We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the seventh part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Nicholas Pentney
Nicholas worked tirelessly above and beyond as our Organiser in North Cornwall for the General Election in 2015, always with a positive and friendly attitude, encouraging a can do attitude.
Nicholas sadly lost his mum just before the Bournemouth conference yet he still attended conference attending training workshops from first thing in the morning to last in the evening. Nicholas then returned and worked tirelessly on Adrian Sanders’ campaign during the by-election needed by the sad passing of Nicholas’s mum Ruth. Everything Nicholas does he does with a smile and a calm cheerful manner.
I can not praise Nicholas enough and I consider it an honour to work with Nicholas as a part of our team in North Cornwall.
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the sixth part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Cllr Frank Hindle
He has been a councillor in the town for 25 years he and served as opposition group leader on Gateshead Council during the difficult years of the coalition. He has also been N.E Regional Chair and was the Parliamentary candidate in Gateshead in 2010 and 2015. He has been the election agent for the local authority elections for years. and he is currently starting a term as Chair of Gateshead Liberal Democrats. Frank has dedicated his life to the party and deserves some recognition for his dedication and work.
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the fifth part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
James Baker and Mick Taylor from Calderdale
For going above and beyond the call of duty for the party despite various health & personal difficulties.
Sheree Miller
For being our outstanding candidate in Boleyn Ward by-election, who got a thoroughly deserved second place. Just brilliant on the doorstep, talking to people, listening to their concerns. And a great chilli too.
Amy Stuart
As a representative of the influx of members post-election and for her inspirational speech at Conference Rally.
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the fourth part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Cllr Fran Wilson
Fran is Leader of Maidstone BC
You can’t get bluer then the County of Kent, with only two out of the counties district and borough Councils not being Tory controlled, one of those is UKIP lead, the other is Lib Dem lead Maidstone. Maidstone went orange in May 2015, despite a disappointing general election result, the Lib Dems continue to be the main opposition to the Tories in the Town. Under the leadership of veteran Lib Dem Cllr Fran Wilson, the Councils Lib Dem group brought together a rainbow coalition of parties to take control of the Council and rid Maidstone of its unpopular Tory rulers. Uniting Lab, UKIP and Independents they have dumped the hated Labour executive/cabinet system and reintroduced the more inclusive committee system, as a result giving every Councillor a voice on the Council. This is Fran’s second stint as Council Leader, who is the only female Council Leader in Kent, being no novice to local government, she walks a daily tight rope of trying to keep the Tories out of power in Maidstone, with her informal “rainbow” coalition, at the same time Fran and her colleagues continue to fly the Lib Dem flag in Kent and deliver key Lib Dem polices in the Town.
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the third part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Everyone involved in making sure we had a full slate of candidates in parliamentary elections
I’d like to nominate as Lib Dem stars all the people involved in making sure we have a full slate of candidates in parliamentary elections. Being the end of 2015 I’m thinking particularly of the General Election but the same will apply to all elections. That’s the people in the states and regions who manage the process, those who organise approval, selection and appointment of candidates, the returning officers who work with local parties, and those in local parties who do the shortlisting. It is a huge organisational job that I think most members won’t appreciate the scale of, and it takes a small number of activists a lot of time to get right and is obviously crucial for us as a political party.
Bradley Hillier-Palmer
As one of our newest members in Camden, he has led a charge of activity around supporting refugees – including street stalls collecting for Calais, and is actually in Calais this week helping refugees struggling.
He embodies the Liberal Democratic spirit of equality, community and liberty with enthusiasm and action, and I have no doubt he will go on to be a valuable asset to the Lib Dems
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the second part. Part 1 is here. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Kris Castle
She gave up her London job to go at the Yeovil South Ward like a PPC. Lib Dem but unworked for perhaps 8 years, she came a close fourth when the tsunami came in, with the largest losing vote in the region. She also worked three other wards keeping South Somerset DC under LD leadership (NOC) for the 34th year. Kris also initiated work to transform the Constituency after losing our MP. Whilst this is not a tale of unmitigated success, it is one of determination and care.
Pete Dollimore
For his ceaseless efforts on behalf of London Lib Dems, one of those backstage heroes who do the bulk of the work in so many organisations, without ever being recognised.
Pete has supported me so much over the years offering advice and support. I know many others would say the same too.
All the staff who lost their jobs after the election
I nominate the staff who lost their jobs together with their supportive families, along with all those constituency activists everywhere who didn’t deserve the results they got.
We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the first part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.
Mathew Hulbert
For welcoming me into the party, being a guiding light, and a voice of sense
Kirsty Williams
For her excellent advocacy work for my friends throughout the last 6 months.
Gwynoro Jones
Gwynoro Jones for his excellent articles, his rooting us off the old SDP in the traditions, and his views going forwards.
My co-editor Caron Lindsay isn’t, it turns out, a big fan of football. But I am — that’s me there, aged about 8 — and there are a few other Lib Dems who are too.
The new season properly kicks off in a fortnight’s time, 16th August. So if you fancy pitting your skills selecting the most successful team of players from the English Premier League against the skills of fellow party supporters here’s what you need to do:
It’s a fortnight since we launched our search for the Liberal Voice of the Year with the aim of finding the individual or group which has had the biggest impact on liberalism in the past 12 months. This is LibDemVoice’s fifth such annual award, and as is our tradition, we looked beyond the ranks of the Lib Dems to find the liberal who’s most impressed our readers and is not a member of our party.
Yes, it is true. I, of all people, did indeed recommend The Occupy Movement as the Liberal Voice of the Year. My health is perfectly fine and operating at sufficient capacity; but regular readers of my blog are fully aware of my support for these protesters. Overt Marxist language and anti-capitalists rhetoric is, of course, not very liberal but the ability to comprehend the true nature of corporate welfare and its relationship with government is something liberals should be aligning with.
Free markets and capitalism are not the problem – corporatism is. Corporate monopolies deny competition and prevent new competitors …
Today’s the day we launch our search for the Liberal Voice of 2011 to find the individual or group which has had the biggest impact on liberalism in the past 12 months. This is the fifth annual award, and as is our tradition, we’re looking beyond the ranks of the Lib Dems to find the greatest liberal who’s not a member of our party.
The list of nine nominees appears below. These were sought from Lib Dem members via our most recent survey; 233 nominations were submitted, and each of those short-listed needed to clear a threshold of five.
By Stephen Tall
| Mon 10th January 2011 - 12:28 pm
Congratulations to Aung San Suu Kyi, who has won Liberal Democrat Voice’s fourth annual Liberal Voice of the Year award – an award which publicly acknowledges the campaigning work of non-Liberal Democrats in promoting liberal values.
She gained a plurality of votes, with 22%; the runner-up was Prime Minister David Cameron (assisted by some right-wing push-tweets), with 20%, followed by fellow Tory Ken Clarke, with 12%.
22% (238 votes): Aung San Suu Kyi – for her courageous stand against political abuse in Burma
20% (216): David Cameron – for his commitment to forming the Liberal-Conservative Coalition Government
Earlier this week, in the dying days of the last decade, we launched our search for the Liberal Voice of 2010, to find the individual or group which has had the biggest impact on liberalism in the past 12 months. And as is our tradition, we’re looking beyond the ranks of the Lib Dems to find the greatest liberal who’s not a member of our party.
Our thanks to all who put forward nominations — here is the short-list of 12 (in alphabetical order):
Bob Ainsworth, former Labour secretary of state for defence, for his controversial public call
By Stephen Tall
| Sun 26th December 2010 - 4:45 pm
LDV wants to find out who our readers think merits the title Liberal Voice of the Year 2010, and we’ll be running a New Year poll to find the individual or group which has most inspired you in the last year. But, as is our traditional little twist, we want to look outside the Liberal Democrats – and find the greatest liberal who’s not a member of our party.
So, who would you pick? It could be a member of another political party, or one of the majority of Britons who belong to no party; or a group of people, or …
Yesterday we announced that Peter Tatchell had won LDV’s annual Liberal Voice of the Year award (open only to non-Lib Dems) in recognition of his fearless campaigning work for international human rights. We emailed Peter to let him know the news, and here’s the message he sent to all LDV readers …
Wow! What an honour. I’m chuffed. Thanks to everyone who voted for me.
What a surprise too. A socialist Green wins Liberal Voice of the Year.
It shows that your readers are non-sectarian and inclusive, putting
values and principles above party politics, which is how it should be.
Congratulations to Peter Tatchell, who has won Liberal Democrat Voice’s third annual Liberal Voice of the Year award – an award which publicly acknowledges the campaigning work of non-Liberal Democrats in promoting liberal values. Peter gained a plurality of votes, with 27%; the runner-up was author and journalist Ben Goldacre, with 20%.
Over 700 votes were cast, and the results were as follows:
Five days ago, LDV launched our search for our annual Liberal Voice of the Year, open only to non-Lib Dems, with you, our dear readers, forming the electorate. Voting will close this Sunday, 17th January. Here’s how the votes currently stack up:
11% (69) – Guy Herbert, general secretary of NO2ID, for his campaigning work against the database state;
30% (180) – Peter Tatchell, for his tireless and fearless international human rights campaigning;
13% (79) – Joanna Lumley, for her campaigning for justice on behalf of Gurkha veterans;
2% (13) – Rory Stewart, for his straight-talking common sense on
Ten days ago, in the dying days of the last decade, LDV launched our search for the Liberal Voice of 2009, to find the non-Lib Dem individual or group which has had the biggest impact on liberalism in this country in the past 12 months.
Our thanks to all who put forward nominations, all of which were considered carefully by the LDV editorial collective, which has agreed to short-list the following (in no particular order):
Guy Herbert, general secretary of NO2ID, for his campaigning work against the database state;
Peter Tatchell, for his tireless and fearless international human
By Stephen Tall
| Mon 28th December 2009 - 5:22 pm
LDV wants to find out who our readers think merits the title Liberal Voice of the Year 2009, and we’ll be running a New Year poll to find the individual or group in British politics which has most inspired you in the last year. But, as is our traditional little twist, we want to look outside the Liberal Democrats – and find the greatest liberal who’s not a member of our party.
So, who would you pick? It could be a member of another political party, or one of the majority of Britons who belong to no party; or a group …
By Stephen Tall
| Tue 1st December 2009 - 12:55 pm
It’s December, folks, and the last month of the decade* we’ve never quite been able to bring ourselves to call ‘The Noughties’. In celebration of its passing, Lib Dem Voice will be running a series of polls for which we’re seeking your help.
What categories would you like to see polled? My draft list of 21 includes the following politics, media and culture ‘Best ofs’:
English local election results will be pouring in throughout the day. Lib Dem Voice will try and keep you abreast of what’s happening across the country, as we did throughout Thursday night with our open thread – many thanks in particular to those commenting who were able to break the good news that the Lib Dems had taken majority control of Bristol City Council amid disastrous results for Labour. Please do keep the news coming in from wherever you live.
As at 9.50 am, the BBC results scoreboard is telling me that the Lib Dems are the only party showing …
Many thanks to the 200+ LDV readers who took part in our end-of-year awards, which ran between 24th and 28th December. Voting was conducted via Liberty Research using the alternative vote method of ranking the nominees for each of the eight categories.
There was no doubt in LDV readers’ minds what was the defining moment of the year – the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the USA. A whopping four-fifths of you chose it, against 14% opting for the near-collapse of the west’s world banking system; the other three contenders were also-rans.
1% – Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report;
3% – Gordon Brown for his “we not only saved the world…” gaffe;
1% – Hazel Blears’ launch of the Sustainable Communities Act;
14% – The collapse and subsequent nationalisation/recapitalisation of the banks in the USA and UK; 81% – The election of Barack Obama as President of the USA.
17% – Andrew Rawnsley (The Guardian);
29% – Evan Davis (The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4);
27% – Keith Olbermann (MSNBC);
5% – Nicky Campbell & Shelagh Fogarty (BBC Radio 5 Live);
14% – Robert Peston (BBC);
8% – Simon Mayo (BBC Radio 5 Live).
Eventually, after excluding Nicky & Shelagh, Simon, Robert and Andrew, it came to a run-off between…
62.5% – Evan Davis (The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4);
37.5% – Keith Olbermann (MSNBC).
Congratulations to Evan – I suspect this story may have given him a helping hand among LDV readers.
Political Radio / TV Programme of the Year
12% – Any Questions? (BBC Radio 4);
14% – Newsnight (BBC2);
17% – Saturday Night Live,for Tina Fey’s impressions of Sarah Palin (NBC);
6% – The Daily Politics (BBC2);
47% – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central);
4% – This Week (BBC1).
After the elimination of This Week and The Daily Politics (LDV readers are not fans of Andrew Neill, it seems), and redistribution of their votes, the final result was:
13% – Any Questions? (BBC Radio 4);
18% – Newsnight (BBC2);
20% – Saturday Night Live,for Tina Fey’s impressions of Sarah Palin (NBC); 51% – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central).
A pretty definitive win, then, for Jon Stewart’s acerbic, irony-laden Daily Show. In honour of which, can I take this opportunity to replay the most famous Stewart clip, when he takes on the horrendously smug Crossfire (CNN) and totally destroys its co-hosts, Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. Really quite scinitillating stuff.
By Stephen Tall
| Wed 31st December 2008 - 6:20 pm
Many thanks to the 200+ LDV readers who took part in our end-of-year awards, which ran between 23rd and 28th December. Voting was conducted via Liberty Research using the alternative vote method of ranking the nominees for each of the eight categories. Yesterday, we announced the winners of Politician of the Year, and By-election Performance of the Year. Today, the next and final two Lib Dem categories:
Liberal Democrat Campaigner of the Year
There were four very strong contenders in this category. In particular, can I highlight Neil Trafford, a Lib Dem councillor in Manchester and the party’s …
By Stephen Tall
| Tue 30th December 2008 - 6:20 pm
Many thanks to the 200+ LDV readers who took part in our end-of-year awards, which ran between 23rd and 28th December. Voting was conducted via Liberty Research using the alternative vote method of ranking the nominees for each of the eight categories. We’ll be revealing the eight winners over the next four days. (Not that we’re tying to pad things out over the holiday season; no, of course not).
First, let’s unveil the winner of LDV’s first ever Politician of the Year award. Let’s face it, though, there’s zero sense of anticipation as we all knew full darn well …
By Stephen Tall
| Sat 27th December 2008 - 6:09 pm
To see out the old year, and usher in the new, Lib Dem Voice is asking you, our readers, for your votes in our special 2008 awards. So far, over 160 of you have spared a moment to express your views.
By Stephen Tall
| Fri 19th December 2008 - 4:06 pm
Last week, we announed the categories for this year’s Lib Dem Voice 2008 Awards – both the party ones, and the non-party ones. The short-list will be drawn up over this weekend, so if you have any further nominations to submit, leave them in the comments box asap (please make clear in which category your nominations belong).
A reminder of the eight awards up fro grabs follows:
By Stephen Tall
| Sun 14th December 2008 - 11:38 am
Yesterday we announced that the LDV end-of-the-year awards are back, seeking your nominations for four categories relating directly to the Lib Dems: Politician of the Year, Campaigner of the Year, By-election Performance of the Year, and Most Desperate Press Release of the Year.
Today, we’re seeking nominations for the following four categories:
The LDV 2008 Awards
Liberal Voice of the Year
Please nominate the individual, group of people or organisation which you believe has best promoted the cause of liberalism within the past year. NB: we are reserving this award for non-Lib Dems, so please do not nominate a known party member/supporter.
By Stephen Tall
| Sat 13th December 2008 - 11:22 am
Last year, we asked Lib Dem Voice readers to nominate, and then vote for, your Liberal Voice of the Year: the winner was Shami Chakrabati. This year, the LDV end-of-the-year awards are back, and they’re bigger and better than ever before.
In total, there are eight categories for which we’re seeking nominations; the LDV Collective will draw up and publish the short-lists; and then seek your votes via a poll run according to the single transferable vote. How impeccably liberal can you get?
Today, we’re seeking nominations for the following four categories which relate directly to the Liberal Democrats:
Andrew Tampion "As Liberals we try to avoid banning things – but..." call me a libertarian if you must but I think that as liberals we should always think twice before banni...
Ewan Hoyle https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uNAPwzB67Kc
Video here too....
Ewan Hoyle The attached video shows how to restrict Labour’s gains while ensuring Conservative defeat, and also how to push PR up the agenda and deliver influence to the...
James Baillie I of course largely agree with Sandy's comment above.
Re what Tristan said - I don't disagree with you that we need to shift Tory voters, as someone who grew...
Tom Yue He - I echo what others have said. It would be a crying shame if someone thought that they couldn’t be involved in our party or our parliament because of ...
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Andrew Tampion 
Ewan Hoyle 
James Baillie 
Tom 