Archive: Liberal Democrats

Farron's worst qualities came from his faith, but so did his best

A central plank of Farron's legacy was his campaigns for social justice

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:

Vince Cable speech: A tired contribution which misunderstands this moment in history

Vince Cable is right about almost everything, but it doesn't matter.
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.
No apology from Lib Dem accused of sexual harassment

A senior Liberal Democrat accused of sexually harassing women ignores requests to apologise and says he plans to begin working for the party once again.

The Political Week Online: Cooking up a stink

Mark Duggan, #benefitsstreet, porn, and racist cookery.
WATCH: Clegg: 'Vote Lib Dem or the economy gets it'

Nick Clegg uses New Year's message to warn that a vote for any other party than the Lib Dems will risk the future of the economy.

Liberal Democrat membership 'no longer at rock bottom'

Lib Dem membership numbers growing for the first rise since the party entered into coalition with the Conservatives.
Top ten political gaffes of 2013: 2 - A Lib Dem 'press officer'

The Liberal Democrats had just shaken up their press office team when a monstrous howler of an error took place. Not much was actually happening at the party's autumn conference in Glasgow, so it came as quite a surprise to the journalists gathered in the city to find the Lib Dems' secret 'lines to take' document emailed around.