Remembering the wonderful Flick ReaI was very sad to hear of the death of Flick Rea today. Flick was was leader of the Liberal and then Liberal Democrat group on Camden Council from 1986-2005 and 2014-2020. She was awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to the borough. After Flick retired she was made an honorary alderman, and you can see the speech she gave on that occasion in the video above. Her Wikipedia entry reveals that Flick was a direct descendant of Sir Robert Peel and that she joined the Liberal Party in 1970. She fought her first election in her beloved ... (more) |
Mel Sullivan selected for Aberdeen South by-electionThe forthcoming Parliamentary by-election in Aberdeen South, caused by the previous SNP MP being elected to the Scottish Parliament earlier this month, now has a Liberal Democrat candidate: Cllr Mel Sullivan. As Lib Dem Voice reports, on being selected she said: I am delighted to have been selected to contest the Aberdeen South by-election. At the recent election Scottish Liberal Democrats increased our vote share across the North East and elected a new regional MSP who will give people strong and liberal representation across the region. People have been let down by the SNP, the Conservatives and the Labour party. ... (more) |
The government backlog nobody is talking aboutThe latest edition of my email newsletter about work in Parliament, A Lord's Eye View, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Long-term readers will be familiar with my explorations of how slowly central government moves, especially when it comes to secondary legislation. The lessons from that exploration, and some of the best examples, are wrapped up in a recent podcast episode I appeared on. Read on to find out more. The problem with secondary ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1523Niamh McIntyre had been investigating the spike in racist AI videos aimed at British surfers: "It is often young, entrepreneurial men from south Asia. They tend to have zero interest in UK politics, but the content they create often boosts far-right talking points in Britain and contributes to the increasingly hostile atmosphere for immigrants and British Muslims. They're part of a booming cottage industry producing commercial AI slop." Joshi Hermann advises us to stop looking for "Burnhamism". He's bee reporting the mayor of Greater Manchester for six years and has never been able to locate it. "The culls were not ... (more) |
Tanvir Ahmad selected to fight Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-electionScottish Liberal Democrats have announced that Tanvir Ahmad has been selected as candidate for the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election which was caused by the election of Stephen Gethins to Holyrood earlier this month. Tanvir brings over 20 years of experience leading major projects in the technology and telecoms sectors. He has a proven record of building partnerships with global organisations, bringing new innovations to market, and creating opportunities for growth both at home and abroad. Alongside his professional career, he is a Royal Navy Reservist, a grassroots community campaigner who has managed a youth centre for minority communities, and ... (more) |
Putin would be proudWith all the controversy over Reform's alleged links with Russia, with Nigel Farage saying he admires Vladmir Putin, and the party's opposition to the support offered by the Welsh Government to Ukrainian refugees, now is not the best time for the party's leader in Wales to reinforce people's perceptions about Reform's sympathy towards Putin over his invasion of Ukraine. And yet, as the BBC report, Dan Thomas has backed calls from one of his Senedd members for the Ukrainian flag outside the Welsh Parliament to be removed. For once the Welsh Tories are on the side of common sense, with ... (more) |
Jake Austin is our candidate in Makerfield[IMG: Portrait of Jake Austin] Jake Austin has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Makerfield in the upcoming by-election, pledging to champion local issues that matter most to residents. Jake is passionate about revitalising our high streets, improving public transport across the North West, and providing affordable homes for the next generation. Jake was born and raised in Hindley, and has lived in Greater Manchester his whole life. Hei is a Liberal Democrat Councillor and works in fundraising. In 2024, Jake was the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Greater Manchester Mayoralty election, increasing the Liberal Democrat vote share ... (more) |
Labour's internal power struggle could cost taxpayers more than £5 millionTaxpayers are facing a bill likely exceeding £5 million as Labour manoeuvres to bring Andy Burnham back into Westminster ahead of a possible leadership challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. According to ITV News Granada, the combined cost of the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election and the forthcoming Makerfield by-election could "reach £5 million". The report cited official Greater Manchester Combined Authority figures showing the 2024 mayoral election cost £4,719,754, while the Makerfield by-election has an administrative budget of £226,208 before additional freepost and campaign-related public costs are included. However, that estimate did not include the earlier Gorton and Denton ... (more) |
Camden legend Flick Rea has diedWe are very sad to say that Camden Liberal Democrat legend Flick Rea has died just 4 days after her 88th birthday. She was incredibly loved by many in the party and will be very much missed. Flick was a Camden Councillor for the Fortune Green Ward from 1986 to 2021 and had two spells as Group Leader. She had started out as an actress, training alongside Glenda Jackson. In 2022, she was appointed an Honorary Alderman of the London Borough of Camden. You can watch her acceptance speech here. https://youtu.be/6_qK-voGIlg?si=7NB0j6h2e6AufKuH We will have a full obituary in due course. ... (more) |
Mel Sullivan selected for Aberdeen South by-election[IMG: Portrait of Mel Sullivan] I am absolutely thrilled to say that my friend Mel Sullivan has been selected to fight the Aberdeen South by-election for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The by-election has been caused by the resignation of the former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn's election to the Scottish Parliament earlier this month. Mel is a Councillor in Aberdeenshire and is so good at framing her arguments in a way that brings people together. She makes you think about things differently. She does so much for her local community above and beyond being a councillor. She puts her caring ... (more) |