Tag: Tim Farron

APNI, Blogging, Equal Marriage, gay, LGBT, Lib Dems, London, politics2 Comments

Disappointed with Tim Farron or Naomi Long? I’m not…

Michael McFarland Campbell

Featured on Liberal Democrat VoicePortcullisCommons

Following this afternoon’s vote in the debate on the third reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, Christopher Lovell has expressed his disappointment at Tim Farron’s “abstention” today. It seems that Mr Lovell who lives in Leeds, not in Tim’s constituency, feels that because there is no vote recorded by Tim Farron in today’s debate, Tim abstained. I counter that this is not true. Tim did in fact, quite clearly not vote. It has been suggested by Erskine May that there is a procedure in Parliament to register an abstention: voting in both lobbies (Erskine May, Parliamentary Practice, 23rd edition, 2004, p412).

A House of Commons Briefing Paper, Divisions in the House of Commons, SN/PC/06401 states

If fewer than 40 Members, including the Speaker and the tellers, participate in a division, it does not meet the quorum required. The House then moves on to the next business, and the subject of the division is postponed until the next sitting day. Members who wish to defeat a particular item of business may engineer a division and then stay out of the lobbies, as they can thus render the division inquorate. Continue reading “Disappointed with Tim Farron or Naomi Long? I’m not…”

Lib Dems, Presidential electionsLeave a comment

Farron v Kramer – community politics win methinks

Michael McFarland Campbell

We are not quite at the end of the Presidential campaign between Tim Farron MP and Susan Kramer, therefore, I would like to pick up a couple of points from the Liberator Q&A session. In answer to the question as to whether David Penhaligon’s immortal phrase Stick it on a piece of paper and shove it through a letterbox has had its day, I wholeheartedly agree with Tim Farron’s answer: Definitely not. I use Facebook, Twitter and email newsletters to great effect in Westmorland and am doing so in this presidential campaign. Electronic campaigning is just another way of getting … Continue reading Farron v Kramer – community politics win methinks

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Exclusive: Presidential candidate, Tim Farron MP: why Lib Dems should vote for me

Michael McFarland Campbell

[Following the article on Lib Dem Voice, Tim Farron MP offered to write an article for this blog covering NI and Wales, here is the article – uneditied, straight from Tim’s keyboard.-Ed.] I wrote an article for Lib Dem Voice the other day about what I would do for Scotland why I hope that party members will choose me as our new President.  I then thought that I need to talk about Wales and Northern Ireland too and what I can offer them and about the political challenges I see us facing together At this time especially, we need distinctive … Continue reading Exclusive: Presidential candidate, Tim Farron MP: why Lib Dems should vote for me

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Lib Dems3 Comments

updated 5.50pm – Kramer forgets the Welsh – oops

Michael McFarland Campbell

update: 5.50p.m., Guest Editor of Lib Dem Voice today, Caron Lindsay, says: I specifically asked both candidates to write 500 words on what they could do for Scotland so it’s not surprising that her article is specific to Scotland. Therefore it should be noted that this post was originally posted at 11.14 a.m., prior to this clarification from Caron. I am maintaining the substance of the article, however, as it reflects the articles as they were posted. In setting out her stall on Lib Dem Voice today, Lib Dem Presidential hopeful Susan Kramer MP, from Richmond, appears to have forgotten … Continue reading updated 5.50pm – Kramer forgets the Welsh – oops

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Lib Dems, politics, Tuition Fees1 Comment

Lib Dem MPs – remember your pledge – it’s OUR policy!

Michael McFarland Campbell

I hope that all Lib Dem MPs will uphold their pledge. They must remember what our policy says: Liberal Democrats are the only party which believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go to university and not be put off by the cost.   Continue reading Lib Dem MPs – remember your pledge – it’s OUR policy!

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Lib Dems, politics1 Comment

NI chair ‘is for Tim’

Michael McFarland Campbell

On Saturday I attended Scottish Liberal Democrats Conference at the Vine Venue, Dunfermline with fellow NI Lib Dem Stephen Glenn where we found Stephen McFarland also from the NI local party there as well. Both candidates for President of the Liberal Democrats were also at the conference, so we all took our opportunities to speak to them. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale was the first we spoke to. Later on I took the opportunity to question Susan Kramer, formerly MP for Richmond. I had already worked out who I was going to vote for, but speaking to Tim … Continue reading NI chair ‘is for Tim’

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Lib Dems, politics9 Comments

Outrage at action of liberal youth executive

Michael McFarland Campbell

With the Liberal Democrats Presidency up for grabs, nominations are open. Some LibDems and [one] LibDem organisations are publicly backing various proposed candidates. Whilst I have no problem with my fellow Northern Ireland Lib Dem blogger, Stephen, publicly supporting Tim Farron MP, (Westmorland and Lonsdale). And I have no problem with Tim himself: I may decide to back him myself, after all I was on a Campaigns Department training week in his constituency with Jonny Moss and John Ault. I do have a problem with a post on the Liberal Youth website. Now, I am not a member of Liberal … Continue reading Outrage at action of liberal youth executive

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