The Liberal Democrat approach to sleaze

The Liberal Democrat approach to sleaze.

Labour and Conservatives – Conservatives and Labour: same difference, as the Lib Dems’ rather fabulous Labservative website points out. Here are just three examples from the past 12 months of ways in which the Labservatives have blocked Lib Dem attempts to reform our broken political system …

The public’s right to sack MPs

The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment in June 2009 to place a responsibility on the Secretary of State to review and report on procedures for constituencies to recall their MPs if they have been found guilty of misconduct.
Labour voted against these measures and the Tories refused to sack them.

Cap on party donations

The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment in June 2009 to introduce a £50,000 cap on donations to political parties.
Once again Labour voted against the amendment and the Conservatives abstained.

Lobbying reform

The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment in 2006 to clamp down on expenditure on lobbying.

Labour voted against and the Conservatives failed to support the measure.
Can you face another 5 years of Labservative government?

A new website for John Brigden

http://www.johnbrigden.co.uk has been set up to serve as a central location for information about John and his policies.

John Brigden: Our parliamentary candidate

John Brigden is Dover and Deal Liberal Democrats' prospective parliamentary candidate.  Party members meeting at Whitfield village hall on Friday, 18 December unanimously voted Brigden as candidate. "I'm looking forward to getting to grips with the campaign," said Brigden earlier in the week.  "Everything is wide open - there is massive disillusionment with politics and people are looking for a fresh lead with fresh ideas. I look forward to putting across our case with vigour."

"A vote for Labour is a wasted vote. A vote for the Tories is a vote for privilege and PR style over substance. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for substantive change. My predecessors increased the vote share here at the last two elections and I intend to continue and improve on this record," said Brigden. John Brigden has the full support for the previous Liberal Democrat candidate Antony Hook who is now Chair of the local party.

Hook said: "Councillor John Brigden is a first rate candidate and will be a great MP for our area. He has valuable experience and skills to get the best for local people. Liberal Democrats offer a fresh start for Britain. I was greatly honoured to represent the Liberal Democrats in the last two elections. I voted for John in the selection for a new candidate and as chair of the local party, I will be doing all I can to help him win. I'm sure that once people hear from him and meet him they will find him to be someone they will want to support," Hook said.

Brigden said: "The issue facing the electorate at the next election is simple - the economy. The only party that has any credibility is the Liberal Democrats and Vince Cable. The choice is simple, if you want more of the same, bumping from one financial disaster to the next, vote Labour or Tory, but if you want a party that understands the situation and will get you out of it, then vote Liberal Democrat," he said.

About John Brigden

John Brigden runs Bluesky PR, a public relations company based at Sevenoaks, where he has been a town and district councillor for more than 10 years. His family has strong connections with Deal where his grandmother lived for many years.

Read more...

What the papers say...

Now Civil Servants join bankers in ludicrous bonuses...

"Civil Servants enjoyed a record £130 miillion in taxpayer-funded bonuses last year - and are in line for an even bigger sum this year. More than £350,000 a day went on performance-related pay for Government staff in 2009-9, it has emerged. Some mandarins were given payouts of almost £50,000 - twice the threshold of Chancellor Alistair Darling's 'supertax' on bankers introduced earlier this month. And despite an unprecedented state deficit, several Whitehall departments have set aside even larger sums for 2009-10. While under equipped troops are killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence is ready to offer almost £6 million more to increase its bonus pot.

Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat treasury said: 'When the whole bonus culture is being discredited, it's absolutely ridiculous for civil servants to be awarded these kinds of payments. What kind of message does it send when the Government talks tough on bonuses for the City while allowing Whitehall these bonus pots?" Daily Mail 24.12.09

How the great Mr Gladstone rescued our country...

"Gladstone was born 200 years ago next Tuesday. He had a combination of wisdom, scruple, erudition, perspective, integrity and dedication that possibly no statesman in our history has been able to match. What has always struck me most about Gladstone is that he was so utterly right. Three things seem to underpin his genius. The first is his economic policy. It was not just Gladstone's belief in free trade, it was his recognition that if you cut taxes, you raise more revenue, because of the provision of the incentive to work and take risks.

"His second vital policy was the 1870 Education Act. Compulsory education to the age of 12 was a Liberal deed. Gladstone's Act made literacy and numeracy the right of every child, equipped a workforce for a higher degree of sophistication, and kick-stated the growth of the middle-classes. Its contribution to our country can not be overstated. Gladstone's third policy was his scepticism about imperialism of all sorts. Although the British empire expanded much under his rule, he did nothing to encourage it. Nothing would prove this more than Ireland. Had home rule been granted at either attempt by him, in 1886 or 1893, would it have caused Britain such trouble over the following 120 years? Of course it would not. " Eric Heffer, Deputy Editor, Daily Telegraph 23.12.09

Read more...

Nick Clegg on Sleaze

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has said: "I'm proud of the fact that not one of our 63 MPs has indulged in 'flipping' second-homes to abuse the expenses system, and not one Liberal Democrat MP has tried to exploit second homes for tax advantages." He said the Liberal Democrats have stood four-square for years on the need for Parliamentary reform.

"I wrote to David Cameron and George Brown well over a year ago on the need for a root and branch reform of the expenses system, but they wouldn't reply. Of course, if we have a system where 40% of all the seats in the House of Commons are regarded as "safe seats" and never change hands, we have 40% of our MPs regarding their position as a job for life. We need voting reform and proportional representation to make votes count more, to help people feel involved and make votes count - and much more."

More Articles...

Latest Libdem Tweet