Former Secretary of State for Health.Fomer Chair of Health Select Committee. Con MP for 36 years. Lib Dem Candidate in 2019. Chair @policy_projects.
Joined December 2016
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"I dont think we can necessarily assume that the Conservative and Labour dominance of the electorate for most of the post war period is necessarily going to survive". Sir John Curtice
The empty chair used to be a journalist's threat. It has become the evasion of choice.
At the start of the UK election campaign I opined that the Labour front bench was pretty B division (I had already said the same of the Tory front bench). That provoked Labour into boycotting my @TimesRadio lunchtime show. That boycott has remained in place ever since. No member of the Starmer government or official representative has ever agreed to appear to be questioned or held accountable. But events since give me no reason to reconsider my judgment. It still stands, vindicated by the record to date.
Trump won, but why all the talk of a landslide? Trump has 312 Electoral College votes. In 16 elections since 1964 (when College last increased) Reagan won 525/489; Nixon 520; Johnson 486; Bush Snr 426; Clinton 379/370. 50.5% of the popular vote is a mandate, but not a landslide.
Working people (ie most of us) want to live in a society which grants us respect and the opportunity to progress. Liberal democracies have not delivered; they will be in trouble until they do.
Liberal Conservatives have already left the Tories in droves. More will follow as Badenoch pursues Reform voters. The Liberal Democrats are their natural home.
All true. Politics is about argument. Liberals are not good enough at winning their arguments. We need to spend less time on microanalysis and more time arguing our case.
Face it, liberals, this is what millions wanted | ✍️ Hugo Rifkind
🔓 This is free to read thetimes.com/comment/columni…
in 2010 the David Cameron formed a coalition which was supported by 59% of votes cast. Keir Starmer's Labour has the support of 34% of votes cast - which represents barely 1 in 5 of those entitled to vote. That is not a secure mandate.
Stephen Dorrell 🔸 retweeted
And the certainty that when Labour disappoints (as all governments do) the response will be to imagine that a re-elected Tory Party will provide the answer. Political reform is not a fringe issue - it is a precondition for genuine renewal.
The question is not whether we can rewind the clock; the answer to that question is no. The question is whether (a) we rejoin the process of shaping the Europe of the future and (b) restore to our children the rights which our parents bequeathed to us and which we destroyed.
I agree with @GavinBarwell about the future trend in UK opinion. Even now, we've had 2 yrs of polls showing c 60% now believe with hindsight that Brexit has harmed the country. But I'm more cautious about likelihood of rejoining -at least any time soon. Several reasons:🧵 1/12
This is spot on. Neither Labour nor Tory comes close to offering a solution - nor is any solution possible that does not confront the idiocy of Brexit. The answer must involve re-engagement with economic reality. Who will dare? theguardian.com/commentisfre…
Extraordinary story. I was told by a medic last night in Delhi that "UK universities used to be a destination of choice; no longer - although the right to look for work after graduation is a positive". Not if Cleverley has his way. Another nail in coffin of UK competitiveness.
Foreign students may be undermining UK higher education, says Cleverly dlvr.it/T3z6HZ
Stephen Dorrell 🔸 retweeted
I love Parliament. Debate is important. But the amount of hot air being produced today on a motion/amendments which will make LITERALLY NO DIFFERENCE to any of the people in Gaza or Israel is quite staggeringly pointless and evidence of disturbing levels of self-regard
Johnson's return 'worst idea I've heard of' - former Tory leader bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-polit… via @BBCNews
And to provide an escape from a circular discussion in which the only alternative to a party shaped by Farage is a party which makes a virtue of the fact that its immediate past (twice) elected leader will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate.
We are campaigning for fair votes and proportional representation - to ensure every vote counts.
libdems.org.uk/fairvotes
ALT Graphic showing hands putting ballot papers into a ballot box. Text reads "Fair votes now". Liberal Democrats
And the certainty that when Labour disappoints (as all governments do) the response will be to imagine that a re-elected Tory Party will provide the answer. Political reform is not a fringe issue - it is a precondition for genuine renewal.
Common sense "inches" forward; but the importance of our relationship with our neighbours is still the truth which dares not speak its name
Brexit betrayal as Boris Johnson’s signature #Brexit dividend of bringing back imperial units scrapped.
Slipped out quietly over Christmas, Dept for Biz and Trade said that ministers had dropped plans to bring back imperial measurements after 98.7% of people opposed the move in a govt consultation.
