Liberal Democrats

Clegg takes wrong turn on tax

The deputy prime minister’s plan to raise personal allowances is a very expensive way to help the ‘squeezed middle’. There must be a better approach Read more

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The stakes are high

David Cameron will be facing down his critics in Manchester and holding firmly on to the political centre ground Read more

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Clegg speech: no such thing as a free summer school

Nick Clegg’s summer school idea is neither new nor costed. In all likelihood it will mean a raid on the pupil premium funding pot   Read more

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Lib Dems: taking a stand on welfare?

A motion that slipped under the radar at the Lib Dems’ conference in Birmingham could make a big difference to disabled claimants’ lives  Read more

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Party conferences: back to a difficult future

Ahead of party conference season, what are the polling lessons from a turbulent political summer and the economic challenges ahead? Read more

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A lily-livered white paper?

Critics claim the open public services white paper is a let-down. But this is very complicated territory  Read more

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Independence day? By Colin Talbot

There has been huge hype in the media about the ‘collapse’ of  Labour’s vote in Scotland and the possibility the SNP will win a referendum on independence, when they eventually get around to calling it (they appear to be in no hurry). The reality is rather less dramatic than the media pundits would have us believe. Read more...

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Are coalitions bad for your electoral health? By Colin Talbot

Well, they appear to be if you are the junior partner. The Liberal Democrats nationally and Plaid Cymru in Wales – both junior partners in coalitions – have fared badly in yesterday’s elections, whilst their senior partners have done much better. Read more...

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General theorising on Keynes, by Tony Dolphin

Leading Liberal Democrats, including Vince Cable and David Laws, have been defending the coalition’s policy of substantial public spending cuts in  recent days, in part through an appeal to Keynes. Their central thesis is that the economy will only recover if private investment spending accelerates, that private investment spending will only accelerate if interest rates are low, and that interest rates will only remain low if the government reduces its deficit quickly. Read more...

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