Dear Nick Clegg......
Updated: 2012-02-29 19:39:43
Do you actually believe in freedom of speech? Not, it would appear, from your reported remarks and threats about Jenny Tonge which triggered her resignation. (See for the context among other places) Let us examine the remarks which you call 'wrong and offensive'. They are:- "Beware Israel. 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 ...

Well after what seemed to me a bizzarre set of comments on Israel, Jenny Tonge has resigned/been sacked as a Lib Dem Peer. This leaves the new fledgling group Liberal Left with an interesting dilemma. With conference just weeks away Dr Tonge was advertised as a principle speaker for the Liberal Left fringe seen here: One wonders whether as well as having the whip withdrawn today, whether Linda Jack will withdraw the invitation too? We all wait with baited breath. A little bit more research has also pointed me to the fact that not only is Dr Tonge scheduled to ...
On Friday evening I'm heading off to Beckenham (home to the famous Chinese Garage, which is built in a Japanese style and now sells French cars) to be the guest speaker at the local Liberal Democrats' Pizza and Politics evening. Details of the venue and so on are over on FlockTogether. Hope to see a few of this blog's readers there!
If you're going to Federal Spring Conference in Gateshead 9-11 March 2012 then take a look at our ALDC Conference Guide here with quick details of the ALDC and local government fringe programme, and the series of ALDC and ALDC/LGA training events that are taking place on Saturday. Download our guide here (just 2 sides A4, if you want to print out). Highlights include our Public Health Fringe on Saturday lunchtime with Paul Burstow MP (lunch included), a speaker session on Saturday afternoon on local economic growth with speakers from Bedford and Portsmouth, and a series of election campaign training ...