Category Archives: News

Charles Quinn

ALDC by-election report – 5th November 2026

By Charles Quinn | Fri 6th November 2026 - 7:35 pm

This week there was just one principal authority by-election. The Liberal Democrats were defending the seat of Penn Hill on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

An eight-way contest in a seat that was Conservative until 2023, in which all major parties stood, makes a useful test of how our councillors in power are holding up against both a Conservative comeback and the challenge from Reform UK. The answer in BCP was emphatic!

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Penn Hill – 5 November 2026

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jo Clements, who was first elected in 2023. Penn Hill …

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Caron Lindsay

What a night! Democrats smash the midterms

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 4th November 2026 - 10:00 am

I was not particularly optimistic ahead of the US midterms. I thought the Democrats would make gains, and would almost certainly win the House of Representatives, but gaining control of the Senate was going to be much tougher.

Even at the end of last year, Jon Ossoff’s Georgia  Senate seat looked vulnerable but last night he absolutely smashed it. Not only that, Keisha Lance-Bottoms becomes the first woman of colour to be Governor of Georgia.

I am always mindful of “tempting the Wrath of the Whatever from High Atop the Thing” on election day. Feeling confident is not a healthy instinct on polling day when every vote is up for grabs.

The actual results, though,  are way ahead of even the most optimistic predictions. I was thrilled that paediatrician Annie Andrews pulled off a surprise win in South Carolina. I’ve seen a few interviews with her over the past few months and been very impressed.

Having his rear end admired by Donald Trump did nothing for Jon Husted in J D Vance’s home state of Ohio, who was beaten by Democrat Sherrod Brown by 4 points.

I was particularly delighted to see Amy Acton win in Ohio after the Republican Vivek Ramaswamy blew $4 million on a disgusting attack ad featuring Amy’s mother, failing to mention that her husband, Amy’s stepdad, had been charged with raping her as a child.  This was endorsed by both Donald Trump and J D Vance.

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Caron Lindsay

Ed Davey quizzed on EU, slavery reparations and Lib Dem relevance

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st November 2026 - 10:11 am

Ed Davey was interviewed on Sky News this morning

The first question was about whether we should apologise for our role in slavery. He said:

If you have done something wrong, I have no problem in apologising for it. That’s what normal people expect to do. I think Tony Blair started this about 20 years ago and I think if the PM wants to consider it in a bit more detail, we should have that debate.

I don’t think reparations is the right approach. We’ve been doing a lot about it in terms of supporting poorer countries. It showed we had a moral obligation to support those well off in the world where there was global economic injustice. When we were in Government we really pushed that hard and I think that there is a case for doing more of that. I’ve been rather disappointed that both under Conservatives and Labour that has been trimmed back, pushed  by pressure from Reform. I think that if we can grow our economy, because aid is linked to our national income, we will be able to support people in less well off countries a bit better.

Isn’t Andy Burnham going a bit further than you?

Not at all. We’ve put forward the idea that we should rejoin the Single Market with freedom of labour earlier this year. We have to negotiate it but we have already advocated and put forward a bill to inttoduce a youth mobility scheme to Parliament.

If you look at what’s happened to immigration since we left the EU, immigration got out of control. If you look at what Europe is doing on immigration, the EU signed a pact earlier this year and it has seen immigration to Europe fall as well. If we work with our European partners we can do a better job than Labour and the Conservatives have done.

But aren’t people protesting about immigration across Europe?

If you look at the protests in France and elsewhere outside Europe, they are related to the cost of living and you can see who has created that problem across the world, Donald Trump with his mad war in Iran. We could benefit from a much closer trade and defence relationship with Europe. By joining the single market and customs union, we could boost our economy. The problem with the Budget is that it had no growth strategy whatsoever. I don’t hear any growth strategy other than what we are putting forward.

But wouldn’t freedom of movement send people to our labour market and stop people getting jobs?

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Mary Reid

An altercation in the House

By Mary Reid | Fri 30th October 2026 - 10:53 am

The media are reporting an “altercation” in the Commons between Nigel Farage and Caroline Voaden. It happened at the State Opening of Parliament last May when MPs were queuing on a staircase to leave the chamber.

Caroline told the Guardian:

He was trying to get out of the chamber and instead of just asking if he could go past, he said: ‘Let me past’. I turned round and said: ‘No, you can wait your turn like everyone else’. He grabbed me by the arm or the shoulder, pushed me to one side and tried to push past me. One of my colleagues tried to stop him because he thought I was going to fall down the stairs. And then we all shuffled down.

Quite deliberately, he grabbed me by the arm from behind and pushed me to one side so that I fell into a colleague or the wall on the other side. I was really taken aback and really angry because I think you just don’t behave like that in any workplace, let alone the chamber of the House of Commons. It was rude. It was nasty.

It appears the serjeant at arms had asked Farage to apologise, but he has not done so.

This all came to light after another incident before the Budget on Wednesday.  Farage claimed his “prayer card” (ie seat reservation) had been removed, presumably in suspicious circumstances, which was why he missed the Chancellor’s speech – to “avoid a physical altercation”. It turns out that the card was taken by staff because it was not properly date stamped.

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The Voice

David Chadwick launches bid to be Welsh Lib Dem Leader

By The Voice | Wed 28th October 2026 - 10:55 am

Following Jane Dodds saying that she will not seek re-nomination as Welsh Lib Dem Leader, the only other person eligible to stand under the current constitution is David Chadwick MP. He has now formally thrown his hat into the ring.

He will be confirmed in post and will set out his vision and strategy then.

David was elected in 2024 and is the Wales spokesperson in Ed Davey’s Shadow Cabinet.

He said:

Wales is a country with enormous potential. We have talented young people, innovative businesses and communities with the ambition to achieve great things. But too often, that ambition isn’t matched by the opportunities available to people.

I want to see a Wales where hard work is rewarded, where businesses have the confidence to invest and grow, and where young people can build successful lives without feeling they have to leave Wales to get ahead.

Economic growth and strong public services go hand in hand. By supporting enterprise, creating better jobs and raising living standards, we can build the prosperity needed to improve the services we all depend on.

That is the kind of optimistic, ambitious liberalism I believe in. A politics that believes in people’s potential and gives them the freedom and opportunities to succeed.

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Paul Walter

Conservative Councillor joins Lib Dems in West Berkshire

By Paul Walter | Tue 27th October 2026 - 4:15 pm

West Berkshire Conservative Councillor Paul Dick OBE JP DL has joined the Liberal Democrats.

For almost 30 years, Mr Dick was headteacher of Kennet School in Thatcham. At one point he was a “Super Head” and his “top earner” salary was highlighted by the BBC in 2010. He appeared on the BBC’s Panorama programme, as noted by the Financial Times.

He has been a sitting Justice of the Peace since 1994 and is a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire.

He has represented Cold Ash and Chieveley ward on West Berkshire Council since 2023.

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The Voice

Lord Shipley’s Valedictory speech in full

By The Voice | Tue 27th October 2026 - 12:50 pm

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As noted last Thursday, Lord Shipley gave his valedictory speech in the House of Lords Local Government debate. Here is his speech in full:

My Lords, I thank colleagues from across the House for the privilege of working with them over the last 16 years in this Chamber on Bills, on Select Committees and on the general work of this House. Having reached the age of 80, I have decided that the time has come to have a retirement. I thank all the staff of the House for their advice, efficiency and constant good humour. I thank my own Whips’ Office for its loyalty, help and command of its role. I thank my immediate colleagues — my friends — in the Liberal Democrat group, who have been such a support over the years, for their friendship, which I know will continue in the years ahead. I thank my wife and all my family for their support in my time here; it is so appreciated. I thank all the speakers who are going to speak in this debate. I look forward to the maiden speech of my noble friend Lord McCobb, who brings a wealth of experience from his many years in local government.

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Joe Nutt

ALDC by-election report, 22nd October

By Joe Nutt | Fri 23rd October 2026 - 4:38 pm

Five principal authority by-elections took place across England and Wales on Thursday 22nd October.

Labour were defending two seats (in Leeds and Carmarthenshire), the Conservatives defended one in Wychavon, the Green Party defended one in East Hertfordshire, and an Independent defended one in South Kesteven.

It proved to be a productive night for the Conservatives, who held their seat in Worcestershire and secured three gains from three different parties – taking seats from the Greens in Hertfordshire, Labour in Leeds, and an Independent in Lincolnshire.

For the Liberal Democrats, it was an undeniably tough set of contests where our vote was squeezed in non-target territory and in a disappointing result in East Hertfordshire.

Elsewhere, Reform UK and the Greens continued to experience electoral friction amidst wider national controversies, while Labour’s night was mixed – losing two seats, but showing signs of vote share recovery in West Yorkshire compared to earlier this spring.

 

Leeds City Council, Calverley and Farsley – 22 October 2026

Over in West Yorkshire, the Conservatives gained the Calverley and Farsley ward on Leeds City Council from Labour in a contest triggered by the resignation of former Labour councillor Peter Carlill on health grounds.

Leeds is currently governed by a Labour minority administration after the party lost eight seats in the May 2026 local elections, leaving them on 48 of 99 seats. Calverley and Farsley is a three-member ward elected by thirds, where Labour had previously held two seats and the Conservatives one.

In a crowded field of seven candidates, Conservative candidate Amanda Carter took the seat with 40.2% of the vote. While technically a seat loss for Labour compared to their 2023 defence, their 36.8% vote share actually represented a 9.5-point rebound compared to their May 2026 local election showing in the ward. The Liberal Democrats have not historically had an active base in this part of Leeds, and candidate Stuart McLeod was squeezed by the intense two-party battle at the top of the ballot.

Thank you to Stuart McLeod for ensuring local residents had a Liberal Democrat choice on the ballot paper in a crowded contest!

Conservative: 2330 (40.2%, +4.8%)
Labour: 2134 (36.8%, -18%)
Reform UK: 693 (12%, new)
Green Party: 341 (5.9%, +2.4%)
Restore: 151 (2.6%, new)
Lib Dem (Stuart McLeod): 92 (1.6%, -1.3%)
Yorkshire Party: 57 (1%, -2.5%)

Turnout: 32.2%

Conservative GAIN from Labour

 

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The Voice

Hello and goodbye

By The Voice | Thu 22nd October 2026 - 3:11 pm

One of our newest peers, Dave McCobb, (Baron McCobb, of Kingston upon Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire) gave his maiden speech in the Lords last week.  Appropriately enough for a former councillor it was in a debate on Local Government: Democratic Accountability, Participation and Electoral Reform – he even managed to include some poetry.

The debate itself was opened by John Shipley (Baron Shipley of Gosforth), giving his valedictory speech. He was previously the Leader of Liverpool City Council and vice-president of the Local Government Association, so was eminently suitable to lead on the issue.

Dave McCobb said:

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The Voice

Rodney Berman and Joe Carter selected for Cardiff Westminster seats

By The Voice | Sun 18th October 2026 - 4:30 pm

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have selected former Cardiff Council leader Cllr Rodney Berman (left) for the Westminster seat of Cardiff East, and Cllr Joe Carter (right) has been selected for Cardiff North.

Cardiff as a key battleground in the Lib Dem fightback in Wales and selecting these big hitters is a signal that we offer voters a real alternative to Labour in the capital.

Rodney led Cardiff Council between 2004 and 2012 and has a long record of standing up for the city. He said:

I’m proud to be standing again for the people of Cardiff East. Labour keeps telling us this is as good as things get. It isn’t. Under Jo Stevens, our nation’s capital has been left behind.

In her time as Secretary of State for Wales, our voice was quietly diminished. She failed to stand up for Wales when we were owed our fair share of HS2 funding. And when residents rightly demanded action on the crumbling Heath Hospital, she stayed silent while her Welsh Labour colleagues oversaw its decline from government in the Senedd. People here deserve far better than being taken for granted, and I’ll take that message to London loud and clear.

“Families in the east of Cardiff shouldn’t lose their Welsh-medium secondary school, and patients and staff shouldn’t lose a vital link to the hospital. I’ll keep pushing for the Heath to be rebuilt, because many of its older buildings are in a very poor state. And I’ll be pressing the UK Government to do far more on the cost of living, including real action to bring down the impact of rising energy bills.”

Cllr Joe Carter said of his selection:

Cardiff North has been let down by Labour at all levels of government and needs a local champion. I have fought to save the Maindy Velodrome, called for a plan to fix the crumbling Heath Hospital and opposed Welsh Water’s  sewage pumping station in Llandaff North. I will fight for cleaner streets, more neighbourhood police and more money in the pockets of hard working people by raising the thresholds on when people pay income tax.

Congratulating Rodney and Joe on their selection, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP added:

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The Voice

Alex Cole-Hamilton’s speech to Scottish Conference

By The Voice | Sun 18th October 2026 - 10:55 am

Alex Cole-Hamilton made his keynote speech to Scottish Conference last weekend. It was a very people centred, practical speech which centred Lib Dems connecting people.

Worth mentioning is that he was very positive about immigration:

So let me tell you what I mean when I talk about liberty, equality and community.

Because as liberals we believe in a Scotland that is open, tolerant and internationalist of outlook.

We believe immigration makes this country stronger. Because in Scotland more people die each year than are born. Every person who comes here to nurse, to farm, to teach, to build, is helping keep our hospitals open and our towns alive.

When others want to pull up the drawbridge, we say you are welcome here.

We could do with more of this from colleagues in Westminster.

Watch here with subtitles.

The text is below

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Joe Nutt

ALDC by-election report, 15th October

By Joe Nutt | Fri 16th October 2026 - 4:29 pm

Five principal authority by-elections took place across England and Wales this week – one on Tuesday 13th October and four on Thursday 15th October.

The Liberal Democrats were defending two seats (in Wiltshire and Mid Devon), Labour defended one in Gloucestershire, Reform UK defended one in Leicestershire, and an Independent defence in North Wales.

It was an exceptional week of defensive strength for the Liberal Democrats, holding both of our contested seats with authority. In Mid Devon, we swept nearly three-quarters of the vote in Bradninch, while in Wiltshire, we halted a Conservative comeback in Salisbury Milford. Elsewhere, Reform UK’s defensive slump continued, marking over a month without a by-election victory, as Labour gained Shepshed in Leicestershire, held off the Greens in Stroud, and localist group Flintshire People’s Voice secured a landslide gain in Wales.

 

Salisbury Milford, Wiltshire UA – 15 October

In Wiltshire, the Liberal Democrats successfully held the Salisbury Milford division on Wiltshire Council following a competitive contest with the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats have made consistent gains in Wiltshire across the 2021 and 2025 county elections. In 2025, we ended decades of Conservative rule, becoming the largest group with 43 seats (to the Conservatives’ 37, Reform UK’s 10, Independents’ 7, and Labour’s 3) and forming a minority administration with Independent support. The Wiltshire wards of Salisbury form a bit of a patchwork with Lib Dems, Reform, Labour, Conservative and Independent councillors holding seats. Milford was gained from the Conservatives in that 2025 breakthrough with a 16-point swing.

Last night, Mac McIntyre Brown stopped a Conservative recovery in its tracks, increasing our vote share to 45.6% (+1.7%) and maintaining a solid 9.2 percentage point lead over the Conservatives. This success was compounded on Salisbury City Council, where our candidate Lawrence Gillies was also elected in a city council by-election on the same day.

Huge congratulations to newly elected Cllr Mac McIntyre Brown, Lawrence Giles and the team in Salisbury on a well-fought (double!) victory!

Lib Dem (Mac McIntyre Brown): 759 (45.6%, +1.7%)

Conservative: 605 (36.4%, +12.4%)

Reform UK: 189 (11.4%, -6.7%)

Labour: 110 (6.6%, -2.1%)

Turnout: 40.0%

Liberal Democrat HOLD

 

Bradninch, Mid Devon DC – 15 October 2026

Over in Devon, the Liberal Democrats delivered a dominant defence in the Bradninch ward of Mid Devon District Council.

The Liberal Democrats took majority control of Mid Devon in 2023 for the first time since 1999, securing 33 seats while reducing the Conservatives to just 5. When the new Bradninch ward was first contested in 2023, we won an overwhelming 82% of the vote against only Labour and the Conservatives.

While the headline vote share showed a slight decline due to a more crowded five-candidate field – with both Reform UK and the Greens standing this time – Mary Ryan hoovered up nearly three-quarters of the total vote on 72.5%. An astonishing achievement and continues our party’s remarkable defensive record in local by-elections.

Congratulations to Cllr Mary Ryan and the Mid Devon campaign team on a massive win!

Lib Dem (Mary Ryan): 476 (72.5%, -9.7%)

Reform UK: 91 (13.9%, new)

Conservative: 37 (5.6%, -0.6%)

Labour: 31 (4.7%, -6.9%)

Green Party: 21 (3.2%, new)

Turnout: 39.5%

Liberal Democrat HOLD

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Anne-Marie Simpson

E1 is approaching a point of no return. Parliament must act now

By Anne-Marie Simpson | Wed 14th October 2026 - 8:55 am

By now, many of us have become accustomed to the seemingly relentless escalations in the occupied West Bank. Almost daily, we hear of violent settler attacks against Palestinian communities, amid record levels of forced displacement, home demolitions, illegal outpost construction and arbitrary arrests. We must never accept this as normal, so consumed by the latest outrage that we lose sight of what these escalating, incremental developments amount to. For behind the daily violence and dispossession, Israel has been entrenching its control over Palestinian land, destroying the territorial basis for a two-state solution, piece by piece, until it is too late to reverse.

Nothing illustrates this more starkly than the E1 settlement project. The project would place thousands of settlement homes in a strategically critical area of the occupied West Bank, severing East Jerusalem from the rest of the territory and making a future contiguous Palestinian state near impossible. Indeed, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly said that the intention is to “bury” hopes for a Palestinian state. After decades in which E1 construction has been threatened but held back by international pressure, the project is fast approaching a point of no return, with the process of awarding construction contracts now imminent.  

In August, the Israeli Housing Ministry issued a tender for the first 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved for construction in the E1 area. The Israeli Attorney General has since delayed the opening of bids until after the 27 October elections. This is a delay, not a cancellation. The project remains active, and once contracts are awarded, construction will become inevitable. The coming weeks are therefore critical.

The UK has already recognised the need for stronger action. In his 8 September ministerial statement, Ed Miliband confirmed that that the UK will sanction individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlements, including businesses or investors that take part in the construction of the E1 settlement.  The government also coordinated with allies on a joint statement making clear that business should avoid bidding for E1 construction tenders, or risk facing legal and reputational consequences. 

Although we cannot know the precise cause, international pressure is likely to have played a role in the decision to delay E1 construction until after the Israeli election. That is why the pressure must now be intensified, not relaxed. All those committed to preventing the devastating impact of E-1 on the two-state solution must redouble their efforts and amplify their demands. A cascade of international statements, backed by credible threats of sanctions, could well prove decisive.

The return of Parliament this week provides an opportunity to build on the strong work Liberal Democrat MPs have already done to highlight the threat posed by E1. MPs should press the government to reiterate its commitment to sanctioning companies involved in E1, encourage allies to make similar commitments, and make clear that Israeli banks guaranteeing bids for the tenders risk jeopardising their business interests in the UK and elsewhere. 

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NewsHound

‘Miriam González launches new party to take on Spain’s big two in snap election’

By NewsHound | Tue 13th October 2026 - 9:14 am

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Euronews reports:

Spain has a new name in the electoral race for 29 November: Miriam González Durántez announced on 10 October her candidacy for the general election at the head of Democracia21 (d21), a newly created party that will make its debut only in Madrid and Barcelona, with plans to expand across the country in future contests at the ballot box.

You can read the full article here.

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Mary Reid

Rob Blackie joins the race for Mayor of London

By Mary Reid | Thu 8th October 2026 - 1:00 pm

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rob Blackie (@rblackie)

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Maria Linforth-Hall

Pensions, care and the liberal vision we need

By Maria Linforth-Hall | Tue 6th October 2026 - 11:00 am

I am a Liberal Democrat because I believe in freedom, fairness, compassion and giving people the power to shape their lives. Those values remain deeply important to me.

Yet, after our recent conference in Brighton, I wanted to hear a clearer, more ambitious account of how we would put those values into practice. Tax cuts have their place, but people also need decent housing, reliable public services and security when illness or old age makes them vulnerable.

Andy Burnham’s speech raised questions that deserve serious consideration. Welcoming a worthwhile proposal from another party does not weaken our liberal principles. We should assess it honestly, support what is good and challenge what remains inadequate.

As a pensioner, I am concerned about the proposed changes to pension increases from 2030. Many older people already struggle to meet everyday costs. Protecting those on the lowest incomes must be an essential part of any reform.

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Simon McGrath

50 years a Liberal

By Simon McGrath | Tue 6th October 2026 - 9:30 am

Fifty years ago, I was starting at City University. It was my second attempt: I had spent an unhappy term at Southampton several years earlier, and as part of my plan to enjoy university more, I decided to join a society at the Freshers’ Fair. I wasn’t a Tory and definitely not a socialist, but I liked the Liberal Party’s views on apartheid and gay rights (not that I had ever consciously met a gay person). I joined the Liberal Society and went along to a meeting, where I remember being very impressed by a postgrad, David Heath, who later became leader of Somerset County Council and an MP. Little did I know this would spark 50 years (so far) of involvement in the Liberal Party and the Lib Dems.

I accepted an invitation to become the Liberal Society Press Officer, which meant writing pieces for the student newspaper and led to my first foray into public speaking at student union meetings. My appetite whetted, I stood in my first election—for the NUS delegation—where to my surprise (and that of the more hardened hacks), I topped the poll. My hustings speech arguing that the NUS should keep out of national politics went down a storm!

In those days, there were separate organisations for students (the Union of Liberal Students) and young people more generally (the Young Liberals). I became Treasurer of ULS and co-founded the Weybridge YL branch alongside future MP Richard Younger-Ross.

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Tom Arms

Tom Arms’ World Review

By Tom Arms | Sun 4th October 2026 - 8:30 am

The Brazilian presidential elections could presage a major shift in Western Hemispheric politics.

At issue are the rabidly pro-Trump conservative policies of Flavio Bolsonaro v. the more independent-minded and left-leaning incumbent President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula).

Flavio is the 45-year-old son of former president Jair Bolsonaro who is serving a 27 year prison sentence for attempting to overthrow the government and conspiring to assassinate President Lula. At the top of the younger Bolsonaro’s manifesto is the promise of a pardon for his father.

He also wants to lower taxes; do away with at least ten government departments and build five huge maximum security prisons.

But most important of all is Bolsonaro’s foreign policy. He wants to reduce ties with China; pull Brazil out of BRICS and forge iron-clad links with the Trump Administration to create “the strongest conservative alliance in the history of the Western hemisphere.”

Lula’s attorney general is investigating claims that the Trump Administrating is helping to finance the Bolsonaro campaign. The White House and State Department have denied the claims.
First round of voting is on Sunday. There are 13 candidates but Flavio and Lula are the only two that count. The opinion polls give Lula the slight edge in round one with a projected 45 percent of the vote compared to 40 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro. It is highly unlikely that either of the front runners will run the overall majority required for a first round victory.

So, the presidential election will almost certainly go to a second round on 25 October and current polls predict a dead heat. This means even more claims of American election interference and, of course, more denials.

Canada’s Mark Carney continues to be President Trump’s third worse nightmare and biggest mistake. The first one is undoubtedly the Iran War and the second is probably tariffs in general.

This week the Canadian prime minister announced the projected construction of “Pacific Link” pipeline to carry roughly 20 percent of Canada’s oil from Alberta to the Pacific coast for shipment to Asia.

The pipeline will be a key element in Carney’s plans to reduce Canada’s dependence on its southern neighbour. Reducing dependence, however, is not good news for America.
Canada is not generally known to be an oil giant. But the fact is that it is the world’s third largest producer and has proven oil reserves of 171 million barrels. Eighty-three percent of them are in Alberta.

At the moment 90 percent of Canada’s oil exports are piped across the border to refineries in the Midwest and along the Gulf coast—Trump country. Canadian oil represents 63.4 percent of America’s oil imports.

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Joe Nutt

ALDC by-election report, 24th September

By Joe Nutt | Fri 25th September 2026 - 6:30 pm

Six principal authority by-elections took place across England on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September.

The Conservatives were defending two seats (in South Staffordshire and Berkshire), Labour defended two seats (in Milton Keynes and Brighton & Hove), localist party Tunbridge Wells Alliance defended one in Kent, and the Green Party defended one in Gloucestershire.

The highlight of the week came from Kent, where the Liberal Democrats staged a sensational victory in Tunbridge Wells – surging from third place in May to win the ward with 37.4% of the vote. In Berkshire, we came within a whisper of another major gain in Bray, boosting our vote share by +20.1% to fall just 26 votes short of the Conservatives on a council we flipped in 2023. Over in the Cotswolds, Danny Loveridge delivered an impressive performance from a standing start to take a clear second place as the Green vote collapsed, while Labour and the Greens exchanged seats on Brighton and Hove Council.

South East

Tunbridge Wells DC, Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden

In Kent, the Liberal Democrats secured an extraordinary gain in the Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden ward of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Liberal Democrats took control of Tunbridge Wells Council in 2024 before going on to win the parliamentary constituency at the July 2024 General Election. When this three-member ward was run on new boundaries in 2024, the Conservatives took two seats and the localist Tunbridge Wells Alliance won the third. In the local elections earlier in May 2026, the Conservatives held their seat while our candidate finished third behind Reform UK.

This by-election saw a dramatic turnaround. Supported by an energetic campaign team, Harry Wormington achieved a huge +22.9% surge in vote share to leapfrog both Reform UK and the Conservatives, winning the seat outright with 37.4% of the vote.

Huge congratulations to Cllr Harry Wormington and the team on a phenomenal win against both the Tories and Reform UK!

Lib Dem (Harry Wormington): 697 (37.4%, +22.9%)

Conservative: 590 (31.6%, -14.6%)

Reform UK: 392 (21.0%, -4.4%)

Green Party: 188 (10.0%, -3.9%)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Tunbridge Wells Alliance

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The Voice

New party political – with the orange bench

By The Voice | Thu 24th September 2026 - 8:48 am
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Caron Lindsay

WATCH: Max Wilkinson’s speech to Conference

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 23rd September 2026 - 3:55 pm

Creep glasses and jokes at Robert Jenrick’s expense were high on the agenda for Max Wilkinson in his speech to Conference.

I am used to being disappointed by Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesperson’s speeches. I’d rather a more positive message on immigration but this was better than we have had in recent times.

I was glad to see him prioritise tackling violence against women and girls. While I had been worried about the packaging of the campaign about smart glasses,it’s an important issue to tackle. Anna Sabine and Wera Hobhouse’s amendment at Conference called for it to be very clear when …

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Caron Lindsay

What’s on at Conference today?

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 21st September 2026 - 9:15 am

Conference kicks off with two brief policy debates on making recruitment fairer and regulating abusive use of the legal system. Then GP services in England before a keynote speech by Max Wilkinson.

After a three hour lunch break for fringes, there’s a debate on supporting people to age well in England, a keynote speech by Jane Dodds and a motion on stopping violence against women and girls in the digital age from Lib Dem Women and Marie Goldman, our Women and Equalities spokesperson.

The day ends with the parliamentary parties’ report and two emergency motions. One is from YL on wildfires and the other is from LGBT+ Lib Dems setting out a way forward after the imposition of the cruel and unworkable EHRC Code of Practice on access to services. Under this code, trans people can be banned from facilities associated with their lived gender, and, for trans men and some non binary people, also from facilities associated with their sex assigned at birth. It also suggests that access can be policed based on how people look so if you are a cis woman who is very tall, or with a deeper voice, you could find yourself being challenged when you go to the toilet.

The motion suggests a cross party committee of MPs to work out a way to fix this to ensure dignity and safety for everyone. All very sensible.

The Young Liberals have also put in a motion on action to tackle wildfires which calls for a number of things including preventative measures, assessing risk, temporary restrictions in areas of high risk.

Here’s the day in full.

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The Voice

WATCH: Munira Wilson’s speech to Conference

By The Voice | Sun 20th September 2026 - 4:29 pm

Education spokesperson Munira Wilson gave her keynote speech to Conference yesterday. Enjoy:

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The Voice

WATCH: Al Pinkerton’s speech to Conference

By The Voice | Sun 20th September 2026 - 2:30 pm

Watch Al Pinkerton talk about our vision for closer ties to Europe:

 

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Caron Lindsay

How Lib Dem Councillors get things done on temporary accommodation

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 19th September 2026 - 8:15 pm

Paul Walter wrote about the Temporary accommodation debate in his diary earlier

It was a great and sobering debate.

I just wanted to highlight two things that Lib Dems have done. Prue Bray spoke about what her Council in Wokingham has done to reduce the numbers of people in temporary accommodation and to make it a lot safer for those who are.

She said:

Temporary accommodation is a subject that could drive us to despair, but I want to give you some hope by telling you how a Lib Dem council is making a real difference. I am really proud

…

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Caron Lindsay

What’s on at Conference today?

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 19th September 2026 - 7:30 am

I’m feeling quite sad this morning.

I’m not able to be at Conference this year as my husband and I get to grips with our new normal following a life-changing diagnosis a couple of months ago.

I’m missing everyone, but at least being at home means I’m not in the whirlwind so I can keep up with what’s going on and let you all know about it. Also I can watch the Strictly launch show.

So what can everyone in Brighton look forward to today?

In the main hall, I’d be wanting to speak on the heartbreaking and disgraceful situation of children in temporary accommodation. The damage that housing insecurity does to children is simply unforgivable.

The family courts motion is also interesting, particularly in its calls for regulation of therapists who give evidence. It’s frankly frightening that this does not happen already.

A motion on candidate safety looks to tackle the abuse and threats faced by candidates, particularly those from marginalised groups.

And don’t forget the opportunity to question the Federal Conference Committee and Federal Policy Committee. An important part of our internal democracy.

The chilling evidence that 2/3 of maternity units are not alway safe to give birth in is dealt with in the motion on maternity services.

Early life also comes under discussion in motion on rebuilding health visiting.

Debates on rural education, business and the scary state of our world complete the policy debates.

There are also keynote speeches from Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, Education spokesperson Munira Wilson and Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Lisa Spivey.

Here’s the day in full:

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The Liberator Collective

New issue of Liberator out

By The Liberator Collective | Thu 17th September 2026 - 5:20 pm

Liberator 437 is out for conference and can be downloaded free here.

You can sign up to be emailed when each new issue comes out here.

What’s in this issue?

There’s Commentary, Lord Bonkers’ Diary and find out in Radical Bulletin, among lots more, about an attempt to scrap spring conference, a panic over corporate donations and a row concerning one internal election.

BEYOND THE HEARTLANDS.

The Social Liberal Forum is relaunching with a strategy to get the party out of its comfort zone. John Shreeve and Roger Hayes explain

CORPORATE DONATIONS: HOW TO PUT THIS RIGHT

The party establishment has watered down policy on political donations to the point of being meaningless. David Howarth’s amendment aims to deal with this

SOUTH SEA TROUBLE

Argentina’s far right president is causing trouble in the Falklands Islands, and tensions over Antartica could erupt soon. Sarah Green MP paid a visit

HOW TO STEAL A MIDTERM ELECTION

The triumph of democratic socialist Zoran Mamdani as New York’s mayoral race has not been grasped by the Democrat establishment, says Rebecca Tinsley

HEALTHY FREEDOM

Primary care is the foundation to living well and community politics means fighting for GPs and pharmacies, says Helen Maguire MP

CAPITAL GAINS

Sarah Olney MP caused some surprise when she became the first applicant for Lib Dem candidate for mayor of London. She explains why she wants to run the capital

THE FEELING’S MUTUAL

It’s time Liberal Democrats rediscovered the party’s old enthusiasm for mutual utilities and businesses as a better option than Labour statism, says Paul Hindley

CONTINUOUS PROCESS

Andy Burnham’s media skills hide a prime minister little different from his predecessor and possessed of few liberal sympathies, says Rosemary Runswick

TWO OF A KIND 

The parallels between Ed Davey and Kier Starmer are close and worrying, says Simon Banks

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Tanya Park

Drawing a line on Britain’s extreme wealth problem

By Tanya Park | Wed 16th September 2026 - 1:55 pm

Fifty families in Britain hold as much wealth as 34 million people.

This Autumn Conference, join us for A Just Society’s first fringe event, held jointly with Patriotic Millionaires UK. We’ll be asking what that concentration of wealth does to our politics, our media and our society, and where the line should be drawn.  

It follows Sunday’s debate on Defending Democracy. That motion names billionaires who use money and media to influence British politics as a threat to our democracy, and proposes caps on donations and spending. Our fringe picks up where the motion stops. Capping donations closes one route from wealth to political power. Wealth on this scale has others: owning media companies and platforms, funding think tanks, paying for lobbying and litigation.

Liberals have always been wary of concentrated power in the state. The question on Monday evening is whether we should be as wary of it in private hands.

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Bobby Dean

Bobby Dean writes: The Resilient State: Rethinking fiscal rules for the 21st Century

By Bobby Dean | Wed 16th September 2026 - 11:55 am

The Chancellor faces a difficult Budget.

There is little room to manoeuvre on tax or borrowing. Households and businesses are under enormous pressure. Long-term government borrowing costs have reached their highest level for decades. Yet Britain desperately needs investment.
In an attempt to reassure the markets, John Healey has earnestly pledged his allegiance to the fiscal rules. It’s a 30-year tradition. But, since 2008, Chancellors have increasingly struggled with the choices the rules produce.
We have seen the consequences.

Covid exposed an NHS with too little spare capacity. The energy crisis exposed our dependence on volatile oil markets. The hottest summer ever has demonstrated the threat that global warming poses to our infrastructure.

In an essay published yesterday by the New Economics Foundation, I argue that we need to change the question at the heart of every Budget from “What can we afford to borrow now?” to “What investment do we need to make to be better off tomorrow?”

It’s not an argument for borrowing more. It’s an argument for better spending.

While we must maintain debt discipline through strong rules, there are three fundamental problems with wider fiscal management that I believe we need to fix.

First, is the crude distinction between investment and day-to-day spending. Buying a tank is treated as investment. Training specialists to defend us from cyber attacks is not. We need to broaden how we define investment to recognise the value of people and skills.

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Mark Valladares

10 September 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 10th September 2026 - 10:45 pm
  • Murray to push for key figures to attend and Scottish Affairs committee to exert its full powers
  • Scottish Government flounders over ferries again
  • Parliament backs Scot Lib Dems for more generous community benefit from energy projects

Murray to push for key figures to attend and Scottish Affairs committee to exert its full powers

Following on from yesterday’s announcement that the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee will launch inquiries into the dual role of the Lord Advocate, and into the financial regulation of political parties in Scotland, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson and committee member Susan Murray MP has called for senior SNP and Scottish Government figures to give evidence as part of the inquiry and said that the committee must use its full powers to ensure key figures attend and key documentation is available for members to review.

Ms Murray said:

The Scottish Government has continually refused to display transparency around the Murrell scandal, it is now up to the Scottish Affairs Committee to gather the appropriate evidence to fully scrutinise what happened.

Senior SNP and Scottish Government figures involved must be summoned to give evidence as part of the inquiry in order to fully assess whether our systems of governance are working.

Just to give one example, was it appropriate for the Lord Advocate to tell the First Minister about the charges against his party’s former chief executive weeks before the public knew?

So far the Scottish Government have been as obstructive as can be so I want to see the Scottish Affairs Committee use its full powers to ensure key figures attend and key documentation is available for members to review.

It’s time for a thorough reassessment of the dual role of the Lord Advocate and into the financial regulation of political parties in Scotland. Given how much money was embezzled from under the noses of SNP members, I suspect many of them will quietly accept that this is long overdue.

Scottish Government flounders over ferries again

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged John Swinney to finally extend ferries compensation to coastal towns, and challenged him on why Stephen Flynn, as Transport Secretary, didn’t know anything about a significant incident involving a CalMac vessel.

During the exchange, the First Minister did not acknowledge that his own government had this week voted for a Scottish Liberal Democrat amendment calling for the Islands Resilience Fund “to offer more funding, and sooner, to both island businesses and the coastal communities that have been consistently excluded from the scheme.”

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