ALDC's by-election report - 2 July 2026Twelve principal authority by-elections across England, Wales and Scotland took place on Thursday 2nd July, carrying on a trend of unusually high numbers of by-elections over the past few weeks. Reform UK were defending three seats. The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independents/Localists were defending two each. Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives were defending one each. Wales Three by-elections took place in the county of Powys, with one in Torfaen. All four by-elections were triggered by a councillor winning a seat on the Senedd, and unlike in England, Welsh law dictates that you cannot hold both a council and Senedd seat. ... (more) |
Welcome to my day: 6 July 2026 - a nation dares to dream?We don't often "do sport" here at Liberal Democrat Voice – perhaps a reflection of the Editorial Team's interests – but it would seem strange not to mark last night's extraordinary events in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium where an English team put up one of its most memorable performances to win 3-2 against Mexico. From an English Nationalist (a.k.a. Reform) perspective, it's obviously a mixed blessing. England win – good – but with a team mostly consisting of people whose families would be on the next available plane out if they could gain power at the next election. I'd argue ... (more) |
Dan Boatright-Greene re-selected by Lib Dems for West Worcestershire[IMG: Dan Boatright-Greene and Liberal Democrats] A party press release brings the news: West Worcestershire Liberal Democrat members have re-selected local councillor Dan Boatright-Greene as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the next general election. Dan finished second in West Worcestershire at the 2024 general election, receiving 13,236 votes and reducing the Conservative majority from 24,499 in 2019 to just 6,547. Living near Pershore, Dan represents the town on both Wychavon District Council and Worcestershire County Council. A former teacher, he leads the Liberal Democrat group at the county council and currently serves as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education, Special ... (more) |
Write a guest post for Liberal EnglandI love publishing guest posts here on Liberal England. Why not try writing one yourself? It could be on how the Liberal Democrats should respond to the changed political landscape, on politics more generally or... anything really. Why not an article about a local campaign or quirky piece of history? Please drop me an email if you'd like to discuss your idea first. I'd hate you to spend time on a piece I really wouldn't want to publish. Here are the last 10 Liberal England guest posts:In the cause of duty: Walter Stolworthy is remembered at Wymondham station - Neil ... (more) |
Farage and the gifts from crypto entrepreneur convicted of fraudI really am trying not to keep writing about the Reform UK leader but so much stuff is coming out about Farage at the moment that it is inavoidable. The latest outrageous revelation is that the Clacton MP did not declare gifts and benefits provided by a crypto entrepreneur who has previously been convicted of fraud. The paper says that Reform MP, Robert Jenrick has admitted that the his leader had accepted staff, security and accommodation from George Cottrell, but claimed they were personal gifts provided before he became an MP and so did not need to be declared: Jenrick's ... (more) |
Call for the Rutland Water Monster to be displayed in OakhamMore than 2000 people have signed a petition calling on Rutland County Council to acquire the fossil ichthyosaur found at Rutland Water in 2021 for display in the county museum at Oakham. Writing on Oakham Nub News, Lawrence Fenelon, chair of the Friends of Rutland County Museum and Oakham Castle, says: At March last year RCC's accounts showed over £39m of usable capital reserve. Why can't a small bit of it be used to get the Sea Dragon back in Rutland? If it is not spent by March 2028 it will go to the new combined authority and be lost ... (more) |
The Jenkinsite Policy Network present a new vision for British liberalismIn March this year we announced the Jenkinsite Policy Network after a members vote, and though it has taken longer than any of us expected, we have finally gotten to the stage where we can announce our statement of intent! The statement was drafted by myself, Andy Chandler and Mathew Hulbert (of Matthew on Monday fame) and is intended to set out the principles of Liberal Social Democracy that will inform the policies we intend to push going forward. We have done this with the aim of broadening debate within our party. We recognise that despite election successes of the ... (more) |
Yi-Pei Chou Turvey MSP first UK "rising star"[IMG: Hi-Pei Chou Turvey speaks after receiving ALDE's Rising Star Award] I had a tear or too yesterday when I saw Yi-Pei Chou Turvey MSP become the first British politician to receive the European Liberal Forum's "Rising star" award. It is fantastic to see her recognised for her work on Aberdeenshire Council at the start of her term as the North East's Lib Dem MSP. Sal Brinton was there and sent me this video of the event and Yi-Pei's speech. Yi-Pei said: I am humbled and honoured to receive this award on the 50th anniversary of ALDE. More than ever ... (more) |
The Joy of Six 1543"In many cases, lack of coordination and administrative errors in the Home Office cause failed removals. Complications around booking flights, arranging escorts and other practicalities have all been found to prevent deportations, as well as procedural issues such as lack of travel documents. But continued misrepresentation in the media and political rhetoric means the ECHR has continued to be a scapegoat."Sarah Singer argues that the government's new immigration and asylum bill won't work. "'I'm Northern Irish', I would say with indignation, every time an English person referred to me as Irish. Growing up in Newtownards in the 1990s there was ... (more) |
Penguin Cafe Orchestra: Perpetuum MobileI can remember studying Penguin Cafe Orchestra CDs, intrigued by their artwork, but I never bought one. I wish I had. Borderless explains what inspired the band's formation by the classically trained guitarist and composer Simon Jeffes: In 1972, food poisoning confined Jeffes to bed where he dreamed of a Kafkaesque residential block full of people with empty lives. The following day a voice in his head said distinctly, "I am the proprietor of the Penguin Cafe. I will tell you things at random." Jeffes tried to imagine what the house band of that cafe might sound like. When he ... (more) |