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A few words from Matthew Elliot.. The problem with the Yes campaign’s anti-politician pretence is that it is founded on a voting system that is being proposed, fought for and financed by one political party – the Liberal Democrats – for their own po... [...]

Since the General Election the political debate has understandably focused on the economy. But on May 5th we will all be voting about whether to change the voting system to the Alternative Vote, a proposal that I believe would massively reduce the accountability of members of [...]

On Wednesday I had a little altercation with Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable in the House of Commons. I asked him to confirm the press reports earlier in the week that his flagship policy of a national insurance holiday for new start-up businesses outside London and the south-east is [...]

             This week’s politics have been dominated by the economy. The GDP figures will lead to further measures to promote growth, and to much more debate about where we are heading. Meanwhile, business on the floor of the Commons has been dominated by the government’s EU Bill.               The Bill was [...]

I don't think it would be fair to end this week without commenting on yesterday's vote to treble tuition fees for university students to £9,000 a year. I voted against the Government because their plans are not necessary, not fair, and not good for higher education. Such fees are not [...]

             This week has seen important changes of moods within and between the parties at Westminster. A Labour party asleep when it came to the job of opposition has woken up to campaign against the Cable plan for Higher Educaiton. It has united them for a few days and given [...]

There is a salutary lesson for politicians of all political parties: don’t make categorical promises if you intend to break them, particularly so soon after the election. Sometimes the breaking of election pledges (and we all do it at some time!) marks a parting with the electorate. While they didn’t [...]

Devon and Cornwall Police warn Government cuts of 20 percent over 4 years will mean 700 fewer police on the beat and cuts of 300 in support staff. The reductions will take police numbers in Devon and Cornwall down to levels last seen in 2003 before Labour boosted police numbers [...]

The Con-Lib Government’s policies already appear to be having a highly negative impact on economic growth – notwithstanding David Cameron’s warm words to the CBI today. It’s widely predicted that tomorrow’s provisional growth figures for the 3rd quarter will show a dramatic slowing from the first half of the year. This will [...]

John Hemming MP has publicly backed Tim Farron in his campaign to be the next president of the Liberal Democrats. He said"Tim is an impressive communicator. Communicating is key to politics, particularly in government. We need to ensure that people are aware that the Coalition is cleaning [...]

LIBERAL Democrats are feeling the heat, it seems. You can’t open up Tweetdeck without seeing scores of them complaining about Labour attacks on them. But here’s the thing: that’s what happens when you’re in government. It happened to us, just as ferociously and consistently, during our 13 years in office. You are [...]

Total number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan = 332 What a pathetic defence. Under friendly fire in Bristol, Clegg defended the Liberal Democrats' record in government, claiming the party was pushing for fairer policies, for example, the restoration of the earnings link for state pensions from next April. It was said [...]

Speakers   Martha Kearney Simon Hughes Thank heavens for Simon, that’s all I can say.  SH:                  Council house allocation has always been controversial and it’s very important that if we’re going to debate any changes to the fundamental issue which is that if you’re given the tenancy and you pass the probationary period, you have [...]

SOMEONE, somewhere is not telling the truth. Can you guess who, children? Tonight, the BBC is screening Nick Robinson’s documentary on the coalition negotiations, Five Days That Changed Britain (he obviously chose to reject my suggested alternative title of Five Days in May, but there we are). Writing in his Newsnight [...]

LIBERAL Democrats have changed their mind on yet another policy, I just realised after re-warching the debate I had with Jo Swinson on Newsnicht last night. Jo said something which others in her party have been harping on about recently, namely that the Alternative Vote… … means that whoever’s elected will [...]

Before the end of the last parliament - I handed in a petition from local people who had been caught up in the Equitable Life mess. Instead of putting the petition in the sack that hangs on the back of the Speaker's Chair - the petitioners had asked specifically that [...]

Just a quick post to let you know that I'll be on LBC's politics hour tonight between 8pm - 9pm with LibDem MP Tom Brake, discussing the issues of the moment. You can listen on your radio at 97.3FM or you can listen live on the LBC website http://www.lbc.co.uk/.Maybe Tom [...]

In just 10 weeks since the start of the Coalition Government, the Liberal Democrats have exerted a huge influence over its agenda.Going into the election the Liberal Democrats made clear that they had... [...]

The government needs to change its rhetoric about pubic sector cuts. It should not allow Labour the space to campaign against “deep and damaging” cuts by giving any credence to the idea that pubic spending is being cut by 25% or [...]

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey MP Danny Alexander has welcomed the abandonment of a proposed tax hike on self-catering holiday lets which was confirmed in the Budget last week. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the scrapping of an increase in the tax payable on furnished holiday lettings (FHLs). Industry experts [...]