Ed Davey: ‘Tactical Voting Can Lock Tories Out of Power for a Generation’

THE OBSERVER: Lib Dem leader says people lending their votes to rival parties could shut the door on Conservatives at Westminster for years to come

Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, on Friday. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA
The Tories could be locked out of power for a generation if supporters of other parties vote tactically at the next general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, says on Sunday, after his party chalked up another stunning West Country byelection victory.

A massive 29% swing to the Lib Dems saw Sarah Dyke take the Somerton and Frome seat, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 19,200. Davey’s party now has a comfortable 11,000 majority of its own, the largest it has ever had over the Tories in the constituency. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, July 23, 2023

As an Arab might say, inshallah! Send this régime packing: this band of corrupt, incompetent, greedy fools! Clowns! Rapacious clowns!

This country needs a business-friendly party to lead it. The Tories used to be that party. Alas, no longer. No business-friendly party would turn its back on the biggest, most-successful single market in the world: The Single Market – a market of 500m or so consumers. Only an idiot would turn its back on such a market.

It is to be hoped that we will soon witness the demise of the Conservatives. We Brits deserve better than this. – © Mark Alexander

Lib Dems Demand End to ‘Conservative Circus’

EXPRESS & STAR: Party leader Sir Ed Davey covered supporters in confetti shot from a canon that read ‘Get these clowns out of No 10’.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Sir Ed Davey
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey channelled the circus for the now regular by-election victory PR stunt as he demanded a general election to remove the Conservatives from government.

He pretended to light a circus cannon adorned with the slogan “Get these clowns out of No 10” as yellow confetti was sprayed across dozens of Liberal Democrat supporters who had gathered to celebrate Sarah Dyke’s victory in the Somerton and Frome by-election.

Sir Ed described the gain as “nothing short of spectacular” and said the Lib Dems were now winning in their former heartlands, saying his party was “back in the West Country”. » | E&S | Friday, July 21, 2023

Lib Dems Can Topple Tory ‘Blue Wall’ in South of England, Says Leader

THE GUARDIAN: After Sarah Green’s Chesham and Amersham victory, Ed Davey says Conservative MPs will be worried

The Liberal Democrats have said they can topple the Conservatives’ “blue wall” in the south of England after storming to victory in the Chesham and Amersham byelection, taking a seat that had been solidly Tory for almost 50 years.

In a result that exceeded even the expectations of party activists, the Lib Dems’ Sarah Green overturned a 16,000 Conservative majority to take the seat by just over 8,000 votes, a swing of 25%.

Boris Johnson conceded that the result in Chesham and Amersham was “disappointing” but rejected the idea it shows he is alienating voters in the south of England. » | Peter Walker, Heather Stewart and Haroon Siddique | Friday, June 18, 2021

Lib Dems’ byelection victory suggests trouble for Tories in ‘blue wall’ »

Chesham and Amersham has shaken Tory MPs’ faith in Boris Johnson »

What the loss of a Conservative seat tells us about England’s changing middle class »

Dominic Raab in Danger of Losing Seat to Lib Dems, Poll Suggests

THE OBSERVER: Tactical voting could lead to big upsets at constituency level, according to study by Deltapoll

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is in danger of providing this election’s “Portillo moment”, after a poll in his constituency suggested that he was at risk of losing his seat.

The Deltapoll survey of Raab’s Esher and Walton constituency indicates he now only holds a five-point lead over the Liberal Democrats with less than two weeks before voting. Yet Raab had a massive 23,298 majority at the last election. The fact the foreign secretary faces a close race shows there could be big swings in some seats, and means Raab is vulnerable to a so-called “Portillo moment” – a reference to the shock defeat suffered by Michael Portillo in the Labour landslide of 1997. » | Michael Savage, Political editor | Saturday, November 30, 2019

Jo Swinson Says 'Sexist and Patronising' Boris Johnson Unfit to Be PM

THE GUARDIAN: Lib Dem leader urges tactical voting and claims party is well placed to block Tory majority

Jo Swinson has attacked Boris Johnson’s fitness to be prime minister, saying he does not care about people, is dishonest and complacent, and empowers bigots with his use of racist and sexist language.

In a speech in London, the Liberal Democrat leader said Johnson was complicit in encouraging prejudice against Muslims, had written “sexist, patronising crap” about women and faced allegations of groping.

“This man isn’t someone our sons can look up to, that our daughters can have faith in,” she said. “Boris Johnson is not fit to be prime minister.”

Answering questions after the speech, Swinson accepted that her start-of-campaign pledge that she could become prime minister now seemed unlikely, and she urged people to vote tactically to prevent a Conservative majority.

“Clearly, when you look at the polls during the campaign, that’s pretty unlikely, as we stand here right now,” she said. “But we are in a position to stop Boris Johnson becoming prime minister. And that is hugely important with two weeks to go. We need to get that message out there.” » | Peter Walker, Political correspondent | Thursday, November 28, 2019

Michael Heseltine Appears with Lib Dems to Urge Tactical Voting

THE GUARDIAN: Tory joins Chuka Umunna and Sam Gyimah in plea to back Lib Dems to stop Brexit

The Conservative grandee Michael Heseltine has made an impassioned appeal to people to choose “the national interest” and ignore traditional party loyalties to help elect Liberal Democrats through tactical voting.

At a press conference alongside Chuka Umunna and Sam Gyimah, who sat as Lib Dem MPs in the last parliament having begun their careers with Labour and the Conservatives respectively, Lord Heseltine said he was still a Tory party member but planned to “lend my vote to the Lib Dems on this one issue” of stopping Brexit.

Heseltine, whose 25-year ministerial career included a stint as deputy prime minister under John Major, saluted Umunna, Gyimah and those who were planning to vote tactically.

“There are men and women whose commitment to our country, their sense of what matters to Britain, where the future of Britain lies, where the future of the younger generation lies, means that they have torn up their traditional loyalties,” he told the event in London. » | Peter Walker, Political correspondent | Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Ministers Agree to Consider Lib Dem Plans for New Referendum

THE OBSERVER: Vince Cable says move follows cross-party talks on Brexit deadlock options

Cabinet ministers involved in cross-party talks on how to break the Brexit deadlock have given the first indication that they are prepared to examine plans for a potential second referendum on the UK’s departure from the EU, according to the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable.

The offer to examine a possible timetable for a second vote drawn up by the Lib Dems was made during discussions between senior Liberal Democratsand two cabinet ministers involved in the talks, Michael Gove and David Lidington, in the Cabinet Office on Thursday morning.

While Theresa May’s government remains strongly opposed to the idea of returning the issue of Brexit to the electorate, the revelation by Cable shows that ministers are determined to look at a wide range of ideas being put forward by opposition parties. » | Toby Helm, Political Editor | Saturday, January 19, 2019

'I Don't Think Gay Sex Is A Sin' Says Tim Farron - BBC News

Following repeated questions about his views, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has told the BBC's Eleanor Garnier that he does not believe gay sex is a sin. He added that - in his view - political leaders should not "pontificate on theological matters".

Nick Clegg: 'Brexit-obsessed Government Isn't Doing Its Day Job' - BBC Newsnight

Nick Clegg gives Emily Maitlis his thoughts on the snap general election. Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.

Tim Farron on General Election - BBC News

The Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has welcomed the snap call for a general election, saying they are now the only option for people who want to avoid a hard Brexit.

Former Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg Says May Needs a Vision for Brexit

Lib Dems Select Former Radical Islamist Maajid Nawaz as Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn

BRENT & KILBURN TIMES: Former Muslim radical and author Maajid Nawaz has been selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn.

He won a majority of votes among local party members at a hustings held in West Hampstead last night.

Mr Nawaz, who was a member of hardline global Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir, is the is the co-founder and chairman of Quilliam - a counter-extremism think-tank.

The organisation was set-up with Labour party member, Ed Husain, five years ago after publicly renouncing Islamist ideology following a stint in an Egyptian jail.

Mr Nawaz has also published a book Radical which follows his journey from religious extremist to pro-democracy campaigner. » | Amie Keeley | Friday, July 19, 2013

Related »

Lib Dems to Announce Parliamentary Hopeful for Hampstead and Kilburn Seat

HAM&HIGH: The Liberal Democrat Party will tonight announce its parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn.

Among the party’s shortlist of five hopefuls is former Muslim extremist and author Maajid Nawaz, who set-up Quilliam – the world’s first counter-extremism think-tank. He was recruited into the hardline global Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir as a teenager and spent time in an Egyptian jail as a political prisoner before becoming a democracy campaigner.

Last year, he published a memoir entitled Radical, which recounts his journey from religious extremist to publicly renouncing Islamist ideology. » | Amie Keeley | Thursday, July 18, 2013

David Cameron: Lib Dems Were Fully Aware of 'Snooping' Plans

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron has hit back against Liberal Democrat critics of the new internet “snooping” laws, claiming Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne approved the controversial plans.

In a put-down to his Coalition partners, the Prime Minister said it was important to “remember” that some of the most senior Liberal Democrats in Government waived [sic] through the proposals.

Ministers insist the new laws will simply widen the current scope of powers to the internet, as police and intelligence agencies are already allowed to monitor phones, letters and emails. They dispute the idea that monitoring voice calls and other communications over the internet amounts to snooping.

But prominent Liberal Democrats have expressed outrage that the changes will allow the police to have greater power to track online communications, such as Facebook and Skype.

Last week, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, intervened to say he would block any intrusive new powers following a series of reports on the forthcoming legislation.

Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, has even said the party is prepared to “kill” the plans, if the laws pose a “threat to a free and liberal society”. » | Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, April 10, 2012

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg denies endorsing Coalition's 'snooping' plans: The Coalition has been shaken by a row as Nick Clegg denies claims by David Cameron that he had signed up to controversial internet surveillance plans. » | Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Nick Clegg Urged to Act after Lib Dem Peer Says Israel Will Not Last For Ever

THE GUARDIAN: Party leader urged to condemn Lady Tonge, who said Israel would 'lose support and then they will reap what they have sown'

A Liberal Democrat peer has said Israel will not last for ever, with her remarks prompting calls for the party's leader, Nick Clegg, to take disciplinary action.

Lady Tonge, who was sacked as the Lib Dem children's spokeswoman in the Commons in 2004 when she suggested she could consider becoming a suicide bomber, made her remarks in a meeting at Middlesex University.

"Beware Israel," she said. "Israel is not going to be there for ever in its present form. One day, the United States of America will get sick of giving £70bn a year to Israel to support what I call America's aircraft carrier in the Middle East – that is Israel. One day, the American people are going to say to the Israel lobby in the USA: enough is enough."

She added: "Israel will lose support and then they will reap what they have sown." » | Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent | Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Chris Huhne Attacks Tory Hard Right
THE INDEPENDENT: Chris Huhne has launched a scathing attack on the Tory hard right, bracketing them with the "madcap" American Tea Party movement and warning they will "wreck the nation's economy".

The Energy Secretary used his speech to round on Conservatives who "slaver over tax cuts for the rich" and claimed if they failed to compromise Britain's economic recovery would be "put in peril".

Mr Huhne's criticism is the most explicit verbal assault made from the conference platform by a senior Liberal Democrat on their coalition partners this week.

He said: "This coalition government saved Britain's credit standing by compromise.

"The danger if you don't compromise is now clear from America.

"There the markets looked over the brink when the mad-cap Republican right in Congress would not compromise with the President.

"Let that be a warning to the Conservative right here - we need no Tea Party Tendency in Britain. » | Sam Lister | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Baroness Williams of Crosby warns Chris Huhne to stop bashing the Tories: Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, has been chastised by one of his party’s senior figures for his “unhelpful” attacks on the Conservatives. » | James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hizb ut-Tahrir: This Is Open Hostility to Islam
POLITIC.co.uk: Taji Mustafa, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain, rejects coalition's 'colonial' approach:

"This policy has nothing to do with security. It is about forcing a set of values on a community simply because their beliefs do not conform to secular liberal norms, and is proof that liberals can be supremacist.

"After bombing Afghanistan and Pakistan, does Mr Cameron still expect people to believe in the Blairite delusion that it is Islamic beliefs that are the cause of security threats to the UK? Most serious observers have abandoned this discredited world view, which continues to be propagated by some politicians, and self-serving think tanks and academics whose funding relies on such nonsense.

"This Conservative-Liberal government has decided to display an open hostility to Islam - threatening to cut funding to some groups - in order to impose Cameron's definition of 'British' values, and coercing Muslims to leave any Islamic values that the government labels 'extremist'. » | Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Labour Attacks Nick Clegg Over Social Mobility Plan
BBC: Nick Clegg has come under fire over his plan to improve social mobility, with Labour claiming it is "mission impossible" with him at the helm.

In an angry Commons exchange, deputy leader Harriet Harman accused Mr Clegg of "betraying a generation of young people" by raising tuition fees.

But the deputy PM said Labour had failed to improve social mobility despite doubling public spending.

He said the coalition's "overriding mission" was to make society fairer.

The deputy prime minister faced questions in the Commons after unveiling the government's social mobility and child poverty strategies – entitled Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers.

He said he wanted to stop people getting on in life purely because of "who they know" and has announced that informal internships for young people in Whitehall would be banned.

"They should get an internship because of what they know," he told the BBC.

"It's not just because of someone who's met somebody at the tennis club or the golf club, who's whispered something into someone's ear and they've got an internship for their son or daughter." (+ video) » | Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Looking Back! The UK's Coalition Challenge

Inside Story - Ruling the UK

Gay 'Marriages' to Be Allowed in Church
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ministers are proposing to change the law to allow homosexual couples to "marry" in traditional religious ceremonies – including in church.

Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat equalities minister, is expected shortly to outline firm plans to lift the current ban on civil partnerships being conducted in places of worship.

In a political "win" for Nick Clegg and his party, the Coalition will also say that such ceremonies should for the first time be allowed to have a religious element, such as hymn-singing and readings from the Bible.
They could, it is understood, also be carried out in the future [out] by priests or other religious figures.

The landmark move will please equality campaigners but is likely to prompt a fierce backlash from mainstream Christian leaders, as well as some Right-leaning Tories.

The Church of England has already pledged not to allow any of its buildings to be used for civil partnership ceremonies, while last year Pope Benedict said same-sex marriage was among the "most insidious and dangerous challenges that today confront the common good."

Some faiths, however – including the Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Jews – support the change in the law and will apply for their buildings to host same-sex "marriage" ceremonies. Read on and comment >>> Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor | Saturday, February 12, 2011