Author Archives: Paul Walter

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Boris: “One wheel on my wagon and I’m still rolling along”

By Paul Walter | Sun 19th December 2021 - 11:00 am

Embed from Getty Images
Note: To balance out the motifs presented in the song mentioned here, you may like to visit the websites of The Native American Rights Fund and/or Native Americans in Philantrophy

Following up on Andy’s great post this morning, readers of a certain age will recall a song called “Three wheels on my wagon” by the New Christy Minstrels. You can listen to it via YouTube below. It’s a cracker.

The singer, in the persona of an American “pioneer”, describes “singing a happy song” as a wheel comes off his wagon, while he is chased by a band of arrow-firing “Cherokees” who are intent on killing the singer and his fellow wagon passengers.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged boris johnson and featured | 7 Comments

+++Physical conference returns to your actual Brighton next autumn

By Paul Walter | Tue 14th December 2021 - 8:02 am

The chair of the party’s conference committee, Nick de Costa, has made this announcement:

I can announce that the dates for autumn 2022 conference will be: 17-20 September 2022 at the Brighton Centre.

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Posted in Conference and News | Tagged 2022 Autumn conference | 4 Comments

North Shropshire: We’re using actual staples on our leaflets so this is serious

By Paul Walter | Tue 7th December 2021 - 7:50 am

I’m just resting up before another blitz of Focii-ing in North Shropshire early this morning.

The constituency is similar to Brecon and Radnorshire in that you can drive for what seems like hours and still see orange posters, denoting that you are still in the constituency. – A vast and beautiful rural area with some wonderful towns.

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Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged helen morgan and North Shropshire by-election | 15 Comments

Ed Davey replies robustly to a Tory MP’s enquiry about our selection procedures

By Paul Walter | Tue 26th October 2021 - 11:10 am

Philip Davies MP recently wrote to Ed Davey enquiring about the Liberal Democrats’ internal selection procedures.

Ed’s reply is a joy to behold! It is worth reading the correspondence in full.

Surprised that @philipdaviesuk is taking such an interest in the @LibDems' commitment to an equal parliament.

Perhaps he has decided to turn his back on his sexist views, or perhaps he has a different motive. pic.twitter.com/bBf11NteV2

— Ed Davey MP 🔶🇪🇺 (@EdwardJDavey) October 22, 2021

Posted in Party policy and internal matters | Tagged ed davey and philip davies mp | 8 Comments

UPDATED: Commons committees’ report says government’s Covid response was “one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced”

By Paul Walter | Tue 12th October 2021 - 10:28 am

Embed from Getty Images
The “Lessons learnt to date” report has been published by two key House of Commons committees.

It says the government’s early planning was based on a risk assessment that a pandemic would result in 100 deaths and be like flu: “the likelihood of an emerging infectious disease spreading within the UK is assessed to be lower than that of a pandemic flu”.

It lists a catalogue of errors concluding:

…decisions on lockdowns and social distancing during the early weeks of the pandemic – and the advice

…

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged Covid-19 | 9 Comments

News item related to LBC, James O’Brien and the Institute of Economic Affairs

By Paul Walter | Tue 10th August 2021 - 10:16 am

Readers may be interested in the Guardian story entitled “LBC’s James O’Brien wins Ofcom battle with Institute of Economic Affairs“:

The Institute of Economic Affairs has lost a two-year battle with LBC radio presenter James O’Brien over claims the registered charity is a politically motivated lobbying organisation funded by “dark money”.

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Posted in News | Tagged institute of economic affairs, james o'brien and lbc radio | 4 Comments

PHOTO FEATURE: Chesham and Amersham by-election

By Paul Walter | Tue 22nd June 2021 - 10:41 am

It seems timely to show some of the excellent Getty Images which are available, depicting the Chesham and Amersham campaign. Scroll down to view them all or click on them individually to view them within the Getty Images website.

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Posted in Photo feature | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election, ed davey and sarah green MP | 1 Comment

WATCH: Sarah Green is sworn into Parliament

By Paul Walter | Tue 22nd June 2021 - 9:11 am

So very pleased to see Sarah Green MP sworn in to the House of Commons this afternoon (I got permission to nip out of a meeting to watch it live!). https://t.co/iwWoUkAGgs

— Colin Ross (@colinross1975) June 21, 2021

It was a big occasion yesterday! After an announcement by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Sir Ed Davey escorts in Sarah Green, who bows three times and then swears the oath of allegiance in English and Welsh. (Sarah is the second consecutive MP for Chesham and Amersham who is Welsh-born). She then signs the register and is congratulated by the Speaker, while a cheer goes up. Wonderful stuff!

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Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged ed davey, lindsay hoyle and sarah green MP | 1 Comment

Chesham & Amersham: what the Spectator said on Monday

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:57 am

Nick Tyrone – that’s T-Y-R-O-N-E – concludes the article as follows:

Instead, the Lib Dems will lose on Thursday, most likely fairly badly, and they will have no one to blame but themselves. If they want to get back to being the by-election masters of old, they will have to do a lot better than this.

You can read the full article here: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lib-dems-are-utterly-lost

Posted in News | 22 Comments

Chesham and Amersham: the swing was 25.1%

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:54 am

Full Result in Chesham & Amersham

LDM: 56.7% (+30.4)
CON: 35.5% (-19.9)
GRN: 3.9% (-1.6)
LAB: 1.6% (-11.2)
RFM: 1.1% (+1.1)
BRK: 0.5% (+0.5)
FAL: 0.4% (+0.4)
REU: 0.3% (+0.3)

A swing of over *25%* pic.twitter.com/YyuB72jc11

— Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) June 18, 2021

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | 11 Comments

Chesham & Amersham: the fine print result

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:49 am

Here’s the full result from tonight’s election in #cheshamandamersham where there has been a swing of more than 25 percent to the Lib Dem ⁦@SarahGreenLD⁩ from the Tories. pic.twitter.com/AxBH7kKYgz

— Andy Holmes (@AndyHolmesMedia) June 18, 2021

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Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: Ed Davey hails huge victory

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:48 am

Liberal Democrat Leader @EdwardJDavey responds to a huge victory in Chesham & Amersham. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/CDeKHUzfNd

— Lib Dem Press Office (@LibDemPress) June 18, 2021

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Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election and featured | 1 Comment

Chesham & Amersham election results since the seat was created

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:46 am

Chesham & Amersham results since the formation of the constituency at the the Feb 1974 General Election: pic.twitter.com/93RvdUydGY

— Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) June 18, 2021

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | 2 Comments

Chesham & Amersham: Sarah Green’s victory speech

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:43 am

In a confident speech earlier this morning, Sarah Green said she was humbled by the faith the people of Chesham and Amersham had placed in her.

Together, we have said enough is enough. We will be heard. And this government will listen.

No matter how safe the seat, you can have a Lib Dem representative.

Sarah had a message for young women. Don’t let people put you down or block your way. You can. You must. You will.

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Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election and featured | 3 Comments

Chesham & Amersham: This isn’t a dream is it?

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:41 am

THIS ISN'T A DREAM IS IT?!?

— ALDC (@ALDC) June 18, 2021

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: Video from the count

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:36 am

A very loud cheer as @SarahGreenLD arrives for the #CheshamAndAmersham by-election result ‘@LibDems pic.twitter.com/v5XE1jm4yD

— Rory Butler (@rorythomasb) June 18, 2021

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: Thank you!

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:34 am

The victory in Chesham and Amersham could not have been done without the countless hours that Liberal Democrat and other progressive activists, campaigners, and volunteers put in.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are so humbled and grateful.

— ALDC (@ALDC) June 18, 2021

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: That stunning, historic result in full

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:27 am

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election and featured | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: Majority is 8,028!!!!!!!!!!! – ITV news

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:19 am

From ITV News:

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | Leave a comment

Chesham & Amersham: Congrats Sarah Green MP!!!!!

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 2:15 am

Let’s just say that this has woken me up!

8K!!!!! I’ll be saying that in my sleep for the next six months!!

Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | 1 Comment

+++++Chesham & Amersham: Lib Dems win the by-election!!

By Paul Walter | Fri 18th June 2021 - 1:59 am

Sky News have just said this.

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Posted in News | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election | 4 Comments

Going down to the wire at Chesham & Amersham

By Paul Walter | Tue 15th June 2021 - 6:23 pm

Today I again went to Chesham & Amersham to help Sarah Green and team. I helped to deliver targeted letters to residents in Great Missenden and Chalfont Saint Peter.

My task was greatly assisted by my excellent co-deliverers, Baroness (Liz) Barker and Mukta Patil from Chesham & Amersham Young Liberals. They both greatly helped in plotting our various routes and in making the task a great pleasure in the sunshine! The selfie above shows us with our suitably coloured conveyance!

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Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election and sarah green | 7 Comments

Sir Nick Clegg lecture: “The end of global internet”

By Paul Walter | Fri 28th May 2021 - 10:40 am

The Shirley Williams Lectures are now getting well into their stride. On Wednesday evening we had the honour of welcoming Nick Clegg direct from Atherton, California USA.

It was the day of Facebook’s AGM, so a busy one for Nick.

I was very impressed by Nick’s lecture, which was delivered flawlessly from notes.

After paying a very warm and heartfelt tribute to Baroness Williams, Nick outlined how he regards 1989 as the key year in his life. The Berlin Wall fell and Tim Berners-Lee invented the Worldwide Web.

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Posted in Events | Tagged featured, internet, nick clegg, shirley williams lectures and tim berners lee | 22 Comments

Chesham and Amersham needs YOU

By Paul Walter | Tue 25th May 2021 - 5:43 pm

Maddi Crickmay, Liberal Democrat Youth and Student Development Officer and Shrewsbury Councillor Alex Wagner at Amersham party HQ today
I spent today helping Sarah Green‘s campaign at Amersham.

What a great day! I don’t think I have had such a beautiful delivery round since the heady days of Littleborough and Saddleworth in 1995.

Then, I had to walk several miles up to a farmhouse to deliver one leaflet. But it was blazing sunshine and the surroundings were idyllic – so I didn’t mind.

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Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged chesham and amersham by-election and sarah green | 3 Comments

How easily we have surrendered our private freedoms….

By Paul Walter | Tue 18th May 2021 - 9:45 am

Embed from Getty Images

On Sunday we had a visit from a relative in the garden at a two metre distance.

On Monday they kindly returned and we hugged several times.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged Covid-19 and lockdown | 30 Comments

Tories’ southern “Blue wall” is crumbling

By Paul Walter | Tue 11th May 2021 - 2:10 pm

In the Independent today, Daisy Cooper MP says:

The Tory Blue Wall has started crumbling in this election as the Liberal Democrats move forward in Tory former heartlands.

From Cheltenham to Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire to Woking, nowhere is safe for the Tories in their Blue Wall. The age of no-go areas for the Liberal Democrats in traditionally Tory southern cities towns and villages is over.

Posted in News | Tagged blue wall and daisy cooper mp | 72 Comments

Scrapping Vagrancy Act should be part of Queen’s Speech

By Paul Walter | Tue 11th May 2021 - 12:40 pm

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Layla Moran has put this very well:

Today it’s still the law for rough sleepers to be arrested and prosecuted for the crime of not being able to afford a roof over their head. It’s a moral outrage that a Victorian-era law continues to punish those who desperately need help.

The clock is ticking for this Government. We urgently need a more compassionate and holistic approach to ending homelessness in this country. There is significant cross-party support for the Vagrancy Act to be repealed as

…

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Posted in News | Tagged homelessness, layla moran and vagrancy act | 1 Comment

I love it when a plan comes together

By Paul Walter | Tue 11th May 2021 - 9:40 am

By-elections are funny old things.

In a by-election, the focus on the candidate is huge. Every utterance is monitored and liable to blow up a minefield.

I remember David Rendel, returning to the 1993 Newbury by-election HQ after a long evening’s canvassing. Just outside the entrance he was approached by, ostensibly, a member of the public who wanted to express their support for him. It turned out that they had a microphone stuck up the back of their jacket and were trying to catch David off-guard. Their plan failed. Apart from anything else, David on-the-record was just like David off-the-record!

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged local government by-elections | 3 Comments

Immoral – Conservative MPs are tarnished by association with PM Johnson

By Paul Walter | Tue 27th April 2021 - 7:32 am

Roger Roberts – Lord Roberts of Llandudno – has written a letter to his MP, Robin Millar, as follows:

Dear Robin,

Like many other constituents, especially Christian church members I am deeply disappointed in this government and this prime minister. Whether this attitude is reflected in the coming elections is of little importance, so much of the moral lead necessary in a prime minister cannot be found in Mr Johnson. Your own character is tarnished by association with him. I would welcome a meeting and discussion with you.

Yours faithfully,
ROGER – Lord Roberts of Llandudno

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged boris johnson | 10 Comments

“Creeping authoritarianism” – Liberal Democrats condemn government’s plan for Covid passports

By Paul Walter | Tue 6th April 2021 - 10:20 am

Embed from Getty Images
Over the weekend, Liberal Democrat MPs have been very busy condemning the government’s plans for Covid passports.
The BBC quoted Ed Davey as accusing the government of “creeping autoritarianism” over the plans, adding:

As we start to get this virus properly under control we should start getting our freedoms back. Vaccine passports – essentially Covid ID cards – take us in the other direction.

Yesterday evening, Ed tweeted:

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Posted in News | Tagged covid passports | 70 Comments

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