http://www.blogminster.com Blogging for Westminster Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:28:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= en hourly 6 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/graham-watson-european-renewable-energy-is-answer-to-gazprom-gas-crisis/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/graham-watson-european-renewable-energy-is-answer-to-gazprom-gas-crisis/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0000
"The freezing conditions across Europe highlight yet again the dangers of being so overly-reliant on Russia for a quarter of our gas. Gazprom has - understandably - diverted its supplies to keep Russian homes warm, leaving many European countries short and prices on the rise."

"And we just don't know what Gazprom will do next."

"But the wind is blowing harder than ever in the Scottish Hebrides and it is 15 C and sunny in southern Spain and Greece. If, instead of building gas pipelines, we were building electricity transmission infrastructure and switching from fossil fuels to wind and solar power, this week's energy outlook would be a different story. European renewables are the answer to our energy security."

"Indeed, the sun is also shining bright as ever in the Sahara. Importing electricity from North Africa…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/graham-watson-european-renewable-energy-is-answer-to-gazprom-gas-crisis/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/lorely-burt-labour-hypocrisy-on-bankers-bonuses/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/lorely-burt-labour-hypocrisy-on-bankers-bonuses/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:37:00 +0000
“The Coalition Government inherited this economic mess from Labour and has taken decisive action to put the country back on track. We’ve capped cash bonuses at state owned banks to £2,000 and overall, the bonus pool is smaller than last year and considerably less than under Labour.

“In Government, Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing – implementing the Vickers’ proposals to make banking safer in the future, continuing our fight to get the banks to lend more and introducing the banking levy which raises £2.5bn a year. All Labour can do is complain from the side lines.

“While Labour spent thirteen years being intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich, Liberal Democrats…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/lorely-burt-labour-hypocrisy-on-bankers-bonuses/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/julian-huppert-coalition-cycling-investment-comes-at-a-crucial-time/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/julian-huppert-coalition-cycling-investment-comes-at-a-crucial-time/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:10:00 +0000
“This comes at a crucial time. Just five days ago The Times launched a cycle campaign in response to the shocking increase in fatalities among cyclists on our roads.

“It is absolutely essential people should be able to walk to work or cycle to school in a safe environment. The extra £8m for Sustrans will go a long way to achieving this.

“And the £7m for improved rail-cycle links will ensure that we continue to build a transport network which puts passengers first.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/07/julian-huppert-coalition-cycling-investment-comes-at-a-crucial-time/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/03/liberal-democrat-news-3rd-february-2012/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/03/liberal-democrat-news-3rd-february-2012/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:52:00 +0000

Clegg calls time on unfair tax system

At the Institute for Government last Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister gave a major speech on tax and supporting working families.

“The tax system,” said Nick Clegg, “should be designed to reward effort, enterprise and innovation... and bear down on those things which are bad for our society.
“Attitudes to tax are a good proxy for our deepest political instincts and the three major political traditions in the UK – conservatism, socialism and liberalism – have very distinct approaches.”

“The liberal approach, put most simply, is based on a profound commitment to the value of paid work. Citizens are empowered when they can keep the fruits of their own labour. And fiscal liberalism supports taxes on unearned wealth... precisely to lighten taxes on the incomes of hardworking people.

“So the Coalition is calling time on our unfair and out-of-whack tax system.
We’ve put up Capital Gains Tax; we’ve reduced tax breaks on pension funds for the very rich; we’ve clamped down on avoidance…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/03/liberal-democrat-news-3rd-february-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/asa-bans-misleading-loreal-advert-featuring-rachel-weisz-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/asa-bans-misleading-loreal-advert-featuring-rachel-weisz-2/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:33:00 +0000
The advertisement has been banned in its current form and the ASA has warned L’Oréal not to use digital retouching to misrepresent the effect of their products.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said:
“The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images. 

“The banning of this advert, along with the previous ASA rulings banning heavily retouched ads featuring Twiggy, Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington, should act as a wake-up call. Thankfully the advertising regulator has again acknowledged the fraudulent nature of excessive retouching.
 
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists has spoken out about the harmful influence of the media on body image and has highlighted the airbrushing and digital enhancement used to portray physical perfection as an area of…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/asa-bans-misleading-loreal-advert-featuring-rachel-weisz-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/julian-huppert-yearly-mot-tests-right-decision/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/julian-huppert-yearly-mot-tests-right-decision/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:44:00 +0000
“This will also see the system strengthened through a combination of open public data and stronger regulation.

“Liberal Democrats strongly believe road safety should be central to the Coalition Government’s transport strategy. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to further this agenda.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/02/01/julian-huppert-yearly-mot-tests-right-decision/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/30/simon-hughes-young-people-have-not-been-put-off-university/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/30/simon-hughes-young-people-have-not-been-put-off-university/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:49:00 +0000
“This is due in no small part to the serious effort put in by the Coalition Government and many others in making sure that each young person and their parents knew all the facts about funding higher education. 

“In particular, many families clearly now understand that all graduates will pay less each month towards the cost of their university education than they did before.

“There has been a larger drop in the number of older students applying to university. The Government will have to take a serious look at why this has happened, particularly as part-time students for the first time also do not have to pay for their university education  in advance.

“However, because mature students have more flexibility in when they apply, there are still good opportunities for people looking to start university this year to put in an application.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/30/simon-hughes-young-people-have-not-been-put-off-university/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/27/liberal-democrat-news-27th-january-2012/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/27/liberal-democrat-news-27th-january-2012/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:41:00 +0000

More power for Scotland

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, is determined to move Scotland forward towards greater devolution.  As well as delivering the Scotland Bill, he is paving the way towards Home Rule.

In an interview with Liberal Democrat News he said: “These are exciting times for Liberal Democrats. We are leading the charge. The central issue at the moment is the independence referendum, which was in the SNP manifesto at their victory last May. We are clear, however, that they do not have the legal powers necessary [to instigate independence]. We are looking carefully as to how that referendum takes place. My job is to work with the Scottish Government to make sure we can devolve powers that are legal, fair and decisive.

“The referendum must be overseen by the Electoral Commission. On timing, we believe that a referendum needs to take place as soon as possible, as the uncertainty is extremely unhelpful to business.”

Combining questions on a ballot paper is complex, and devolution is…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/27/liberal-democrat-news-27th-january-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/nick-cleggs-tax-cut-speech-at-the-resolution-foundation-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/nick-cleggs-tax-cut-speech-at-the-resolution-foundation-2/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:19:00 +0000
Because the pressure on family finances is reaching boiling point.

Yesterday's GDP figures remind us that the road to the UK’s economic recovery will be long and progress will be uneven.

Those GDP figures remind us that we cannot simply ride out these troubles.
Waiting for the good times to roll around again, nor can we return to business as usual.

The financial crash and the recession that followed were unprecedented, and they were global. But the UK’s weakness in the face of those events was a damning indictment of the way our economy had been run.
An economy that became closed, elitist, driven by vested interests. Where we prized recklessness and short-term gains, and undervalued stability and hard work.

So picking ourselves up for good means fundamental reform. Hitting the reset button to ensure that not only does prosperity return, but, this time, it’s properly shared and…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/nick-cleggs-tax-cut-speech-at-the-resolution-foundation-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/more-money-back-in-your-pocket/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/more-money-back-in-your-pocket/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0000 increasing the amount paid by the richest….

And the Liberal Democrats in Coalition are already making the difference:
More than 800,000 working people no longer paying income tax 23 million working people have been given a £200 tax cut In April this year every worker will be given a further income tax cut of £130 And by the local elections in May this year, 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers, will no longer be burdened by income tax Imagine a mum who works 3 days a week as a teaching assistant - earning £10,000 a year or just over £190 a week. Under Labour she paid more than £1,000 in income tax and national insurance. Although she wanted to work more days a week she knew it was not financially worth it. Under Labour; once]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/26/more-money-back-in-your-pocket/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/25/don-foster-bbc-should-not-harm-local-and-regional-broadcasting/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/25/don-foster-bbc-should-not-harm-local-and-regional-broadcasting/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000
“The BBC won’t improve itself by stripping away some of its most valued work. Seven million people listen to BBC local radio across the UK and it is a lifeline for older people and the disabled.

“We can’t expect easy solutions to the BBC’s challenges but it should be possible to meet them without harming local radio and regional TV.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/25/don-foster-bbc-should-not-harm-local-and-regional-broadcasting/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/24/lorely-burt-post-office-deal-will-secure-its-future/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/24/lorely-burt-post-office-deal-will-secure-its-future/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:10:00 +0000
“Post Offices are a vital part of our communities and are the lynchpin of our towns and villages. More than 20m people visit a Post Office every week to send letters to loved ones, to manage their finances or to renew passports for holidays and hundreds of thousands of pensioners rely on them every day for their pensions.

“Labour left Royal Mail in a terrible mess and it is Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government who have stopped closures and put Royal Mail and the Post Office on a secure footing. Our plans mean that we will never see the kind of planned closures that devastated local communities under the previous Government.

“Labour said our plans would lead to more closures as the Royal Mail moved away from using the Post Office network. Today’s announcement proves that they were, once again, wrong.”
… ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/24/lorely-burt-post-office-deal-will-secure-its-future/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/liberal-democrats-right-to-shine-light-on-executive-pay/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/liberal-democrats-right-to-shine-light-on-executive-pay/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:57:00 +0000
“Liberal Democrats have no problem with people being highly paid but there should not be rewards for failure.

“This problem can only be solved by companies and their shareholders.  It’s not government’s role to micro-manage company pay but there are things we can do to address what is a clear market failure.

“With millions of people experiencing pay freezes and uncertainty about their jobs, the right thing to do is to shine a light on the murky world of executive pay and boardroom behaviour.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/liberal-democrats-right-to-shine-light-on-executive-pay/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/nick-clegg-re-election-of-sharon-bowles-mep-welcome-news-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/nick-clegg-re-election-of-sharon-bowles-mep-welcome-news-2/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:11:00 +0000
“As party leader, I am proud that we have a leading Liberal Democrat in such a prominent and powerful position on the international scene. As UK Deputy Prime Minister, I am delighted and relieved to know that the EU financial services brief is in such expert hands.

“In the wake of the financial crisis, it is absolutely right that we undertake a complete overhaul of the rule book governing global finance and banking at the European, national and international level.

“Ministers and industry figures must now redouble our efforts to re-engage across Europe, pro-actively work with our partners to shape EU legislation that builds a more responsible, safe and successful banking sector, and deploy our financial expertise to help resolve the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

“I look forward to working with Sharon over the coming months in addressing these overwhelmingly important issues…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/23/nick-clegg-re-election-of-sharon-bowles-mep-welcome-news-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/don-foster-live-music-licensing-regulation-will-strengthen-the-british-music-scene/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/don-foster-live-music-licensing-regulation-will-strengthen-the-british-music-scene/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:54:00 +0000
“The current system has had a deadening effect on the performance of live music in small venues. At the moment, the landlord of a small pub could face a big fine and imprisonment for letting a customer play a piano without a licence.

“The support received this afternoon from all MPs from all political parties just goes to show how important live music is in our country and the overwhelming support for changing our obstructive licensing laws.

“We’re now only one step away from the Bill becoming law and creating an even more vibrant and successful live music culture. This will benefit hundreds of small pubs, restaurants, schools, churches and community halls, and strengthen the British music scene immensely.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/don-foster-live-music-licensing-regulation-will-strengthen-the-british-music-scene/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/liberal-democrat-news-20th-january-2012/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/liberal-democrat-news-20th-january-2012/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:06:00 +0000

A more liberal capitalism

In a major speech on the economy at the Mansion House on Monday, Nick Clegg set out a “liberal diagnosis of what’s wrong; and then a liberal remedy.”

The UK’s capitalism is in crisis, Nick argued, because there is a crisis of power. “We now have an economy driven by immensely powerful vested interests that politicians have abjectly failed to stand up to. The remedy, put most simply, is a redistribution of power.”

“It’s easy to throw rhetorical rocks at directors, bankers and businesses. But, if we are honest, this is as much a failure of politicians and regulators, the authorities too often cowed by corporate power.

“There’s nothing new about it. The agricultural landlords of the 19th Century and early 20th Century were happy for working people to pay more for their food because of protective tariffs. What Lloyd George in 1906 memorably called ‘stomach taxes’. So long as their own profits were protected.

“For liberals – from Gladstone to Grimond – the role of…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/20/liberal-democrat-news-20th-january-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/local-euro-mp-announces-her-resignation/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/local-euro-mp-announces-her-resignation/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:52:00 +0000
“At the mid-term of parliament many members come and go, so accordingly this moment following upon my unsuccessful bid for the Presidency is a good time to take stock. I undertook that bid for reasons that I deeply believe in but such a course of action is bound to lead to reflection. I want to take a break from politics and to take time and assess what next.

“I have been at the service of the people of Yorkshire and the Humber for twelve and a half years. I will always be grateful for the trust that was placed in me to carry out this role, but now…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/local-euro-mp-announces-her-resignation/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/euro-mps-tighten-e-waste-rules/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/euro-mps-tighten-e-waste-rules/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:47:00 +0000
UK Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, who negotiated the original EU legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), said:
"MEPs fought hard to set a higher target for the recovery, recycling and re-use of e-waste. When treated properly our old electrical equipment needs not be rubbish but a valuable raw material.

"The new rules will make clearer what used items can be legally exported. This will help to curb the criminals who ship electronic gadgets overseas where it is dismantled by children and the poor often in hazardous and toxic conditions.

"Our waste must not become anther person's poison."
According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, the UK has a persistent…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/19/euro-mps-tighten-e-waste-rules/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/18/tom-brake-we-must-get-to-the-bottom-of-detainee-allegations/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/18/tom-brake-we-must-get-to-the-bottom-of-detainee-allegations/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:43:00 +0000
“We must get to the bottom of these allegations of mistreatment as soon as possible. The credibility of our intelligence services depends on it.

“I am pressing the Justice Secretary to announce how soon a new inquiry will be established once the police investigations into the Libyan allegations are complete.

“I am also questioning whether, in the interim, there should be an enhanced role for the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to investigate the Intelligence Services.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/18/tom-brake-we-must-get-to-the-bottom-of-detainee-allegations/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/17/sarah-ludford-outrage-of-ep-honouring-francoist-jointly-with-havel/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/17/sarah-ludford-outrage-of-ep-honouring-francoist-jointly-with-havel/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0000 “Havel's democratic and human rights credentials underpinned his whole life, while Fraga never renounced or apologised for the repressive standards of the Franco regime he served. Linking the two was a cheap trick, presumably to head off an MEPs' protest."

“Buzek has done some good work as President, and it is a pity for him to go out on a sour note. But the suspicion that he orchestrated this twinning deliberately to please his political friends is confirmed by his airbrushing of Fraga's fascist past out of his tribute."

“The EU was founded as a reaction to the horrors of dictatorship. It is an insult not just to Havel’s memory, but to that the millions of people who suffered and died at the hands of authoritarian regimes like Franco’s.”
… ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/17/sarah-ludford-outrage-of-ep-honouring-francoist-jointly-with-havel/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-announces-leadership-programme-participants-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-announces-leadership-programme-participants-2/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:01:00 +0000
Download the Candidate Leadership Programme Participant Profiles document here….

Commenting, Nick Clegg said
“The Leadership Programme is now ready to start changing the face of the Liberal Democrats. For too long, our party in Westminster has been too male and too pale.

“If we want to represent all of the country then we must have all of the country represented in us. That is why the Leadership Programme has sought out talented Liberal Democrats from across the country to ensure that over the coming years we will together change the makeup of the party.

“I know this excellent Leadership Programme will support them as they seek selection for a seat all the way until they sit in the House of Commons. I am proud to have met them all this weekend and I know we]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-announces-leadership-programme-participants-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-speech-on-responsible-capitalism-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-speech-on-responsible-capitalism-2/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:07:00 +0000
That consensus, emerging among the political parties, has attracted a little cynicism.
I can understand that. It is, after all, bonus season in our banks. But there is a more generous interpretation of the shifting political mood. One that says: perhaps the penny has finally dropped.

Liberal Democrats have been arguing for a more balanced capitalism for many years. Vince Cable warned in 2006 that bank lending levels were “recklessly irresponsible” at a time that “bad debts were growing.” We saw the gulf emerging in our economy between a small number of winners and everyone else. And we warned against…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-clegg-speech-on-responsible-capitalism-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-cleggs-city-speech-at-mansion-house-speech-2/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-cleggs-city-speech-at-mansion-house-speech-2/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:07:00 +0000
That consensus, emerging among the political parties, has attracted a little cynicism.
I can understand that. It is, after all, bonus season in our banks. But there is a more generous interpretation of the shifting political mood. One that says: perhaps the penny has finally dropped.

Liberal Democrats have been arguing for a more balanced capitalism for many years. Vince Cable warned in 2006 that bank lending levels were “recklessly irresponsible” at a time that “bad debts were growing.” We saw the gulf emerging in our economy between a small number of winners and everyone else. And we warned against…]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/16/nick-cleggs-city-speech-at-mansion-house-speech-2/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/15/stephen-williams-miliband-talks-while-liberal-democrats-deliver/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/15/stephen-williams-miliband-talks-while-liberal-democrats-deliver/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:53:00 +0000
“He says he wants to clamp down on vested interests while his party is bankrolled by the unions, and end crony capitalism when it was his Government that let the banks run riot and allowed corporate pay to spiral.

“But most notably he still refuses to admit that Labour got it wrong on the economy.

“While Ed Miliband talks, Liberal Democrats are cleaning up Labour’s mess and delivering in Government what we championed for years in opposition.

“We’re cutting taxes for the lowest earners, protecting pensioners and giving every child a fair start through the pupil premium, whilst targeting unfairness at the top by clamping down on tax avoidance, corporate pay and hitting the banks with a £2.5bn bank levy.” … ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/15/stephen-williams-miliband-talks-while-liberal-democrats-deliver/feed/ 0 http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/14/tim-farron-ed-balls-admission-better-late-than-never/ http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/14/tim-farron-ed-balls-admission-better-late-than-never/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000
“However, he still refuses to take any responsibility for Labour’s 13 years in power where they failed to balance the books and get to grips with reckless behaviour in the City, even when he was City Minister.

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing, taking the difficult decisions to protect Britain from the same fate as some euro zone countries while at the same time pursuing progressive policies such as reducing taxes for the lowest earners, making sure pensioners get a fair deal and providing a fair start for every child through the pupil premium.

“Ed Balls’ admission is better late than never, but he and Labour still owe Britain an apology for 13 years of poor government and 18 months of lies in opposition.”
… ]]> http://www.blogminster.com/2012/01/14/tim-farron-ed-balls-admission-better-late-than-never/feed/ 0