Author Archives: Mark Valladares

Yes, our Noble Lords are back after their summer break, and with the excitement of an election contest to come. Add to that the introduction of three new Liberal Democrat peers, and there’s quite a lot to cover this week.

Tuesday sees the introduction of Olly Grender to the Lords, or as I ought to refer to her, Baroness Grender. As there has never been a Grender in the Lords previously, she isn’t obliged to be ‘of’ anywhere in her official title. We will be covering her maiden speech as, …

And they say that you shouldn’t go back… But relax, gentle reader, it’s only as a locum day editor due to a clash of commitments and some deranged word processing software which keeps Caron busy elsewhere. Don’t worry, she’ll be back before you know it, and I can spend more time with my lemur friend.

So, what do we have for you today? Well, at the time of writing, not as much as I’d like, I’m afraid. However, that will doubtless change as the day goes on, so …

Two years ago, I remember campaigning for election to Mid Suffolk District Council and the sun shone for the last six weeks of the campaign. This year, the weather has been pretty unfriendly for the most part, and I’m struck down by shingles. It really was better in the old days…

Only one principal authority by-election last night, in the Angmering ward of Arun District Council in West Sussex, which turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. The result;

• Andy Cooper (Conservative) – 878 votes (64%, +25% on 2011)
• Carly Goodwin

…

It’s been a fascinating week, hasn’t it? The death of Baroness Thatcher has been a reminder of a rather different political world, one of confrontation and ideology, of a sort that we don’t apparently see now. And, interestingly, most of the key players in the Thatcher administrations are quietly passing their days in the Lords, which made Wednesday’s tributes there rather more personal than those in the Commons.

And whilst the week has been dominated by her passing, and the reflections on her influence over our nation and its politics, there has been quite a lot going on, even though Parliament …

Seven principal authority by-elections yesterday, as I noted this morning, and no wins, unfortunately.

We start with the three by-elections in the one-party state that is Knowsley (sixty-three councillors, all Labour). In Prescot West ward, Ian Smith and the team pushed Labour very hard, achieving a swing from Labour, but sadly not quite enough to gain the seat;

• Lynn O’Keefe (Labour) – 441 votes (44%)
• Ian Smith (Liberal Democrat) – 403 votes (40%)
• Stephen Whatham (Trade Unions and Socialists) – 86 votes (9%)
• Robert Avery (Conservative) – 62 votes (6%)
• Robert Mbabu (Green) – 14 votes

…

There is a certain appropriateness that this should be my day, as it is the last day of the tax year for individuals, and for those of you who have to file a Self Assessment tax return, your return for 2012/13 should be available for you to complete soon. Yes, I know, you’ve got until 31 January to do so (but only if you fill it in online), but given how stressful it is when you leave it until the last moment, why not start early?

Of …

Well, just three results yesterday, as far as we’re aware. And to be honest, none of them were particularly exciting from a Liberal Democrat perspective.

In deepest Cambridgeshire, Fenland District Council has been a bit of a one-party (Conservative) state in recent years, and only relatively recently have Liberal Democrats made an impression, picking up four council seats. But UKIP have a strong presence in the Fens so, in a three way contest, there was a possibility of an upset in Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary ward, where we had achieved a 38% share of the vote in 2011.

However, it …

Yes, welcome to the frozen North, as today is brought to you from Leeds and Brighouse, the home of two prominent Liberal Democrat bloggers, Jennie Rigg and Mat Bowles.

However, as it is Good Friday, Liberal Democrat Voice doesn’t tend to work quite as intensively, so it will be a bit quieter than usual. We will be reporting on by-elections at Harwich West (Tendring District Council), Parson Drove (Fenland District Council) and Evelyn ward (London Borough of Lewisham).

We also bring you news from Europe, where Liberal Democrats continue to challenge excessive …