OFCOM Submission

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

OFCOM Submission Submission: Review of Ofcom’s list of larger parties for elections taking place on 5 May 2016 Question 1: Please provide your views on: a) the evidence of current support laid out in Annex 2 b) whether there is any other relevant evidence which you consider Ofcom should take into account for the purposes of the 2016 review of the list of larger parties and c) our analytical framework for assessing the available evidence laid out in paragraph 2.4. We understand that colleagues from the UK Liberal Democrats have argued that assessing past electoral support for political parties should take into account party performances over the last two electoral cycles. We share this view. We believe that it is important to consider parties’ performances over a reasonable time period to ensure all parties have fair representation against a backdrop of a more volatile political landscape in the UK. In terms of the data supporting these draft guidelines, while we do not question the accuracy of the results data cited in terms of electoral support, we consider that this provides a limited reflection of the current situation in many parts of Scotland. Judging electoral results purely in terms of seats does not reflect the overall balance of support across Scotland and the longer term picture. The same applies for national opinion polls, which in many cases understate the position of the Liberal Democrats in regions across the country significantly. We note that the vast majority of polls failed to predict the result of the UK general election accurately, and the ongoing work amongst polling companies to examine their methodology in light of these failures. We would urge caution when judging what weight to offer the findings of national polls absent further explanation of these methodological shortcomings. While the number of seats won by the Liberal Democrats in Scotland fell at the 2015 election, a detailed analysis of results show that in many seats we previously held, the number of votes received by Liberal Democrat candidates increased from 2010. In Edinburgh West, the number of votes the party received increased by 1484. In East Dunbartonshire, the number of votes we received increased by 1375. We observed similar patterns in seats like Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Argyll and Bute and Gordon. These voting patterns did not reflect national polls and are not detected by an analysis of electoral support which ignores detailed results in individual seats. Question 2: Do you agree with our assessment of the relevant evidence and our proposals for the larger parties to be included in the Ofcom list of larger parties as laid out in figure 6 above? Please provide reasons for your views. We agree with the list of larger and smaller parties as set out in the draft guidelines. With regard to the position of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, we note that at the 2011 Holyrood elections, the Scottish Liberal Democrats received 7.9% of constituency votes and 5.2% of votes on the regional list, with 5 Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs returned to Holyrood. As a result, we are one of the four largest parties elected to the Scottish Parliament. We are represented at meetings of the Parliamentary Business Bureau and party leader Willie Rennie MSP has regular slots at First Minister’s Questions. Scottish Liberal Democrats have maintained a group presence at the Scottish Parliament since the legislature reconvened in 1999. We were in administration as part of a coalition government between 1999 and 2007. Submission: Submission: Review of Ofcom’s list of larger parties for elections taking place on 5 May 2016 We have substantial presences on local authorities from the Borders to the Highlands and are currently in administration in a number of local authority areas. At the 2015 UK general election, the Scottish Liberal Democrats received more than 219,000 votes across Scotland. By way of comparison, this was more than four times more than the number of votes secured by UKIP and five times more than the Scottish Green Party. We will stand candidates in every constituency seat across Scotland at the 2016 elections. Since the election, we have seen an increase in party membership in Scotland of nearly one third. We have a clear record of past and current electoral support, and distinct policy positions in a number of devolved policy areas. For example, we were the only major Holyrood party to oppose the creation of a single Police force for Scotland. We have been successful in generating substantial public awareness and support for campaigns on topics ranging from cuts to college funding, to improved support for early years care and many other issues. This has led to the Scottish Government making a number of substantive policy changes. In short, we have a distinctive position on a range of policy areas that will be debated in the course of the Scottish election campaign, and a record of support over time covering a number of electoral cycles. Given the above, Scottish Liberal Democrats should be given parity with the other larger parties. Submission:.
Recommended publications
  • Liberal Vision Lite: Your Mid-Monthly Update of News from Liberal International
    Liberal Vision Lite: your mid-monthly update of news from Liberal International Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 6:59 PM Issue n°5 - 15 April 2021 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER "We have a chance to re-think & re-invent our future", LI President El Haité tells Liberal Party of Canada Convention. In an introductory keynote, President of Liberal International, Dr Hakima el Haité, addressed thousands of liberals at the Liberal Party of Canada‘s largest policy convention in history. WATCH VIDEO CGLI’s Axworthy tells Canadian liberals, "To solve interlinked challenges, common threads must be found." On 9 April, as thousands of Candian liberals joined the Liberal Party of Canada's first-ever virtual National Convention, distinguished liberal speakers: Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Hon. Diana Whalen, Chaviva Hosek, Rob Oliphant & President of the Canadian Group of LI Hon. Art Eggleton discussed liberal challenges and offered solutions needed for the decade ahead. WATCH VIDEO On World Health Day, Council of Liberal Presidents call for more equitable access to COVID vaccines Meeting virtually on Tuesday 7 April, the Council of Liberal Presidents convened by the President of Liberal International, Dr Hakima el Haité, applauded the speed with which vaccines have been developed to combat COVID19 but expressed growing concern that the rollout has until now been so unequal around the world. READ JOINT STATEMENT LI-CALD Statement: We cannot allow this conviction to mark the end of Hong Kong LI and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats released a joint statement on the conviction of LI individual member & LI Prize for Freedom laureate, Martin Lee along with other pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong, which has sent shockwaves around the world.
    [Show full text]
  • [Redacted S.38(1)(B)] Sent: 27 May 2020 08:59 To
    OFFICIAL: SENSITIVE 1 - ONE DOCUMENT From: [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] Sent: 27 May 2020 08:59 To: Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government; Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People Cc: DG Organisational Development & Operations; DG Education, Communities & Justice DG Economy Kerr S (Stephen) (Social Security Director) McVie A (Ann) MacDougall A (Audrey); Baron-Broadhurst L (Lisa); Byrne A (Alison) <[email protected]>; McClintock A (Andy); Social Security Scotland Chief Executive; Laing SG (Shirley); [Redacted s.38(1)(b)]; [Redacted s.38(1)(b)]; First Minister Covid Briefing Unit; [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] Campbell J (Jeanette) (Special Adviser); Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture ; Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills; [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] Subject: RE: OFFICIAL: SENSITIVE - Citizens Basic Income - update Hi [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] Thanks for your email. On the questions asked by Ms Campbell, we plan to submit advice on the final report from the Citizen’s Basic Income Steering Group in the next few days and I will cover her points in that note. I hope this is satisfactory. [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] I Head of the Reserved and Working Age Benefits Unit I Scottish Government I 1B (South) Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] or Skype Do not work Fridays. Find out more about new social security powers, and sign up to our newsletter From: [Redacted s.38(1)(b)] On Behalf Of Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Sent: 26
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Coalition Agreement by Philip Goldenberg
    The Scottish coalition agreement by Philip Goldenberg The first Scottish parliamentary elections in May this year were followed by a landmark coalition agreement between the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Philip Goldenberg was involved in the drafting of wording on which Part III of the agreement was based and here analyses the significance of the Partnership Executive. Ph,l,p Coldenbey n the words of Disraeli's well-known aphorism, 'England Government and been in what one might term the 'reverse does not like coalitions'. Scotland would appear to be harlot position', with total (collective) responsibility and no I different! Opinion poll evidence suggests that the formation power; and of the 'Partnership Executive' following the first Scottish (c) while it might have been unclear who had won the parliamentary elections last May has been welcomed at least February 1974 General Election, it was abundantly clear so far as a constructive attempt to work across party that the Conservative Party, having called that election boundaries. while in possession of an overall majority, had lost it. At the time of such formation, journalistic commentary In 1977, the then Labour Government, having lost its focused almost exclusively (and not unreasonably) on the policy (previously very narrow) overall majority, invited the then content of the agreement between the Scottish Labour Party and Liberal Party to enter into a parliamentary arrangement to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, with particular reference to the support the government from the opposition benches in return issue of tuition fees. This latter, to which reference is made for rights of consultation.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir Vince Cable Q&A – Life After Lib Dem Leadership
    Sir Vince Cable Q&A – Life after Lib Dem leadership By Beverley Nielsen, Associate Professor at Birmingham City University’s IDEA Institute and Senior Fellow at BCU’s Centre for Brexit Studies, Liberal Democrat Councillor on Malvern Hills District Council and responsible for the Economic Development & Tourism Portfolio How are you feeling at the end of your term as Leader? I am not sure what the next stage of my career really is. I’m in California over the summer with my son and I’m looking forward to coming back feeling refreshed. I will of course still be MP for Twickenham. I’m writing another book looking at the links between politicians and economics and taking a closer view of the figures who have made a big difference through these links including Alexander Hamilton (1) and Deng Xiaoping (2). [(1) Alexander Hamilton (1755 – 1804), was renowned as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, leading the way in interpreting and promoting the US Constitution, founding the nation’s financial system, the Federalist Party and the New York Post. As First Secretary of the Treasury, he was promoted the economic policies for George Washington‘s administration, setting up a national bank, enabling funding for state debt, establishing a system of tariffs and trading relations with Great Britain. (2) Deng, credited through economic policy reform with lifting more human beings out of poverty than any other human being, drew on a model of ‘state capitalism’ set within the framework of Communist party rule. Deng himself was pragmatic: a gradualist who believed in ‘crossing the river by feeling for the stones’, being interested in results rather than dogma or doctrine.] What are your proudest achievements? Most of the achievements I’m proudest of were achieved during the five years I spent serving as a Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the Coalition government.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Brexit Liberal Politics for the Age of Identity
    Beyond Brexit Liberal politics for the age of identity A collection of essays presenting a roadmap to a better Britain Sir Vince Cable MP BEYOND BREXIT Liberal Politics for the Age of Identity BEYOND BREXIT Liberal Politics for the Age of Identity A collection of essays presenting a roadmap to a better Britain By Sir Vince Cable MP Leader of the Liberal Democrats March 2019 First published in Great Britain in 2019 by the Liberal Democrats, 8–10 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AE, on behalf of Vince Cable MP Copyright © Vince Cable 2019. Vince Cable has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act, 1988, to be identifed as the author of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the publisher’s prior permission in writing. Tis book is published subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers’ prior consent in writing in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. ISBN 978-1-910763-67-4 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Research and editing by Alex Davies and Mike Tufrey. Typeset in Adobe Caslon Pro and Myriad Pro by Duncan Brack. Cover design by Mike Cooper. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Park Communications Ltd, Alpine Way, London E6 6LA Contents Introduction: Beyond Brexit ............................................................1 1 Where We Are ................................................................................3 2 A Functioning Economy and an Entrepreneurial State ..................11 3 Te Digital Economy and the Tech Titans ....................................23 4 Capital and Labour ......................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Foi-18-00465
    ANNEX ANNEX Case Number Summary of Case Decision Exemption/Exception applied FoI/16/01789 Correspondence including emails in relation to The Partial 30(b)(i);30(b)(ii);38(1)(b); Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Release Regulations 2016 since 18 October 2016. FoI/16/01829 To provide written information on the development of Partial camping management byelaws by loch Lomond and Release The Trossachs National Park or Scottish Ministers FoI/16/01842 Request for access to a file HH51/460 Refuse 31(1); FoI/16/01845 Details of contracts Scottish Government has with Partial 17;25;33(1)(b);38(1)(b); Warmworks Scotland & Energy Saving Trust Release FoI/16/01866 No of claims received in the last 3 years for damage to Partial 17; cars arising from potholes on A75, A77 & A76. How Release many claims were approved and the annual amount of compensation paid, how many were rejected and how many are to be resolved FoI/16/01873 All communications held by TS relating to accidents, Partial R10(4)(a);R10(4)(d);R11( design, inspections, reviews, investigations or safety Release 2); concerns for the A825 between Creagan and Benderloch from January 2015 FoI/16/01874 Correspondence, minutes of meetings and other Partial 25;30(b)(i); communications between the Scottish Government Release and Transport Scotland and Network Rail, local authorities or SPT regarding (a) Glasgow Crossrail and (b) electrification of the East Kilbride line. FoI/16/01876 training in NRs surrounding civil registration Partial 17; Release FoI/16/01877 Information on setting in Scottish schools.
    [Show full text]
  • Ambitious for Our Country; Ambitious for Our Party
    Ambitious for our country; ambitious for our party MY MANIFESTO I want to lead the Liberal Democrats because I am ambitious about our future. I believe we are the only party that can represent the millions of liberal-minded people alarmed by the direction this country is taking: people, whether they voted remain or leave, who hate the intolerance, xenophobia and division that the Brexit vote unleashed. I want the Liberal Democrats to be at the centre of political life: a credible, effective party of national and local government, and a voice of sanity on Europe. To achieve this, we will have to fight for every vote and every seat. It can be done: we have a record membership and the enormous energy that thousands of new members have brought to the party. I believe I have the ability to give that energy a lead, to hit the headlines and to put our party at the centre of political debate. Published by Tom Brake MP on behalf of Vince Cable MP at 49 Church Lane, Teddington, TW11 8PA. Designed by Graphical - www.graphicalagency.com Britain needs the Liberal Democrats There is much to be patriotic about in and competitiveness. These issues were beginning to be addressed by Britain today. It is a more tolerant and the Coalition government, but Brexit inclusive place than when my late wife and – pursued by Theresa May with full support from Jeremy Corbyn I started an inter-racial family a generation – is now starting to inflict further ago. It has great resources of creativity and economic damage.
    [Show full text]
  • Where Next for the Liberal Democrats?
    Where next for the Liberal Democrats? Tim Bale Aron Cheung Alan Wager It has, to put it mildly, been a difficult twelve months for the Liberal Democrats. A year ago this week, polling conducted by YouGov and Ipsos Mori showed their support at 20% – a level the party had not enjoyed since they’d entered their ill-fated coalition with the Conservatives in the spring of 2010. Nine long years later, they were daring to dream once again: could it be that, under Jo Swinson, we would soon see the UK’s electoral map coloured with the same amount of Lib Dem yellow that Charles Kennedy and, latterly, Nick Clegg had once achieved? The answer, of course, was no. The general election that followed was a not just an electoral disappointment but a disaster – so much so that Swinson herself lost her seat. Not only that, but the party’s main policy aim – to reverse the Brexit decision – lay in tatters. Yet, despite these setbacks, the new electoral geography of the post-Brexit era brings with it challenges but also opportunities for the Liberal Democrats – existential questions but also, if they can exploit their new electoral coalition, some potential answers. This short paper hopes to set all this out just as ballots open for the party’s new leader. Putting the 2019 result in historical context The eleven seats the Liberal Democrats won in December 2019 may have represented a slight decline on the dozen the party achieved in 2017 under Tim Farron; but they also represented a near-halving of the 21 which, following multiple defections, the party went into the general election defending.
    [Show full text]
  • The Future of Devolution After the Scottish Referendum
    House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee The future of devolution after the Scottish referendum Eleventh Report of Session 2014–15 Report, together with formal minutes relating to the report Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 23 March 2015 HC 700 Published on 29 March 2015 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee Mr Graham Allen MP (Labour, Nottingham North) (Chair) Mr Christopher Chope MP (Conservative, Christchurch) Tracey Crouch MP (Conservative, Chatham and Aylesford) Mark Durkan MP (Social Democratic & Labour Party, Foyle) Paul Flynn MP (Labour, Newport West) Duncan Hames MP (Liberal Democrat, Chippenham) Fabian Hamilton MP (Labour, Leeds North East) David Morris MP (Conservative, Morecambe and Lunesdale) Robert Neill MP (Conservative, Bromley and Chislehurst) Chris Ruane MP (Labour, Vale of Clwyd) Mr Andrew Turner MP (Conservative, Isle of Wight) The following Members were also members of the Committee during the Parliament: Mr Jeremy Browne MP (Liberal Democrat, Taunton Deane) Sheila Gilmore MP (Labour, Edinburgh East) Andrew Griffiths MP (Conservative, Burton) Simon Hart MP (Conservative, Camarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) Tristram Hunt MP (Labour, Stoke on Trent Central) Mrs Eleanor Laing MP (Conservative, Epping Forest) Yasmin Qureshi MP (Labour, Bolton South East) Stephen Williams MP (Liberal Democrat, Bristol West) Powers The Committee’s powers are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in Temporary Standing Order (Political and Constitutional Reform Committee). These are available on the Internet via www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmstords.htm. Publication Committee reports are published on the Committee’s website at www.parliament.uk/PCRC-publications and by The Stationery Office by Order of the House.
    [Show full text]
  • Lib Dem Party Briefing
    H F T F . O R G . U K THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY BACKGROUND WHAT IS THE LIB DEMS T he Liberal Democrats were formed in STANCE ON 1989 as a merger of the Social Democratic Party & Liberal Party. From 2010-2015, the CLIMATE Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition POLICY? governed the UK. The Liberal Democrats are a centrist party, generally falling between the two main parties. Jo Swinson Background became party leader in July 2019. The Net Zero Liberal Democrats won 12 seats at the Policies most recent 2017 General Election, but by the end of the Parliament they had 21 MPs, due to defections from other parties. Continued... WHAT IS THEIR STANCE ON NET-ZERO, AND HOW The cornerstone of Liberal Democrats’ DO THEY AIM TO climate policy is a new ‘duty of care’ for UK ACHIEVE IT? businesses. This duty of care would make companies legally liable At the recent Autumn party conference, the Liberal for environmental harms Democrats passed their Tackling the Climate caused anywhere along Emergency motion. This motion puts forward a their supply chains. This blueprint for their climate & environmental policy, policy underlines the endorsing the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at Liberal Democrats’ the latest. The emphasis of this motion was not business-focus to only to achieve net-zero “as fast as possible” but tackling net-zero. This also states that setting a target “by itself is not pledge builds on enough.” The aim of the motion is to illustrate a previous comprehensive list of actions to achieve full announcements by the decarbonisation.
    [Show full text]
  • RSE Annual Report and Accounts
    provide engage expertise promote 8 1 t 0 r o 2 p e - R inspire l 7 a 1 u n 0 n A 2 Contents President’s foreword . 2 Chief exeCutive’s introduCtion . 3 rse Annual report Aims and objectives . 4 Inspire . .5 Engage . .13 Provide Expertise . .19 Promote . .25 The RSE . .33 Financial Review . .36 summary Accounts Group statement of financial activities . 38 (incorporating the income and expenditure account) Balance sheets . 39 LegAL And AdministrAtive informAtion . 40 RSE Annual Report 2017 –2018 1 President’s Foreword I’m delighted to introduce the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2018. As my term as President commenced in April, I cannot take credit for the successes of that year, but would like to thank my predecessor, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and her fellow Trustees for their careful stewardship of the organisation through a period of change. These changes included the departure at the end of May 2017 of our former Chief Executive Dr William Duncan after more than 30 years’ service, recognised by a celebration at the Fellows summer reception. Thanks are also due to Gordon Adam who ably stepped in as interim Chief Executive until Dr Rebekah Widdowfield joined us in September 2017. With these changes comes a chance for reflection on how best to progress the four development aims in our Strategic Framework. • Creating an active and more diverse fellowship • Enhancing our outreach and impact • Providing modern facilities to deliver our activities more effectively • Securing increased funding from a diverse range of sources The Council has agreed key priorities and these will begin to be implemented in 2018-2019.
    [Show full text]
  • Ipsos MORI Scotland Public Opinion Monitor April 2015
    2015 SCOTTISH PUBLIC OPINION MONITOR 2015 VOTING INTENTIONS General Election – Voting Intention HOW WOULD YOU VOTE IF THERE WERE A GENERAL ELECTION TOMORROW? 3 All giving a voting intention Certain to vote SNP 3% 1% 6% 1% 5% 2% LABOUR 17% 17% CONSERVATIVE 54% 54% LIB DEM GREEN 20% 20% OTHER SNP lead +34 SNP lead +34 Base: All giving a voting intention = 948; all certain to vote = 785. Data collected among 1,071 Scottish Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor adults 18+, 22nd - 27th April 2015 2015 SATISFACTION WITH PARTY LEADERS Satisfaction with Scottish party leaders HOW SATISFIED OR DISSATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE WAY … IS / DOING HER JOB 5 AS FIRST MINISTER /HIS JOB AS DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER/ HIS/HER JOB AS LEADER OF THE XXXX PARTY? NICOLA STURGEON JIM MURPHY RUTH DAVIDSON WILLIE RENNIE PATRICK HARVIE +100 0 -100 -1% -15% +15% +3% -1% swing from January swing from January swing from January swing from January swing from January +48 Net -19 Net +7 Net -14 Net +20 Net SATISFIED 71% SATISFIED 33% SATISFIED 45% SATISFIED 27% SATISFIED 43% DISSATISFIED 24% DISSATISFIED 52% DISSATISFIED 38% DISSATISFIED 41% DISSATISFIED 23% Base: 1,071 Scottish adults 18+, 22nd - 27th April 2015. Source: Ipsos MORI Scottish Public Opinion Monitor Swing is calculated as the average of change in % “satisfied” and % “dissatisfied” Satisfaction with Westminster leaders HOW SATISFIED OR DISSATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE WAY … IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY / DOING HIS JOB 6 AS PRIME MINISTER /DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER/LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY/UKIP? CONSERVATIVE LABOUR LIB DEM +100 0 -100 +6% +15% +11% swing from January swing from January swing from January -34 Net -31 Net -39 Net SATISFIED 31% SATISFIED 30% SATISFIED 26% DISSATISFIED 65% DISSATISFIED 61% DISSATISFIED 65% Base: 1,071 Scottish adults 18+, 22nd – 27th April 2015.
    [Show full text]