

Commenting on Nick Clegg’s announcement of summer ‘catch-up’ schools in his speech to the Liberal Democrats Conference, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said this:

Week in Review: The Remain alliance claims its first scalp

Crucial byelection win provides proof-of-concept for a broader electoral campaign.
Anti-Brexit parties need a Remain alliance while there's still time

Whether the Tory candidates admit it or not, there's an election coming - and Remain is still more split than Leave.

Post-Mortem: What worked for Remain in the European elections - and what didn't

Why the election worked for the Lib Dems, where tactical voting may have been crucial, and what went wrong for Tommy Robinson.
Local election analysis: This all feels very unstable

Independents on the rise, strong results for None-Of-The-Above, the main parties stuck: Local election results have revealed a political system in a troubled state.

On his last Clegg: Lib Dem leader to lose seat

Lib Dem leader remains behind Labour in his own constituency
Will Labour live to regret their mockery of the Lib Dems?

Belittled, mocked and jeered - the Liberal Democrats were made to look like irrelevant upstarts on a day that should have been their big moment. Will Labour regret their cruelty?

The Lib Dem lead balloon strategy

The Liberal Democrats are unveiling an unappealing election strategy: more austerity. Good luck with that.
Comment: We need to be honest about the housing crisis

Unless we aim to end the housing crisis in its entirety, instead of just tinkering at the edges, we are just short-changing people for short-term electoral gain.

'The last days of Rome': Behind the partying, the Lib Dems know there's trouble ahead

The Liberal Democrats are having fun while they can. "It's the last days of Rome," as one delegate tells me in Glasgow. He is confident, upbeat, and expects his party will win at least 20 seats on May 7th next year.
Analysis: Vince Cable learns to be useful

Vince Cable has spent much of the last four years being a thorn in his leader's side. But now, as today's autumn conference speech in Glasgow shows, things have changed. With the general election looming the chastened business secretary has become an asset once again.

'Stop it now!' Ashdown begs for end to Lib Dem plotting

Paddy Ashdown has implored Liberal Democrats to cease manoeuvres against Nick Clegg, as activists continue to undermine the party's leadership.
Collateral damage: Cable hit as Oakeshott detonates resignation statement

Vince Cable knew about Matthew Oakeshott's polling, the peer has revealed, as he quits Westminster with a defiant call for Nick Clegg to resign

Lord Oakeshott's resignation statement in full

Lib Dem peer resigns after
Four terrible options for the Liberal Democrats

Here's what happens when you wargame four different kinds of Lib Dem coups. None of them are very pretty.

Clegg's liberalism 'blurred' by coalition

Sacked minister Jeremy Browne hits out at party leader's blurred liberalism"
Wanted: Clegg seeks 'coalition' of liberals to keep him in power

Nick Clegg takes the unexpected step of appealing for votes beyond his party

The importance of being idle: Why Ukip's MEPs should trumpet their laziness

Attacking Nigel Farage and his party's MEPs for laziness in Strasbourg risks backfiring
Analysis: Clegg is flirting with Labour – but he doesn't really care who gets into No 10

It will prompt scorn from Conservative colleagues in government and contempt from the voters – but Nick Clegg's flirtations with Labour are a necessary bit of politicking

Farron: We must damage ecosystems to save the planet

Opponents of fracking will not be credible unless they are prepared to build large-scale renewables projects and damage the environment, Tim Farron tells Politics.co.uk
'Slashing for its own sake': Cable slams Tory cuts

Vince Cable opens up a new gulf in the coalition government warning his party will not support George Osborne's plans for £30 billion more cuts in the next parliament.

The Political Week Online: Weathering the storm

Unemployment, the decimation of the Liberal Democrats, old UKIP policies, and homosexual rain.
The Week in Review: Schlurp! The Lib Dems just imploded

If any political party is capable of battering itself to death with its own inflatable hammer, that party is the Lib Dems.