libdemvoice.org

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We are doing a major update today, and we're not able to post anything new to the site until it's done, so please bear with us. Big thinks to our tech guru @artesea.co.uk who navigates these technological waters for us so well.

libdemvoice.orgYou don't need to be a hero to fight fascismThe normalisation of fascism is becoming a common occurrence. In Britain alone, from cowards wearing balaclavas protesting in Dover to Reform UK's Suella Braverman referring to the actions of anti-imm...

A democracy only survives if there are people willing to defend it, but in this piece, Jack Meredith suggests that we need to take one step further… www.libdemvoice.org/you-dont-nee...

libdemvoice.orgWelcome to my day: 19 October 2026 – so much for that rebellion…There will doubtless be those who are disappointed that the rebellion against Ed Davey’s leadership turned out to be big on pitchforks and flaming torches but not so hot on turnout. A couple of seemin...

Monday morning, and @honladymark.bsky.social looks back at the flurry of leadership talk, the @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social conference for Town and Parish councillors and takes a gentle stroll down memory lane… www.libdemvoice.org/welcome-to-m...

libdemvoice.orgWelcome (belatedly) to my day: 12 October 2026 – a leadership challenge, or a challenge to the leadership?…My estimable colleague and our Editor-in-Chief, Caron Lindsay, wrote yesterday asking the question, “Is Ed Davey toast?”. And a fine question it is too, although I’m perhaps not the obvious person to ...

Our Monday Editor, and house bureaucrat, @honladymark.bsky.social, offers his thoughts on the Party leadership debate, studiously avoiding taking a side… www.libdemvoice.org/welcome-to-m...

libdemvoice.orgIs Ed Davey toast?The news that two Lib Dem front benchers, Alison Bennett quietly and Charlie Maynard with a bit more noise have resigned their positions this week should concern the party. It’s been clear for some ...

Is Ed Davey toast? By @caronmlindsay.bsky.social www.libdemvoice.org/is-ed-davey-...

libdemvoice.orgThe Autumn 2026 edition of the Journal of Liberal History publishedThe Liberal Democrat History Group are pleased to announce that the latest issue of the Journal of Liberal History (issue 132, Autumn 2026) has just been published. The Journal is published quarterly ...

The Autumn edition of the Journal of Liberal History is out now, and our friends at @libhistorytoday.bsky.social graciously invite you to see what you’ll find in it… www.libdemvoice.org/the-autumn-2...

libdemvoice.orgCan we afford the Triple Lock? Not as a low tax partyA tale of two conference speeches: Ed Davey declared the Lib Dems to be the party of low taxes, and outlined £17bn of tax cuts to Income Tax and Fuel Duty, paid for by making a better deal with the EU...

Retain the Triple Lock? Be a Party of low taxes? Joe Wright explains why the two statements are probably mutually exclusive… www.libdemvoice.org/can-we-affor...

libdemvoice.orgLabour’s new vape tax is disastrous policymakingOn Thursday, Labour’s new vape tax came into effect. Vaping Products Duty charges £2.20 per 10ml of vape liquid. Because VAT is charged on top of the duty, the real cost at the till is £2.64. In pract...

Is a tax on vapes likely to demonstrate how policy changes sometimes trigger worse outcomes? Rees Southern argues the case here… www.libdemvoice.org/labours-new-...

libdemvoice.orgWelcome to my day: 5 October 2026 – it’s beginning to feel a lot like AGM season…For those of us who have been officers of Local Parties, Associated Organisations or any of the other myriad bodies across the Party who hold elections, this is the time of year when things change, an...

@honladymark.bsky.social is back after a short break with thoughts on the importance of Party volunteers, the Greens vote on Zionism and the Party’s response to Andy Burnham’s speech… www.libdemvoice.org/welcome-to-m...

libdemvoice.orgChristine Jardine to stand down as MP at next electionMany of our readers will be very sad to see that Christine Jardine MP will not fight the next election. In a statement tongiht she said: “I have written to my local party to let them know I shall not ...

@cajardinemp.bsky.social to stand down as MP at next General Election www.libdemvoice.org/christine-ja...

libdemvoice.orgLiberals debateOn Monday, Conference debated our motion “Restoring Trans Rights”, and the motion passed overwhelmingly. As Chair of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, I’m proud of that – proud of everyone who put the work in,...

23 Sept

Liberals debate by Lucas North from @pluslibdems.bsky.social www.libdemvoice.org/liberals-deb...

libdemvoice.orgA call for reform with a small “r”Suella Braverman’s recent statement on making hymn singing mandatory in English schools shows just how out of touch Reform is with modern British society. Reform UK's proposed

23 Sept

A call for Reform with a small "r" by Keith Creswell www.libdemvoice.org/a-call-for-r...

libdemvoice.orgWinning back a generation starts with fixing the broken student loan systemFor too long, student finance has been the subject our party would rather avoid. I understand why. It is uncomfortable territory. The scars of the coalition run deep, and many of us have heard about t...

Liberal Democrats and student finance, not always an association that has done us any favours in the past, but @tomgordonld.bsky.social thinks that it’s high time we bit the bullet and tried to fix things… www.libdemvoice.org/winning-back...

libdemvoice.orgWelcome to my day: 21 September 2026 – time to clean up our politics?Greetings from somewhere close to Brighton Beach. Admittedly, the Brighton Beach at the end of the B Line from the Bronx, through Manhattan to Queens, but close nonetheless. There has been a lot of ta...

He may be more than 3,000 miles away, but @honladymark.bsky.social is still on duty, as he writes about party financing and Zohran Mamdani… www.libdemvoice.org/welcome-to-m...

libdemvoice.orgPaul’s conference diary (3) – frog box interview and my new AI girlfriendSomehow I managed to drag myself into the main hall for the early doors “Making music matter” motion. Jennie Rigg neatly summarised the whole thing saying that copyright law is not being enforced so t...

Our gallant colleague and Tuesday Editor, Paul Walter, even exists on a Sunday, as he explains here… And yes, we speak too, as he demonstrates… www.libdemvoice.org/pauls-confer...

libdemvoice.orgWATCH: Al Pinkerton’s speech to ConferenceWatch Al Pinkerton talk about our vision for closer ties to Europe: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Share on X (Opens in new window) X...

Did you miss Al Pinkerton’s speech on Europe yesterday? Why not catch up here… www.libdemvoice.org/watch-al-pin...

libdemvoice.orgWhat I would have said about homeless children at ConferenceTaking part in Lib Dem Conference online (I cannot make it to Brighton, so watching and voting online) it was good to see the first policy motion was about homeless children, although tragic that we h...

Many speeches are written, but not everyone is called, or can even come to Conference. Suzanne Fletcher would have said this about homeless children… www.libdemvoice.org/what-i-would...

libdemvoice.orgTom Arms’ World ReviewThe Falklands The Falklands are back in the news. Argentine President Javier Milei has restated claims to “Las Islas Malvinas” and support from America and Chile—which was vital in 1982—is now doubtfu...

20 Sept

In this week’s World Review, Tom Arms looks at developments on Argentina’s claim to the Falklands and what the new Hungarian government is doing… www.libdemvoice.org/tom-arms-wor...

libdemvoice.orgHow Lib Dem Councillors get things done on temporary accommodationPaul Walter wrote about the Temporary accommodation debate in his diary earlier It was a great and sobering debate. I just wanted to highlight two things that Lib Dems have done. Prue Bray spoke about...

20 Sept

Did you miss the debate on temporary accommodation? @caronmlindsay.bsky.social has news on two contributions… www.libdemvoice.org/how-lib-dem-...

libdemvoice.orgCaron’s kitchen table diaryI’m settling in to day 2 of watching Conference. I’ve already spent more time “in the hall” than I have in the past 3 in person conferences. I’m uaually to be found on the Lib Dem Women or LGBT+ Lib D...

20 Sept

Our editor @caronmlindsay.bsky.social is spending this Conference at her kitchen table. Here's her diary. www.libdemvoice.org/carons-kitch...

libdemvoice.orgLib Dems need a 25-year vision that sets out how we’ll change BritainLib Dems desperately want a message that cuts through. Something that lifts our standing in the polls with the same gravity-defying ease as we’ve seen Reform and the Greens achieve. But I’m afraid the...

Do the Liberal Democrats need a vision, or a quick fix? Phil Wainewright thinks the answer is a genuine long-term vision… www.libdemvoice.org/lib-dems-nee...

libdemvoice.orgPaul’s conference diary (1)Thanks to the wonder of Traveline.info and an ingenious chain of five buses, I travelled to Brighton (and will travel back) free on my senior bus pass (Thank you – I know, it’s so hard to imagine that...

Our Tuesday Editor, Paul Walter, made his way to Brighton by bus (yes, local buses) across southern England. And now he’s there, he’s reporting his view of Federal Conference… www.libdemvoice.org/pauls-confer...

libdemvoice.orgPaul’s conference diary (2) – things get interestingOne of the highlights of Brighton is that it’s got a great running track. You just poodle out to the promenade – chunter westwards for (in my case) 2.5 k and then turn round and go back. Job done. The...

Indeed, he’s enjoying himself so much, he’s written a second “entry”… www.libdemvoice.org/pauls-confer...

libdemvoice.orgThe Independent View: To get Britain growing again, we must cut the cost of doing businessAs the Liberal Democrats gather in Brighton, some of the discussion will focus on how to build a stronger, more productive and increasingly inclusive economy. The Director General of the British Chamb...

As #ldconf debates support to business, Shevaun Haviland, Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, writes for us on the importance of cutting the costs of business to enable investment and job creation to create growth. www.libdemvoice.org/the-independ...

libdemvoice.orgVictoria Collins MP writes.. The ask that changes everythingThere’s a moment every candidate remembers. Not the selection meeting, not the count on election night but the moment before when someone else believed in you, when someone asked you to stand. For mos...

At #ldconf? Met someone who would make a fantastic candidate, then let the party know and they'll get in touch with them. www.libdemvoice.org/victoria-col... Vice President @victoria-collins.bsky.social has more here.

libdemvoice.orgObservations of an ex pat: KompromatDonald Trump has undermined history’s most successful defence alliance. He is engaged in an all-out trade war with America’s closest neighbour and ally. He is threatening to take control of the territ...

Conference or not, Saturday wouldn't be Saturday without Tom Arms' Observations of an ex pat: www.libdemvoice.org/observations...

libdemvoice.orgMathew on Monday: Local Government Reorganisation review welcomeAngela Rayner’s announcement of a pause and rethink on much of the Government’s local government reorganisation is welcome. For months, those of us who believe passionately in genuinely local governme...

Yes, he’s back from his summer break… Mathew Hulbert takes on local government reorganisation and economic growth for all in this week’s column… www.libdemvoice.org/mathew-on-mo...

libdemvoice.orgLabour’s Local Government Reform hits a roadblock…For those of us in local government at whatever tier, the Government’s proposals for local government reform, requiring the abolition of principal authorities across England and their replacement with...

As Labour decide that their own plans for local government reform are too flawed to proceed, what happens next?… www.libdemvoice.org/labours-loca...

libdemvoice.orgDemand for action over 100,000 “horror” sewage spillsScottish Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Sanne Dijkstra-Downie has today written to the Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin demanding that the SNP start taking the sewage crisis seriously as ne...

More sewage dumping across Scotland… @sannedd.bsky.social is demanding action… www.libdemvoice.org/demand-for-a...

libdemvoice.orgReform is winning because liberal Britain is not listening to its own societyLiberal Democrats will not stop Reform by warning people about it. To understand why people listen, we must understand what Reform offers that too many feel they no longer get from us. We have spent y...

Does the liberal response to educational underachievement by boys drive young men into the hands of Reform? Michal Simon thinks so… www.libdemvoice.org/reform-is-wi...

libdemvoice.orgTom Arms’ World ReviewTexas Watch Texas. Especially watch the Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton. Texas is a bright-red Republican state. Its Stetson-wearing inhabitants open...

6 Sept

In today’s World Review, Tom Arms looks at a fascinating Texas senate race, US tariff policy, Anglo-French relations and Montenegro’s bid for EU membership… www.libdemvoice.org/tom-arms-wor...

libdemvoice.orgWhy Holborn and St Pancras deserves our allIt is no secret that Liberal Democrats have become one of the first and foremost Parties in Local Government, having consistently made gains for the last seven years of Local Elections and this strate...

6th place last time, 5.8% of the vote but that’s no reason to give up on Holborn and St Pancras, says @rosenstead.co.uk… www.libdemvoice.org/why-holborn-...

And remember, we got 29.3% of the vote there in 2005…

libdemvoice.orgObservations of an Expat: Bonds and the WorldThis week’s G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Asheville ended amid unusually bitter divisions. Behind the arguments over China, tariffs, Iran and Russia lurked another problem which affects every coun...

Our esteemed Foreign Editor, Tom Arms, looks back at the week’s meeting of the G20 finance ministers, focusing on moves in the global bond market… www.libdemvoice.org/observations...

libdemvoice.orgGreen asks Offord if Reform UK Scotland has benefited from foreign donationsScottish Liberal Democrat public service reform spokesperson David Green MSP has today written to Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord, asking if he will categorically rule out ever having accep...

Given the emerging scandal over Reform UK’s fundraising, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for @davidgreen4csr.bsky.social to ask the question of Malcolm Offord… www.libdemvoice.org/green-asks-o...

libdemvoice.orgBurnham, Andy: Could do betterAndy Burnham became PM by surfing a wave of dissatisfaction with the Starmer government. This is now his honeymoon period. The whole thing is extraordinarily like the arrival of a new Labour governmen...

Is it too early to draw a conclusion about the Burnham administration? Simon Banks thinks that the pathway is emerging… www.libdemvoice.org/burnham-andy...

libdemvoice.orgALDC by-election report, 3rd SeptemberSix principal authority by-elections took place across England, Scotland, and Wales on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September. The Liberal Democrats were defending two key seats – one on Stroud Dist...

4 Sept

Not a bad week for the Liberal Democrats in local by-elections with two good holds. Our friends at @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social have all the results… www.libdemvoice.org/aldc-byelect...

libdemvoice.orgCould Andy Burnham rival William Beveridge in impact?In the midst of the Second World War, the Liberal Civil Servant William Beveridge wrote of the terrible state he saw that Britain was in, and in his report, ‘Social Insurance and Allied Services’ publ...

4 Sept

Could Andy Burnham have as much impact as William Beveridge did? Katharine Pindar reads the runes from the first few weeks of his administration… www.libdemvoice.org/could-andy-b...

libdemvoice.orgWorld Suicide Prevention Day, 10th SeptemberThis article discusses suicide and could cause distress to some readers. On the 10th September The World Health Organisation will promote World Suicide Prevention Day. This is a three-year programme, ...

4 Sept

Next Thursday (10 September) is World Suicide Prevention Day, and Ron Aitken, an Independent Mental Health Advocate, has written for us about the event here… www.libdemvoice.org/world-suicid...

libdemvoice.orgCole-Hamilton: Violence against women and girls demands action nowAt First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP urged the government to act with urgency to tackle violence against women and girls, as he stated that it should ...

3 Sept

Again, just one press release today, with @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk highlighting the SNP Government’s failure to implement domestic abuse protection passed by the Scottish Parliament five years ago… www.libdemvoice.org/colehamilton...

libdemvoice.orgWhat can we really do to influence the situation in the West Bank?Every day we hear of more attacks by settlers on Palestinian villagers, driving them off their farms and out of their homes. We’ve seen in the Israeli election campaign, a continued hardening of suppo...

3 Sept

With events in the West Bank threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state, is there anything Liberal Democrats can do to show support? @alanju.bsky.social has a suggestion… www.libdemvoice.org/what-can-we-...

libdemvoice.orgCole-Hamilton responds to Swinney on BBC RadioResponding to John Swinney’s interview on BBC Radio Scotland, in which he failed to explain how his plans to cut the number of health boards did not amount to a centralisation, Scottish Liberal Democr...

In tonight’s only press release, @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk questions how reducing the number of health boards doesn’t represent centralisation… www.libdemvoice.org/colehamilton...

libdemvoice.orgWelcome to Lib Dem Friends of Gaelic Language and CultureA bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? Do you speak Gaelic? Would you like to learn? Are you interested in Gaelic language and culture? If so, read on. Four years ago, I started learning Gaelic on Duolingo after m...

A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? @caronmlindsay.bsky.social does, having studied it in recent years. So, if you do, or would like to, read this… www.libdemvoice.org/welcome-to-l...

libdemvoice.orgGoing for four in a row in ScotlandAs parliament is back from recess and Scotland’s adventure at the World Cup start to feel like a distant memory, what better time to start to look forward towards the election year ahead. Scotland has...

Liberal Democrats have made net gains in the last three electoral cycles in Scotland. @granttoghill.bsky.social points to the prospects for more gains in next year’s local elections north of the border… www.libdemvoice.org/going-for-fo...

libdemvoice.orgLib Dems call for action on smart spectacles – some constructive feedbackWhenever a new piece of technology comes out, I always think about how it might be used to assault and abuse women and girls. It’s sad that I have to, but that’s the world we live in. Air tags – brill...

Our Editor-in-Chief, @caronmlindsay.bsky.social, reports on the Party’s call for action on “smart spectacles”… www.libdemvoice.org/lib-dems-cal...

libdemvoice.org1 September 2026 - today's press releases (part 2)McArthur sets out opposition to SNP's food price consultation Rennie responds to CalMac ferry costs rising by £20 million Cole-Hamilton responds to Programme for Government “What happens when the s...

Our second batch of press releases features @orkneymsp.bsky.social on the SNP’s plans on food prices, @willierennie.bsky.social on ferries, @highlandvoice.com on wildfires and @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk’s response to the SNP’s Programme for Government… www.libdemvoice.org/1-september-...

A slew of press releases from Scotland today, so we’re publishing them in two batches…

libdemvoice.org1 September 2026 – today’s press releases (part 1)A big day in Scottish politics today, and the day’s press releases reflect that… Cole-Hamilton: Programme for government must match Scotland’s talent Chou Turvey responds to police officer illness and...

First up, @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk on the SNP’s programme for government, @yipeichouscotland.bsky.social on police numbers and the failure to fund the sexual offences court, plus @adamharley.bsky.social on some pretty poor NHS data… www.libdemvoice.org/1-september-...