Archive for duncan brack
Ashdown, Glover and Williams on the party’s history
The latest edition of the Journal of Liberal History caries this account from me of the conference meeting which launched the new history of the party, Peace, Reform and Liberation. You can watch the meeting in full here. It would be a brave person who walked up to Paddy Ashdown or Shirley Williams and told them to [...]
Was there a Clegg coup? Review of The Clegg Coup – Britain’s First Coalition Government Since Lloyd George by Jasper Gerard
Many book titles reveal little about what their book contains, either providing but a banal name for its contents or a clever, clever name which obscures rather than reveals. However, The Clegg Coup – Britain’s First Coalition Government Since Lloyd George by Jasper Gerard has a title which is revealing in two aspects. First, the [...]
What to know more about the history of the Liberal Democrats, SDP and Liberals?
If so, then the new history of British Liberal politics, Peace, Reform and Liberation, is just the ticket. Launched at Liberal Democrat conference by Paddy Ashdown and Shirley Williams, it is a one-volume history of the Liberal Party and its antecedents. Currents in liberal thinking are also explained, with the book including biographies of key [...]
Paddy Ashdown, Shirley Williams and a new book make me childishly excited
With all due deference to the many other wonderful events coming up at the Liberal Democrat party conference, there is one that has me childishly excited. Monday evening, Paddy Ashdown and Shirley Williams will be speaking at the Liberal Democrat History Group fringe meeting where we launch the new history of British liberalism, Peace, Reform [...]
Using community politics to build a liberal society
This is the chapter I contributed to Reinventing the State, edited by Duncan Brack, Richard Grayson and David Howarth whose themes are still very relevant: I have a secret to admit. I quite like big organisations. Of course – as you would expect of a liberal – I think power should be kept at as [...]
The weekend debate: Was Beveridge right to oppose the creation of a welfare state?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Though he is often thought of as the father of the modern welfare state in this country, William Beveridge in fact had other views on the matter. As he said of the Beveridge report, the aim, [...]
The Liberal Democrat special advisors
Appointed by Nick Clegg and based in 10 Downing Street: Polly Mackenzie Lena Pietsch Sean Kemp Tim Colbourne Appointed by Nick Clegg and based in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office: Jonny Oates (Chief of Staff) Richard Reeves Alison Suttie (Deputy Chief of Staff) Chris Saunders James McGrory Danny Alexander: Will de Peyer Julia Goldsworthy Vince [...]
Preparing for the AV referendum: get asking
With an AV referendum coming (most likely in the spring), there is plenty that local parties can already be doing to help win the referendum. I’ve already talked about the importance of fielding more local election candidates, so today’s post is about starting to ask questions of the public. It’s never too early to start [...]
Duncan Brack stands down as chair of Federal Conference Committee
Following his appointment as a special advisor to Chris Huhne, Duncan Brack has stood down as chair of the party’s Federal Conference Committee (FCC). A key figure in the organisation of party conferences for many years, first as the party’s Director of Policy and then on the FCC, Duncan was Chair for seven years. This [...]
