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  1. the6thestate asked Lynne Featherstone: "You say that Vince Cable warned for years of the dangers of the debt bubble. Was this reflected in Lib Dem manifestos? Will the Lib Dems have the courage to propose a really radical review of gloabl capitalism..." Show more »"You say that Vince Cable warned for years of the dangers of the debt bubble. Was this reflected in Lib Dem manifestos? Will the Lib Dems have the courage to propose a really radical review of gloabl capitalism now?" Show less »
  2. Lynne Featherstone answer: "Vince and the Lib Dem view on the debt issue was clearly outline in our manifesto see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/LD_uk_manifesto.pdf..." Show more»"

    Vince and the Lib Dem view on the debt issue was clearly outline in our manifesto see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/LD_uk_manifesto.pdf page 10.  There is little doubt that the current global systems need reform.  However, this was our view before the current crisis, based on the imbalance between the rich and the poorer countries that forces developing countries to sign up for the 'Washington consensus' exposing them to global financial capital markets without any protection.  Unfettered markets never suited them and now others realise it doesn't suit us either.

    http://www.libdems.org.uk/assets/0000/8906/economic_recovery_plan.pdf

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  1. the6thestate asked Lynne Featherstone: "Re: Haringey Council's vast deposits in Icelandic banks, do you think this shows that there isn't sufficient performance management of senior council execs? Are they accountable enough in general and ..." Show more »"Re: Haringey Council's vast deposits in Icelandic banks, do you think this shows that there isn't sufficient performance management of senior council execs? Are they accountable enough in general and can they be held to account in this instance?" Show less »
  2. Lynne Featherstone answer: "I think this demonstrates glaring problems and gaps in the accountability of all the institutions that invested in Icelandic Banks. That is why we need all councils etc to have an independent ..." Show more»" I think this demonstrates glaring problems and gaps in the accountability of all the institutions that invested in Icelandic Banks. That is why we need all councils etc to have an independent investigation into what each particular authority did - as some clearly had better checks than Haringey as they removed their investments in Iceland as soon as the ratings were downgraded - whereas Haringey invested as late as 29th September. Therefore - it is clear that there is not enoughnot just accountability or oversight,   but accountability and oversight and basic rules about investments - the first one being don't stuff money into foreigh banks who have been down-rated and are clearly not safe - particularly as the interest rate offered was so much higher than eslewhere. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Davena Rankin: "Do Conservative policies have the potential to transform places like Glasgow East? If so, how?"
  2. Davena Rankin answer: "Glasgow East is a wonderful community with tremendous spirit. However, we do have problems to contend with and Conservatives are seeking to provide the answers. We forced the SNP to pledge 1000 extra ..." Show more»"

    Glasgow East is a wonderful community with tremendous spirit. However, we do have problems to contend with and Conservatives are seeking to provide the answers. We forced the SNP to pledge 1000 extra police officers, forced them to bring forward a cut in business rates for small businesses and forced them to implement a national drugs strategy focusing on recovery, not management. We want to provide the framework that allows society to flourish – hand in hand with community groups I will work tirelessly to ensure this is the case.

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  1. the6thestate asked Steve Bennedik: "Do you think the fact that the McCann's have employed professional media spokepeople has helped the media coverage of the abduction, or indeed, the attempts to solve the case ? "
  2. Steve Bennedik answer: "I don't think employing professional media spokespeople has done any harm, for the case or for the McCann's. I think they have benefited from getting professional advice. I am sure there are some critics..." Show more»" I don't think employing professional media spokespeople has done any harm, for the case or for the McCann's. I think they have benefited from getting professional advice. I am sure there are some critics who say they lit the bonfire of publicity and so deserved to be burnt. But I think once it gets out of control - and for them it probably felt like it was getting out of control - they need some level of protection. It's not easy dealing with a competitive media. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Brian Barwick: "Do you foresee a time when every Premiership side is in the hands of a billionaire with a questionable background? Is there any way for you to safeguard against this?"
  2. Brian Barwick answer: "I foresee a time when every Premier League club is a thriving commercial and financial institution – a business – boasting a successful set-up both on and off the pitch, giving back more to fans and the..." Show more»" I foresee a time when every Premier League club is a thriving commercial and financial institution – a business – boasting a successful set-up both on and off the pitch, giving back more to fans and the local communities than ever before. In fact, I think we’re almost there now! "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Paul Ince: "How do you think the majority of players feel about the amounts that top players get paid? Does it fuel their ambition or are they concerned about the way the game is going?"
  2. Paul Ince answer: "I think players really want to earn as much as possible – why shouldn’t they? At the end of the day their career span is very short and they have to take all of the opportunities open to them. Many thousands..." Show more»" I think players really want to earn as much as possible – why shouldn’t they? At the end of the day their career span is very short and they have to take all of the opportunities open to them. Many thousands fall by the wayside every year so those who do make it deserve a good wage. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Abdul Muhammad Bari: "Do you have a long term strategy for reducing levels of extremism in UK Mosques?"
  2. Abdul Muhammad Bari answer: "The current discourse about terrorism is dictated by a 'terrorism industry' who – without any evidence base – make the outrageous claims that British mosques are bastions of extremism. Whilst I await ..." Show more»" The current discourse about terrorism is dictated by a 'terrorism industry' who – without any evidence base – make the outrageous claims that British mosques are bastions of extremism. Whilst I await for that evi-dence to be forthcoming (number of mosques? Which mosques? What message?), I think you will find that the scourge of extremism is a very modern phenomenon. This requires a collective response. Because of the inability of a lot of our mosques to reach out and empa-thise with young people, demagogues outside the mosque, in youth clubs, cafes and increasingly on the internet, prey on our young. They capitalise on the inability of our mosques and pointing to the demonisation Muslims face in the media, arguing that Muslims have no place in this society. Internally, the MCB and the community in general are looking at strength-ening our internal capacity to ensure that mosques follow good practice. That they can empathise with the young and are welcoming of all. This has less to do with theology and more to do with capacity building. Mosques up and down the country have been set up by local communities, in homes, converted warehouse and shops. With meagre resources, they have tried to provide the most basic of religious services, but in a lan-guage that caters for the first generation. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Anthony Lilley: "In your Guardian column, you referred to people needing to develop a new kind of literacy to make sense of the vast amount of video information now available-is this something that could actually be ..." Show more »"In your Guardian column, you referred to people needing to develop a new kind of literacy to make sense of the vast amount of video information now available-is this something that could actually be taught formally?" Show less »
  2. Anthony Lilley answer: "I think that some aspects of media literacy could be taught formally but I am more inclined to encourage peer to peer sharing of experiences and stories which pass on skills and experience. I certainly..." Show more»" I think that some aspects of media literacy could be taught formally but I am more inclined to encourage peer to peer sharing of experiences and stories which pass on skills and experience. I certainly don’t believe that adding media literacy to the curriculum will solve the many and varied issues with which new technology faces us – for two reasons, firstly, the challenges are often more to those outside formal education than within it and secondly, the development of so-called “soft skills” like this is notoriously tricky to achieve using traditional approaches to the curriculum. That said, I believe educators, parents and others need help in this area. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Anthony Lilley: "If you could recommend a list of three books for next summer's reading for British MPs (related to new media) what would they be?"
  2. Anthony Lilley answer: "The Origin of Wealth, The Theory of Fun, Republic.com 2.0"

  1. the6thestate asked Jamal Harwood: "Muslim's do not form a large enough group in any single constituency to get an MP elected-do you see this as an obstacle to your aims?"
  2. Jamal Harwood answer: "We do not work for a Caliphate in this country and we do not campaign for Muslims to be MP’s here. Accordingly this is not an obstacle to our aims of establishing the Caliphate in the Muslim world where..." Show more»" We do not work for a Caliphate in this country and we do not campaign for Muslims to be MP’s here. Accordingly this is not an obstacle to our aims of establishing the Caliphate in the Muslim world where public opinion for this call is growing by the day. "Show less«

  1. the6thestate asked Salma Yacoob: "It seems likely that Tony Blair is hoping to redeem himself for the suffering in Iraq through his new role in Palestine and Israel. Do you think he can do this?"
  2. Salma Yacoob answer: "I believe everybody has the potential to redeem themselves and do good and Tony Blair is no different than anybody else in this regard - if he has the will to do so. He certainly has the ability. Unfortunately..." Show more»" I believe everybody has the potential to redeem themselves and do good and Tony Blair is no different than anybody else in this regard - if he has the will to do so. He certainly has the ability. Unfortunately he seems more focused on self-promotion than redemption "Show less«