Category Archives: News

The Voice

Ed Davey to set out plans to halve energy bills in a decade

By The Voice | Wed 16th July 2025 - 10:28 am

This afternoon, Ed Davey will give a major speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research in London.

We’re used to hearing from the right that our high energy prices are all to do with nasty net zero. Ed will tackle that nonsense

As an alternative, he will set out a plan to dramatically slash bills for families and businesses still struggling through a cost-of-living crisis.

He will call for “a Liberal Democrat energy policy in service of the British people, not a Nigel Farage energy policy in service of Vladimir Putin”.

He will set out a plan to break the link between gas prices and electricity costs, so people get the benefits of cheap, clean power. As well as accelerating investment in cheap renewable power and home insulation, the plan would move older expensive renewable projects to cheaper Contracts for Difference – which were pioneered by Ed Davey when he was Energy Secretary. Experts have estimated that this move alone could cut bills by around £200 a year for a typical household.

Here are some snippets that the party has released ahead of the speech:

After nearly a decade of criminally negligent energy policies under the Conservatives, that pushed up everyone’s bills, I believe the right policies now could cut energy bills in half – at least – within ten years.

That should be the goal. Nothing less. A Liberal Democrat energy policy in service of the British people. Not a Nigel Farage energy policy in service of Vladimir Putin.

On the sky-high bills facing families and businesses

Families and pensioners are being clobbered with bills that are still more than £50 a month higher than they were five years ago. So many people, who were already struggling to make ends meet, having to find an extra £50 a month – just to keep the lights on, or keep their homes warm this winter.

And businesses are suffering too. Even with the welcome extra help promised in the new Industrial Strategy, parts of British industry will continue to face some of the highest electricity prices in the OECD. We have to get those prices down – to boost living standards and grow our economy.

Addressing the myths peddled by the likes of Farage and Badenoch:

The narrative – seized upon by Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch – says the reason energy bills are so high is that we’re investing too much in renewable power. And if we just stopped that investment – and relied more on oil and gas instead – bills would magically come down for everyone.

The experience of record high gas prices in recent years shows that’s not true. And even when gas prices are softer, the long history of volatility in fossil fuel prices means it’s only a matter of time before high prices return. So we know that tying ourselves ever more to fossil fuels would only benefit foreign dictators like Vladimir Putin – which is probably why Farage is so keen on it.

But refusing to engage hasn’t stopped his myths from spreading, from gaining traction in the new world of fake news. So we must change that.

On breaking the link between gas prices and electricity costs:

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NewsHound

Josh Babarinde talks to Nick Robinson about domestic abuse reform

By NewsHound | Tue 15th July 2025 - 7:28 am

One of the brightest stars on the Lib Dem front bench, Josh Babarinde, has been talking to Nick Robinson on this week’s Political Thinking podcast.

He described his ultimately successful tenacious pursuit of Labour ministers to get them to bring in a specific category of offence for domestic abuse. He saw the need for this when Labour released many prisoners early to make room in our crumbling and inadequate prison system. He was furious that Labour could not make good on its promise not to release domestic abuse perpetrators early because they couldn’t identify them all.

He talks about his own background and why this issue is so important to him.

He tells Nick about his early life, an inspirational teacher and his first job serving pizzas.

Luck played a huge part in his success and he describes his fight to “minimise the role of luck” in making sure other young people could fulfil their potential.

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Mark Valladares

14 July 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 14th July 2025 - 11:10 pm
  • Trump state visit: PM should invite Mark Carney for official visit and to address Parliament
  • Lib Dems slam “astounding” arrogance of Thames Water following hosepipe ban announcement

Trump state visit: PM should invite Mark Carney for official visit and to address Parliament

Responding to the date of Donald Trump’s state visit being confirmed, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

The Prime Minister should invite Mark Carney for an official visit to the UK just ahead of Trump’s visit, including the opportunity to address Parliament. This would send an important signal that Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Canada against Trump’s chaotic trade war.

With

…

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Jim Coupland

Advance to the left

By Jim Coupland | Mon 14th July 2025 - 11:55 am

The Liberal Democrats are a flexible party on the spectrum. Coming from the traditional centre ground, it has attracted many voters who have come from different perspectives on politics. Recently, we have won a lot of votes from the centre right of the political spectrum with Sir Ed Davey’s focus on ‘Middle England’, taking votes away from Conservative leaning voters who feel that the Tories have gone too far right or neglected the ‘Blue Wall’. There is also the Progressive base who have gone to the Liberal Democrats in the Brexit era, aiming to reverse that referendum result in 2016.

I feel that our party is made up of members who feel disillusioned with the leadership of their political ends. You can put me in that category; a former member of the Labour Party. Due to choices from the Labour Government, I left them for the Liberal Democrats. Whilst I see Liberalism (the belief in freedom for all) as the principle we should live by, I am always left with the question of how?

In some scenarios, freedom is not an abstract concept. If you live in any dictatorship, you are not free. If you live in a democracy, it can get complicated. We can vote in elections, our politicians are held to account, free press, free speech and an independent judicial system. However, there is another freedom that we don’t have… the freedom to live prosperously.

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, people are choosing between heating and food in the winter. Recently with the ill-thought Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill that has just passed the Commons, there will be disabled people who will not have the same rights and freedoms to receive PIP compared to existing claimants with the same conditions.

As someone who has left-leaning politics, there was something in the Liberal Democrat Federal Constitution which led me to join the party. Specifically, it was the quote: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity”.

That is a vision I want the Labour Party to strive for. Sadly, they don’t. Other lefties like Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have decided that a new political party is the answer to fill the left-wing gap… it won’t work. Another party splitting the Labour vote will only help Reform. But there is a movement that has consistently won battles for their aims and have pressured Westminster to make profound changes… the trade unions.

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Tom Arms

Observations of an ex pat: Leaving Trump

By Tom Arms | Sat 12th July 2025 - 10:30 am

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill helps the rich and hurts the poor. And yet, Trump was elected by a demographic shift of poor voters to Republican ranks.

They voted for him not because they believe he supports the rich instead of them, but because they feel he speaks to their values, frustrations, and identity in ways that matter more to them than traditional economic policies.

Trump validates their worldview.He gives them someone to blame for their struggles. He channels their anger into a story where they are the true Americans under siege.

So how loyal is that base? Pretty loyal. For many supporters, Trump is not just a politician—he’s a symbol of resistance to liberal elites, political correctness, globalisation, and a system they feel left them behind. He taps into identity, not just policy. That is a bond that runs deep.

So what could break that bond? Nothing less than a clear personal betrayal that his supporters could directly feel. The Big Beautiful Bill’s cuts in Medicaid are a step in that direction. And Democrats believe that they can use it to win back control of the House of Representatives and Senate in the 2026 mid-term elections.

But that will be hard road because Trump—and MAGA—are expert at blaming others such as Congress or the “deep state”.

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report – 10 July 2025

By Liam Yip | Sat 12th July 2025 - 8:30 am

In Woking, two seats were successfully defended, both with overwhelming victory, with both a county and district by-election. Well done to Louise Morales, Deborah Hughes and the local team for ensuring these seats remained with us.

Surrey CC, Woking South
Liberal Democrats (Louise Morales): 1,939 (63.8%, +5.8)
Reform UK: 584 (19.2%, new)
Conservatives: 291 (9.6%, -16.0%)
Green Party: 134 (4.4%, -2.5)
Labour: 91 (3.0%, -4.6)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

Woking BC, Hoe Valley
Liberal Democrats (Deborah Hughes): 1,118 (63.3%, -8.1)
Reform UK: 379 (21.1%, new)
Conservative: 130 (7.2%, -9.0)
Green Party: 83 (4.6%, new)
Labour: 69 (3.8%, -8.6)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Oxfordshire, we successfully defended our seat in the Vale of White Horse. Well done to Ben Potter and the team for ensuring an overwhelming victory in this by-election.

Vale of White Horse, Botley & Sunningwell
Liberal Democrats (Ben Potter): 732 (71.5%, +7.9%)
Conservative: 162 (15.8%, -1.8)
Green Party: 130 (12.7%, +11.2)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

We successfully defended a council seat in Leatherhead, ensuring an overwhelming victory for the Liberal Democrats. Well done to Lawrence Penney and the team for ensuring that this seat remains held by us.

Mole Valley DC, Bookham East & Eastwick Park
Liberal Democrat (Lawrence Penney): 1,056 (56.0%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 387 (20.5%, new)
Conservative: 386 (20.5%, -10.1)
Green Party: 56 (3.0%, -1.5)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Tewkesbury, Reform UK gained a seat from an independent. Well done to Guy Fancourt and the local team for ensuring that we came second place in this by-election.

Tewkesbury BC, Northway
Reform UK: 374 (41.4%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Guy Fancourt): 279 (30.9%, +7.0)
Conservative: 116 (12.8%, -11.6)
Green Party: 91 (10.1%, new)
Labour: 44 (4.9%, -15.8%)

Reform UK GAIN from Independent

On the Isle of Wight, the Island Independents secured an overwhelming victory. Thank you to Rachel Lambert and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

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The Voice

Has Christine Jardine been sacked from Lib Dem Front Bench?

By The Voice | Wed 9th July 2025 - 9:15 pm

Patrick Maguire, the Times lead political commentator, has reported tonight that Christine Jardine has been fired from her positions as spokesperson on Women and Equalities and on Scotland for defying the Lib Dem whip and voting against rather than abstaining on a Tory amendment to the Universal Credit and PIP Bill.

He said:

The quote from the Lib Dem source was quite something:

Christine Jardine has been sacked from the Lib Dem frontbench for voting against Tory amendment to the welfare bill – Ed Davey whipped MPs to abstain LD source: “We are not in the business of dancing to the tune of the Conservatives through symbolic votes and virtue signalling.”

But Kait Borsay of Times Radio says that Christine had not been informed of this:

We’ve just spoken to Christine Jardine

@TimesRadio

who says she’d not been told she’d been sacked.. (or not read the email).. but was warned it was likely. Seemed to accept the punishment as expected..

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Chris Perry

Government should stop using “working people” and audit income inequality and poverty

By Chris Perry | Wed 9th July 2025 - 10:25 am

When will the Government drop the phrase “working people” which excludes “retired people”, “children”, “people with long term illnesses or disabilities” and people who have had to give up work to become full time carers and adopt something more inclusive. Until they do, they will continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

Congratulations on the Lib Dem stand against cuts to disability benefit. In my experience most people who are off work due to sickness or disability would give anything within reason to be able to work. However, if Government wrongly believes that a financial incentive is required then the answer must lie in increasing their potential earnings and not the threat of increased poverty.

Widening income inequality and increasing poverty are the great social evils of our time. And unless Government addresses pay differentials within companies, chasing inward investment in search of growth will make the rich richer and create low paid jobs for the masses. It will increase income inequality and poverty: not reduce it. As did stopping the winter fuel allowance and cutting disability benefit which added to the hardship of the most vulnerable people in our society and, given the wealth of empirical evidence into the social determinates of health which have demonstrated the correlation between income and health, added to the winter pressures on the NHS at the very time Government was committed to reducing waiting times. 

In 2022 / 23 there were 4.3m children in the UK being brought up in poverty – 2/3rds of whom had a parent in work. In March 2023 there were 107,317 children in the care of the local authority in the UK – the highest number ever. In December 2023, 112,660 homeless households were living in temporary accommodation in England, including 145,800 children. A record-high for both categories. Despite low detection rates the courts could not keep pace with demand and prisons were bursting at the seams. There was concern about rising knife crime amongst young people.

Two million older retired people were living in poverty in the UK in 2024. The state pension had fallen further behind average earnings (23% in 2025 from 24.5% in 2020). This was because the “triple lock” was suspended in 2022 /23 and the state pension increased by 3.1% instead of 8% had it been applied. Stopping the “winter fuel allowance” in 2024 represented a further cut of 3% in the income associated with the universal state pension having been part of older retired people’s income since 1999. It was restored for some in 2025 not, it would seem, because of the hardship it caused or because of the increased winter pressures on the NHS, but because of the opinion poll ratings and loss of votes in the local elections. Retired people got no benefit from the two pre-election cuts in National Insurance but do have to pay more income tax due to the freezing of the tax-free personal allowance and lost their free TV licence in 2022. Therefore, after ten years of catching-up due to the “triple lock”, introduced by the Coalition Government in 2010 to reverse the year-on-year erosion since the earnings link was replaced by a prices link in the 1980’s, older people were again being left behind.

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Nick da Costa

What’s on at Bournemouth? FCC’s agenda selection report

By Nick da Costa | Wed 9th July 2025 - 7:30 am

The Federal Conference Committee met on Saturday to review submissions and finalise the agenda for Autumn Conference in Bournemouth, taking place from 20 to 23 September 2025. We’re very much looking forward to returning to Bournemouth; a venue many members know and love.

Motion Submissions and Agenda Planning

As ever, we received a strong volume of submissions, reflecting the wide engagement across the party. In total, we received:

  • 36 policy motions
  • 3 business motions
  • 4 constitutional amendments
  • 2 standing order amendments

Following detailed discussion and several rounds of selection, the FCC agreed to include:

  • 20 policy motions
  • 1 business motion
  • All 4 constitutional amendments (as they were in order and must therefore appear on the agenda)
  • All 2 standing order amendments (as they were in order and must therefore appear on the agenda)

 

We are extremely grateful to all the members, local parties, SAOs, and AOs who submitted motions. The time and effort put into drafting and submitting policy ideas is deeply appreciated.

As always, it’s never easy to narrow down such a strong field of proposals. We wish we could include more; but time at conference is limited. We’ve done our best to include as many debates as possible within the available space. In addition, there are a number of mandatory business items, such as constitutional and standing order amendments, which, when in order, must be taken and therefore reduce the time available for policy debates.

Themed Days and Upcoming Announcements

This year’s Conference will include two themed days — one focused on Climate Change, and one on Youth and Skills. These will provide a wider thematic thread across debates and other events during the Conference. More details will follow when we publish the agenda.

The Conference Agenda and Directory will be published in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t yet registered, you can do so here.

Drafting Advice and Amendment Deadlines

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The Voice

Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine strongly oppose the Government’s chilling extension of terrorism powers to deal with protest groups like Palestine Action

By The Voice | Mon 7th July 2025 - 11:48 am

Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine have issued the following statement about in response to the Government’s decision to proscribe “Palestine Action”.

The Liberal Democrats are the party of civil liberties. We oppose government overreach and seek to defend the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The UK Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation poses a grave threat to these fundamental rights and represents a dangerous expansion of counterterrorism
powers.

The definition of terrorism is intended to cover acts that cause death, serious personal injury or hostage taking. Palestine Action is a non violent direct-action group targeting companies complicit in the Israeli military-industrial complex. Its methods include occupying premises and damaging factory or military equipment. The persons accused of the actions at Brize Norton
were not charged with terrorism offences. LDFP believes that existing criminal legislation more than covers their actions and any offences should be dealt with as a criminal matter.

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Mark Valladares

5-6 July 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 7th July 2025 - 10:07 am
  • People waiting over a year for Access to Work support as Lib Dems call on Government to scrap “gutted” welfare legislation
  • Phillipson on Kuenssberg: Govt must give families reassurance on SEND support
  • Baroness Maclean: Badenoch must confirm if she agrees with aide or apologise
  • McMurdock investigation: Reform must come clean about what they knew
  • More than 10,000 ferries cancelled due to technical faults

People waiting over a year for Access to Work support as Lib Dems call on Government to scrap “gutted” welfare legislation

Someone waited 393 days for a decision on their Access to Work application which offers support to help people into employment a Liberal Democrat Written Parliamentary Question reveals.

It comes as the Government has announced a series of concessions on their controversial welfare bill after a major backbench rebellion. The original reforms would have cut the level of support for new PIP claimants which the Liberal Democrats said would create a two-tier system between old and new claimants, while still making it harder for disabled people to stay in work.

The cuts would have also risked thousands of carers losing their Carer’s Allowance as the person they care for needs to be eligible for PIP to receive the support. Although the Government said it will now entirely remove the PIP cuts from the bill following last minute concessions to Labour rebels, the text of the legislation voted on this week still included them.

The Written Parliamentary Questions by the party already revealed failings in giving people the support they need through the Access to Work scheme. They revealed that someone waited 393 days for a decision to be made on their application for into-employment support with the average wait for a decision being close to two months (57 days).

The WPQs also found that of the 157,000 applications for support in 2024/25 close to 20%, or 29,000, had not received a decision by the end of the financial year.

Access to Work helps people get or stay in work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. It can include a grant to help pay for practical support with work, support managing mental health at work or money to pay for communication support at job interviews. These delays disincentivise employers from offering jobs to disabled people as they can hire non-disabled people into roles faster.

The Lib Dems have said that the Government’s handling of this bill was “no way to make legislation let alone run a country”, with the bill rushed through and the full impact assessment of the changes not published. The party said that they would continue to oppose the bill, pointing out that this chop-and-change approach is no way to run our country or reform the welfare system.

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Caron Lindsay

Emma Macdonald to fight Shetland in Scottish Parliament election

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 6th July 2025 - 6:11 pm

Earlier this year, Beatrice Wishart announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament to the Shetland seat she won in the 2019 by-election and defended in 2021.

This week, Shetland Liberal Democrats announced that Emma Macdonald  will stand for the seat at the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

Emma Macdonald has lived in Shetland most of her life after moving over as a child. Emma now lives in Voe and is married with two children and a grandson. In recent years she has owned and operated Emma-Louise’s The Coffee Shop and worked in social care.

She first joined Shetland Islands Council in 2017 as member for Shetland North, becoming deputy leader a year later. During her first term as a councillor Emma also chaired the Integration Joint Board. In 2022 she was re-elected and appointed Leader, also taking on membership of the Health Board for the Council.

In 2024, she won LGIU’s Cllr Award for Leader of the Year. During her time on the council she has worked on a number of key issues including funding for ferries, making the case for fixed links, reliable broadband and the challenges facing the community over the higher cost of living.

Emma Macdonald said:

I would like to thank local party members for selecting me to be their candidate for the Scottish Parliament election. I would also like to wish Moraig well and offer my commiserations, but I know she will continue to deliver for Shetland in her role in the council.

In my time as council leader, people have seen that I can make a real difference. As your prospective next MSP, I want to ensure that Shetland is at the front of the queue and I will be a strong voice standing up for the issues that matter the most, like replacing the Gilbert Bain hospital and delivering on the promise of fixed links.

Delivering tunnels for Shetland is, ultimately, about future-proofing our island population. Transport connectivity is central to creating sustainable islands which provide good homes and good jobs for our people, and which can reverse decades of depopulation.

I hope that you will lend me your vote in next year’s election and look forward to speaking to as many of you as possible on the campaign trail.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton  said:

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Howard Sykes

Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election – 30 years on

By Howard Sykes | Sun 6th July 2025 - 4:02 pm

In 1995, literally thousands of Liberal Democrats came to help Chris Davies win a parliamentary by-election that was seen as a test as to whether the party could sustain a determined attack from Tony Blair’s New Labour.

The political skills of our campaign manager, Chris Rennard, were pitted against those of Labour’s Peter Mandelson, and we triumphed. The victory paved the way for the number of elected Lib Dem MPs to more than double at the general election that followed less than two years later.

The Littleborough & Saddleworth constituency disappeared then, but Chris Davies was soon after elected to represent the North West of England in the European Parliament. At the time of Brexit in 2020 he was the last British (male) MEP to be chair of a major European Parliament committee. 

By way of thanks to those who have given their support over the years, on Sunday, 27 July 2025, Chris and Carol Davies will be hosting from 5.00-8.00pm a gathering for supper at their home in Saddleworth, Oldham.

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Mark Valladares

4 July 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 4th July 2025 - 11:47 pm
  • One in five GPs nearing retirement in some areas as Government’s 10 year plan risks “not touching the sides”
  • Lib Dem Bill passes in Commons – MP says animal welfare will be “transformed”, bill will end pet mutilation
  • Jardine secures government progress on supporting bereaved children
  • Chamberlain: Vote Lib Dem peach to get Scotland back to its best
  • Greene warns investment needed after litany of failures at Ferguson Marine

One in five GPs nearing retirement in some areas as Government’s 10 year plan risks “not touching the sides”

Thousands of GPs are nearing retirement age with some areas seeing close to a quarter aged over 55, research by the House of Commons Library commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The party has said that the Government’s 10 year NHS plan risks “not touching the sides”.

The Government’s 10 year plan for the NHS includes the recruitment of thousands more GPs in the coming years but the analysis shows that this may not be enough to replace the number of GPs set to retire over the next decade.

The data shows that 5,717 GPs are aged over 55 at the end of 2024/25 with that number having risen by 150 since March 2023. It represents around one in seven of the full time equivalent GPs in England, including trainees.

The analysis also found that in some areas almost one in four GPs are approaching retirement. In North West London and Mid and South Essex, 24% of the GP workforce is aged over 55, the highest rates in the country. They were followed by North East London on 21%. Overall, 17 of the 42 Integrated Care Boards had seen a rise in the proportion of GPs nearing retirement age.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to boost GP numbers by 8,000 through incentivising more experienced GPs and nurses to return, including more opportunities for junior doctors and increasing training facilities.

This would be geared towards giving patients a legal right to see their GP within seven days or 24-hours if in urgent need.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said:

The Government’s plans for GP recruitment risk not touching the sides in the face of this retirement ticking time bomb. With an ageing population and many GP practices already at breaking point these plans could simply be treading water rather than delivering the change that people are desperately crying out for.

Botched IT roll outs under the Conservatives have dashed people’s faith in the Government’s ability to actually deliver on these kinds of projects and Labour has provided little detail on how they can actually make this happen.

These plans also risk putting up barriers to digitally-excluded older and vulnerable people accessing the health care they need, if there is no additional appropriate support made available to them.

By plonking the social care crisis in the too hard basket once again, this is not a plan to save the NHS, instead it is the most expensive sticking plaster in history.

Lib Dem Bill passes in Commons – MP says animal welfare will be “transformed”, bill will end pet mutilation

Liberal Democrat MP Danny Chambers’ Private Members’ Bill has passed through the Commons today , with the Government backing the Bill. The vet MP said the move will “eradicate” dangerous puppy smuggling and end “serious public health worries” about the spread of disease associated with imported pets.

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Liam Yip

ALDC by-election report, 3rd July

By Liam Yip | Fri 4th July 2025 - 4:34 pm

This week, there were two Wednesday by-elections, both in North Tyneside. Reform UK secured a seat from Labour in Killingworth, whilst the other by-election saw Labour hold their seat in Longbenton & Benton. Thank you to Emma Vinton, David Nisbet and the team for flying the Lib Dem flag.

North Tyneside MBC, Longbenton & Benton
Labour: 739 (39.6%, -16.8)
Reform UK: 602 (32.3%, +19.3)
Green Party: 259 (13.9%, -7.8)
Liberal Democrats (David Nisbet): 183 (9.8%, new)
Conservative: 83 (4.4%, new)

Labour HOLD

North Tyneside MBC, Killingworth
Reform UK: 771 (38.5%, new)
Labour: 639 (31.9%, -22.7)
Conservative: 441 (21.4%, -3.5)
Green Party: 85 (4.2%, -16.3)
Liberal Democrats (Emma Vinton): 81 (4.0%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

In Consett, we managed to secure victory against Reform UK, after their previous councillor was forced to resign due to his undeclared council employment. Well done to Terry Rooney and the local Liberal Democrat team for ensuring victory and gaining another seat in Durham.

Durham County Council, Benfieldside
Liberal Democrats (Terry Rooney): 824 (28.3%, +17.3)
Labour: 800 (27.4%, +0.8)
Reform UK: 747 (25.6%, -6.6)
Independent: 459 (15.7%, -8.0)
Conservative: 76 (1.6%, -5.0)
Green Party: 40 (1.4%, new)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform UK

In Powys, there was a missed opportunity for Reform UK in a closely-fought fight against us. Well done to Fleur Frantz-Mogans and the local team for ensuring we were able to hold the seat and remain the largest party in Powys.

Powys, Llanidloes
Liberal Democrats (Fleur Frantz-Mogans): 557 (35.5%, +5.2)
Reform UK: 551 (35.1%, new)
Plaid Cymru: 225 (14.3%, +1.9)
Conservative: 118 (7.5%, -7.7)
Labour: 112 (7.1%, -4.8)
Independent: 6 (0.4%, new)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Somerset, we were able to hold onto our seat with an overwhelming victory. Well done to Simon McCombe and the local team for ensuring victory and remain the largest party on Bath and NES council. 

Bath and North East Somerset Council, Mendip
Liberal Democrats (Simon McCombe): 496 (57.1%, -18.2)
Reform UK: 191 (22.0%, new)
Conservative: 84 (9.7%, +6.7)
Green Party: 57 (6.6%, +2.0)
Labour: 40 (4.6%, +0.9)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

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The Voice

A great way to celebrate your first anniversary as MP

By The Voice | Fri 4th July 2025 - 2:43 pm

Today, most of our MPs celebrate the first anniversary of the General Election which saw them elected to Parliament.

For one of them, Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, it was a double celebration as his bill to ban the import of puppies, kittens and ferrets cleared all its Commons stages with Government backing.  It now heads to the Lords. The Bill bans the import of animals younger than six months old and also heavily pregnant animals who may be shipped  back and forth, at great harm to their welfare.

Danny said:

I’m so proud that this Bill has passed in the Commons. It will stop pet mutilation in Britain once and for all. This legislation will transform animal welfare in the UK and eradicate cruel practices that should have been wiped out years ago.

We are now one crucial step closer to closing the loopholes that allow that kind of animal abuse to happen in this country. Mutilated animals can face horrendous injuries, infections, and psychological issues, which vets like myself see each and every day.

Even more worryingly, the illegal smuggling of puppies has long caused serious public health worries that dangerous diseases could be brought back into the UK. This bill will curb those concerns – stamping out savage practices that endanger animals everywhere.

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Mary Reid

Hina Bokhari urges London mayor to do more to tackle Islamophobia

By Mary Reid | Fri 4th July 2025 - 8:53 am

A couple of weeks ago Hina Bokhari AM (our Leader on the London Assembly) wrote: “Britain is a tinderbox and our efforts to confront Islamophobia are not good enough“.

She has now followed that up with a letter to the Mayor Of London, which has caught the attention of the BBC: “London mayor urged to do more to tackle Islamophobia“. In her letter she wrote:

The threats we face as Muslim Londoners are not abstract or hypothetical – they are immediate, real, and growing.

For many of us, this is not merely about perception or politics. It is about safety. Muslims today live in legitimate fear. Whether walking down the street, engaging online, or simply existing visibly as Muslims, we find ourselves bracing for abuse, harassment or worse.

Hina calls on Sadiq Khan to set up training on Islamophobia.

We need to eradicate Islamophobia, and that will only happen through training. I don’t think people really understand what Islamophobia is, or believe it exists. Some of the attacks I’ve been getting online have been about the fact that people think there is no such thing as Islamophobia.

If we had training then at least people would know what we mean by Islamophobia.

She has been doing the rounds of the TV studios highlighting the issue, even though it is obviously difficult for her.

Some of the reactions to this on social media have been disgusting and totally prove her point. 

Hina Bokhari is a hero and needs all the support and love we can give her.

 

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The Voice

Three Lib Dem MPs nominated for Political Purpose Awards

By The Voice | Wed 2nd July 2025 - 5:30 pm

Three Lib Dem MPs have been shortlisted in the Political Purpose Awards.

From the Nature 2030 website:

The Political Purpose Awards recognise the efforts of UK politicians who have supported and championed environmental causes over the last year, incentivising more MPs to devote their time to protecting nature.

The awards return for their third edition in 2025, in partnership with Ecotricity. This year’s awards celebrate eight categories, including two new awards: Wildlife Crime Prevention and Rewilding and Restoring Nature.

This year’s shortlist was judged by an esteemed panel of campaigners, NGOs, and journalists, all of whom are deeply involved in environmental causes and are therefore exposed to the very best (and the worst) work by our elected representatives.

So, who are the three Lib Dem nominees:

Danny Chambers

Up for the Animal Welfare award, because of his Bill to restrict the import of puppies and other small animals, including ferrets. His citation says:

Danny Chambers has been a vocal supporter of legislation to combat puppy smuggling and improve animal welfare. In November 2024, Chambers supported the Puppy Smuggling Bill, which aims to strengthen regulations on dog imports to prevent illegal trading and improve welfare standards. The bill includes measures to raise the minimum age for imported puppies from 15 to 24 weeks, introduce stricter requirements for rabies testing, and limit the number of dogs that can be transported by a single person.

Tim Farron

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NewsHound

Jo Swinson talks to the Observer about a new approach to economics

By NewsHound | Wed 2nd July 2025 - 3:30 pm

Jo Swinson has long been interested in challenging the conventional way of determining economic success. She’s a graduate of the London School of Economics and when she was a Lib Dem MP, and leader, she promoted the idea of measuring wellbeing and not just GDP.

She has spent the past five years as the Director of Partners for a New Economy. This week she was interviewed about the work of PANE in the Observer.

She had some important observations to make about the timidity of some centre-left governments:

We are in this moment of rupture, where the old economic consensus around neoliberalism has lost credibility and is going away but the new economic paradigm has not yet become clear,” says Jo Swinson.

“The irony is that the defenders of the neoliberal status quo seem to be centre-left governments in different parts of the world.” That, she argues, is one reason the left is struggling: “People have sussed out that this economic system doesn’t work.” By contrast, “the part of the right that is being successful has stopped defending neoliberalism, because they know that it’s not popular and that defending it is not going to win them votes.”

She was positive about the direction Mark Carney might take in Canada:

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Mark Valladares

1 July 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 1st July 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • FIRS scheme has a “China-shaped hole”, say Lib Dems
  • Welfare concessions: Govt should “put this bill out of its misery”
  • Davey: Welfare Bill “no way to run a country”
  • Carmichael challenges EDF on imposed inferior tariffs for RTS customers
  • Cole-Hamilton: Delayed discharges another SNP broken promise
  • Operations activity stagnating below pre-pandemic levels

FIRS scheme has a “China-shaped hole”, say Lib Dems

Responding to the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)’s publication today, Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, said:

It’s clear that there’s a China-shaped hole in today’s FIRS announcement. Labour’s failure to include China on the enhanced tier sends a terrible signal to pro-democracy Hong Kongers and Chinese activists living in the UK, and undermines our security.

The government has offered no reasons why China – which poses similar threats to our interests and ideals – is excluded when Iran and Russia are rightly on the enhanced tier.

As we mark the anniversary of the Hong Kong handover today, it’s astonishing the Government has chosen now to broadcast its lax approach to Chinese interference here at home.

With reports also that the Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ is about to be greenlit, the Government needs to get serious about the threat posed by China – or risk mirroring the Conservatives’ utterly incoherent response to Beijing while in power.

Welfare concessions: Govt should “put this bill out of its misery”

Responding to reports that the Government is offering further concessions on the welfare bill to the Labour rebels, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

The Government should stop tying themselves in endless knots and put this bill out of its misery.

This has been a mess from start to finish and it’s clear that this legislation is not fit for purpose. Ministers are asking MPs to vote on a bill on which the ink hasn’t dried before it is blotted out once again.

The Government needs to go back to the drawing board and pull this bill. The Liberal Democrats are clear we cannot support this legislation that puts up more barriers to work and strips away vital support from disabled people and those who care for them.

Davey: Welfare Bill “no way to run a country”

Following the news that the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill has passed, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

This is no way to run a country.

The Government should scrap this failed bill altogether and work cross-party to actually bring down the welfare bill by getting people into work.

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Mark Valladares

30 June 2025 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 1st July 2025 - 9:25 pm
  • Davey: welfare review must listen to the voice of carers
  • Lib Dems call for COBRA meeting as Britain braces for second heatwave
  • Lib Dems reveal 100,000 meters still to be replaced as RTS switch-off begins
  • SNP’s solution to NHS crisis could be delayed or cancelled
  • Greene secures island support fund but questions exclusions

Davey: welfare review must listen to the voice of carers

Ahead of the statement on the welfare bill later today, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said the Government’s review of the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) must listen to groups representing family carers, as well as disability charities.

Under the Government’s plans, those caring for someone who doesn’t qualify for PIP in future will lose their Carer’s Allowance.

The Liberal Democrats said the Government’s welfare bill should be pulled until the full impact on disabled people and carers has been assessed and published.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

I remain deeply worried about the future impact of these cuts on family carers and the vulnerable people they look after.

Ministers must ensure that this review listens carefully to carers’ charities to understand the impact these changes will have, on family carers themselves, on the NHS and social care.

Carers have been ignored by the Government throughout this whole debacle, their voice must now be heard loud and clear.

Liberal Democrats are clear that we cannot vote for anything that strips disabled people and those who care for them of vital support. The Government needs to go back to the drawing board and pull this bill until they have consulted carers and properly set out the full impacts of these changes.

Lib Dems call for COBRA meeting as Britain braces for second heatwave

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to hold an urgent COBRA meeting on this week’s soaring temperatures.

The party is calling on the Government to ensure proper resilience measures are in place to protect the health service and key national infrastructure which can be acutely affected by heat, with rising hospital admissions and travel delays potentially impacting large areas of the country.

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Mark Valladares

28-29 June 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 29th June 2025 - 11:30 pm
  • George Freeman: Badenoch must suspend whip
  • Bob Vylan: hate speech has no place at Glastonbury or in society
  • Greene: Scottish Government must realise economic potential of defence spending
  • Greene responds to proposed Greenfold redundancies
  • Cole-Hamilton: Disease burden shows NHS needs vision and foresight
  • Cramond among 12 sites with dangerous dry weather sewage dumping
  • Lib Dems secure U-turn from Scottish Government on sewage dumping guidance

George Freeman: Badenoch must suspend whip

Responding to reports that Conservative MP George Freeman has referred himself to the parliamentary watchdog over cash for questions claims, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said:

This looks like the same old sleaze and scandal people have come to expect from the Conservative Party.

Kemi Badenoch should immediately suspend the whip from George Freeman while this is investigated.

Failure to act would confirm that even after being booted out of government, the Conservatives are still hopelessly out of touch.

Bob Vylan: hate speech has no place at Glastonbury or in society

Responding to Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury on Saturday, Liberal Democrat Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said:

Bob Vylan’s chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.

Everyone has a responsibility to use language and public platforms carefully.

Greene: Scottish Government must realise economic potential of defence spending

To mark Armed Forces Day, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP has written to the Deputy First Minister urging her to ensure the Scottish Government realises the economic potential of increases in the defence budget.

In June, the UK Chancellor announced that UK defence spending would rise to 2.6% by April 2027.

The increase comes after Liberal Democrat calls in January for a clear roadmap to 3% defence spending, as well as for the government to commit to a full reversal of the Conservatives’ cut of 10,000 troops.

The UK Government’s defence spending increase includes a promised £250 million over three years on the Faslane submarine base in the West of Scotland. It also includes a £4.5 billion munitions investment in several sites across the UK, including Glasgow.

It has also been reported that billions of pounds will need to be invested with established Scottish tech companies to develop drones, satellites, battlefield communications systems, missiles and guidance systems over the next decade.

The text of Mr Greene’s letter to the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, is as follows:

Dear Kate,

I am writing to you following the UK Government’s Spending Review, which has allocated a significant portion of increases in defence spending to Scotland. This includes a promised £250 million over three years on the Faslane submarine base in the West of Scotland.

Scotland’s defence industry currently supports more than 14,000 jobs and generated £1bn for the economy in 2023 alone. It is a critical source of employment not only in my own region along the Clyde, but also in areas like Prestwick, Edinburgh and Dundee amongst others.

If those communities are to reap the benefits of this spending increase, and I believe they should, the Scottish Government must also play its part in realising that economic potential. That means creating the right environment for jobs and investment as well as tackling obstacles that could otherwise dampen those opportunities.

At the moment there are worrying gaps in Scotland’s skills pipeline. The Liberal Democrats have repeatedly raised the issue of teacher shortages in key subjects including maths, chemistry, physics, biology and computer sciences, all of which are vital to developing the skills which will be required by the defence sector.

That situation has been made no easier by the somewhat confused stance the Scottish Government takes on matters of national security and its support for the defence industry in Scotland, by way of example Scottish Enterprise declining to support the proposed Rolls-Royce ‘welding skills’ centre in Glasgow. There is also an increasingly anti-sector narrative being used in the language of politics, and sadly government.

Like many others, I am concerned this creates an unwelcome environment for businesses who might otherwise invest in our defence industry here, as well as for those considering a career in it.

In light of this can I ask for:

  • An update on what exactly the Scottish Government is doing to facilitate and encourage businesses to invest in the Scotland’s defence industry,
  • An outline as to what steps the Scottish Government is taking to address the current lack of teachers in key STEM subjects across Scotland and,
  • Clarity on whether or the not the Scottish Government believes that there should be an ongoing and thriving defence sector in Scotland.

It is incumbent on the Scottish Government to use its available powers to foster a conducive environment for employment, investment and growth.

The defence sector, coupled with our armed forces presence, contributes financially, educationally and socially in the communities they operate in. I hope on that point we have agreement as to their importance and in making them feel welcome in Scotland.

Yours sincerely,

Jamie Greene MSP

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Mark Valladares

27 June 2025 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sat 28th June 2025 - 12:58 pm
  • Welfare concessions: Government should pull the bill that still “risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance”
  • Scot Lib Dems win from 5th place in ultra-competitive Edinburgh bellwether

Welfare concessions: Government should pull the bill that still “risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance”

Responding to the Government announcing concessions on the welfare bill, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

It should not have taken a major rebellion for the Government to realise that these cuts would cause immense damage to some of the most vulnerable and risk creating a false economy by actually forcing some people out of work.

The Government should still pull this bill before the vote on Tuesday and go back to the drawing board. In the absence of any impact assessment, MPs still do not have the full facts and those who are affected have still not been consulted on these changes.

Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose this bill that risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance and leaving some of the most vulnerable without support.

Scot Lib Dems win from 5th place in ultra-competitive Edinburgh bellwether

Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate Kevin McKay has won the highly contested Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election, a ward in which the party finished in fifth place at the 2022 election.

On first preferences, Labour got 20.8%, the Liberal Democrats 20.4% (almost trebling their vote share), Scottish Greens 18.2%, SNP 14.5% (losing more than a third of their vote share), the Conservatives 13.8% (losing almost half their vote share), while Reform UK polled just 7.9%.

However, once second preferences had been redistributed, the Lib Dems secured 2316 votes while Labour got 2219 votes.

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Liam Yip

ALDC by-election Report, 19th June

By Liam Yip | Fri 27th June 2025 - 3:35 pm

In Scotland, we won another council seat after ranked preferences were accounted for. Well done to Kevin McKay and the team for securing another Liberal Democrat councillor in Edinburgh.

City of Edinburgh Council, Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart
1st Preferences:
Labour: 1,293 (20.8%, -1.7)
Liberal Democrats (Kevin McKay): 1,269 (20.4%, +13.3)
Scottish Greens: 1,133 (18.2%, -1.7)
SNP: 905 (14.5%, -8.2)
Conservative: 857 (13.8%, -12.8)
Reform UK: 489 (7.9%, new)
Independent: 111 (0.6%, new)
Independent: 99 (0.6%, new)
SFP: 34 (0.5%, -0.2)
LBT: 25 (0.4%, -0.1)
Independent: 25 (0.4%, new)
Independent: 9 (0.1%, new)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Labour

We secured an overwhelming victory, with almost 65% of votes, for a seat on Mid Devon District Council. Well done to Tim Stanford and the team for ensuring that this council seat remains with the Liberal Democrats.

Mid Devon DC, Crediton Lawrence
Liberal Democrats (Tim Stanford): 540 (64.9%, +12.8)
Reform UK: 226 (27.2%, new)
Labour: 66 (7.9%, -18.3)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

Despite our vote share percentage decreasing by over 10%, we still managed to hold our seat on Rother District Council. Well done to Nicola Mclaren and the team for their efforts in ensuring this council seat remains Liberal Democrat. 

Rother District Council, Catsfield & Crowhurst
Liberal Democrats (Nicola Mclaren): 267 (36.6%, -11.9)
Reform UK: 200 (27.4%, new)
Conservative: 162 (22.2%, -10.9)
Labour: 101 (13.8%, -4.7)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

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Mark Valladares

26 June 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 26th June 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • Davey calls on Government to pull Welfare Bill before vote as “PM’s own backbenchers” can see the damage carers face
  • “Bungling Badenoch” urgently needs to clarify Conservative position on PM attending major summits after Pritchard criticism
  • Married couple Yi-pei Chou Turvey and Michael Turvey top North East list
  • Wendy Chamberlain MP and People’s Postcode Lottery respond to Government not lifting Charity Lottery Cap
  • Cole-Hamilton: Cancer patients deserve better than SNP failures

Davey calls on Government to pull Welfare Bill before vote as “PM’s own backbenchers” can see the damage carers face

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the Government to pull their controversial welfare reforms before a vote next week saying that “even the Prime Minister’s own backbenchers” can see the damage these reforms could do to unpaid family carers and those they look after.

Davey made the call as the Liberal Democrats have tabled their own Reasoned Amendment aimed at killing the Bill. It highlights the plight of unpaid family carers as a result of these cuts and instead urges the Government to fix the crisis in the NHS and social care, to get people off waiting lists and back into work to get the welfare bill down.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

The Government needs to pull this Bill and go back to the drawing board. Even the Prime Minister’s own backbenchers can see the damage these cuts will do by leaving some of the most vulnerable without support and putting thousands of unpaid carers in impossible situations.

The Conservatives made a complete mess of our welfare system, but the way to bring the benefits bill down is not through cutting support for disabled people and those who care for them. It is by tackling the crisis in our NHS and social care, to get millions of people off waiting lists and back to work.

Family carers do tremendous work in often the most challenging of circumstances, taking huge pressures off our health services and helping loved ones. Taking support away from our nation’s carers is the worst kind of false economy.

I hope the Prime Minister listens and pulls this Bill instead of cutting vital support from thousands of vulnerable people.

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Mark Valladares

25 June 2025 – today’s Scottish and Welsh press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 25th June 2025 - 11:30 pm
  • Rennie secures major overhaul of qualifications quality assurance after history exam row
  • Greene: Nationalists failing to deliver as Scottish economy shrinks
  • Dozens of pro-independence accounts go dark after Israeli strikes on Iran
  • National Insurance rise leaves Welsh universities with a £18 million a year bill
  • SNP financial strategy is late, incompetent and unsustainable

Rennie secures major overhaul of qualifications quality assurance after history exam row

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie has secured a series of significant reforms to the Scottish Government’s Education Bill to strengthen the oversight and quality of national qualifications, following widespread concern over this year’s Higher History exam and the lack of external scrutiny within the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The changes, agreed with the Cabinet Secretary and passed at Stage 3 of the Bill, will ensure greater transparency, external accountability, and a clear pathway to further reform of accreditation functions across Scotland’s education system.

The package of amendments includes:

  • Immediate improvements to how Qualifications Scotland assures quality, including an independent review, an annual compliance report, and a new independent expert group to advise on standards.
  • A statutory review of the scope and location of the SQA’s current accreditation function, which covers mainly post-school vocational qualifications.
  • Timetables and mechanisms to ensure that if ministers conclude that further legislation is needed, they must bring forward changes within a year or explain to Parliament why they are not acting.

Willie Rennie said:

The scandal over this year’s Higher History exam showed how unsatisfactory it is that the SQA inspects itself with its quality assurance arrangements. I’ve worked constructively with the Cabinet Secretary to build a stronger system that fixes this and lays the groundwork for lasting reform.

There was no consensus on quality assurance and accreditation changes but I am clear that the current set-up just isn’t good enough. My amendments deliver immediate improvements and a structured, evidence-based route to deeper reform.

The SQA and its replacement, Qualifications Scotland, are under new leadership and will have an big opportunity to change. These amendments give them that chance, but make clear that if further reform is needed, it will be delivered.

Greene: Nationalists failing to deliver as Scottish economy shrinks

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP has today said that the SNP are out of time to turn the Scottish economy around as new figures showed that Scotland’s GDP contracted in April and revised figures showed that it contracted by more than previously expected in March.

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Mark Valladares

25 June 2025 – today’s Federal press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 25th June 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • PAC Covid loans report: unacceptable still no sign of the billions “mugged from taxpayers”
  • Lib Dems demand mandatory vote in Parliament before any British forces sent to conflict zones as nearly 60% of Britons back a vote ahead of any UK action in Iran
  • Trade Strategy has “missed the mark” and shows a Government “cowering in the corner” – Lib Dems

PAC Covid loans report: unacceptable still no sign of the billions “mugged from taxpayers”

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report which states that the Government has been “dangerously-flat footed” in recovering taxpayer losses from fraudulent Covid loans, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

Nearly a year after the Government announced its Covid corruption czar, it’s unacceptable that there’s still no sign of the billions of pounds that were mugged from taxpayers.

The Conservative Party oversaw awful abuse of the public finances, essentially allowing a dodgy get rich quick scheme to operate at the expense of people struggling with the catastrophe of the Covid pandemic. But now under this Government, those people seem to be getting off scot free.

Ministers cannot allow this situation to drift any longer. We must see real focus at the top of Government so that these people have to bear the full force of the law and these billions are returned to taxpayers pockets.

Lib Dems demand mandatory vote in Parliament before any British forces sent to conflict zones as nearly 60% of Britons back a vote ahead of any UK action in Iran

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a bill to legally require a Parliamentary vote ahead of the Government deploying British soldiers abroad, as compelling polling commissioned by the party shows that nearly 6 in 10 Britons (57%) believe Parliament should vote on any UK military action taken in Iran.

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Michael Taylor

The Action Day – a good thing?

By Michael Taylor | Wed 25th June 2025 - 8:55 am

A lot has been said about the value of ‘Action Days’. I have no doubt that for a parliamentary or council by-election it is a vital tool in getting outside help to where it is most needed. I am certain that there is great camaraderie and that it seems more effective to be working in a group and appear to cover a lot of ground.

Is this a tool to be used when council wide elections are happening alongside say a Mayoral election, where lots of people are seeking election or re-election. Is it productive to move people around instead of focussing on your own ward? Do action days add to the number of leaflets delivered or doors knocked?

I want to suggest that they don’t. In my early days as a campaigner and councillor, I found very soon found that me knocking on doors to ask people to vote for me was the most effective tool in the armoury. Taking time to go and knock on other people’s doors or deliver their leaflets reduced the number of doors I could knock on in my own ward. Moving local members around the council area is a bit like moving the deck chairs on the Titanic! 

The alternative to all this busy organisation is to spend the non-election period recruiting deliverers, getting poster sites agreed and running training sessions for members who haven’t canvassed before, so that wards can run largely self-sufficiently during elections.

There is one caveat. There does need to be a mechanism for funnelling volunteers from outside the area to where they are needed and for sorting out where a mayoral candidate is to go during the campaign, but action days add a layer of complexity that may actually detract from getting things done.

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Caron Lindsay

Happy 80th birthday, Mary Reid

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 23rd June 2025 - 7:30 am

Today is an incredibly special day.

Our wonderful Thursday and Friday editor Mary Reid celebrates her Ruby Jubilee.

We are sure that everyone she ever taught, anyone who has been on the receiving end of her patient and generous help with their articles for this site, anyone whose campaign she has helped, anyone whose problem she solved as a councillor, anyone who has benefitted from the Conference access fund she pushed for, anyone who has benefitted from her wise advice, anyone who has enjoyed her incredible hospitality, will wish her the most fantastic of celebrations. The above, by the way, is a lot of people.

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The Voice

Ed Davey: we must work for diplomatic solution

By The Voice | Sun 22nd June 2025 - 10:55 am

Ed Davey has commented on the US attacks on Iran:

Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose a grave threat to regional stability and global security. That threat can only truly be eliminated through robust diplomacy.

Following the US strikes, it is essential that we work to deescalate the conflict and achieve that diplomatic solution.

Do you think this is the right approach? Should he be more vocal in opposition to Trump’s actions?

let us know your views in the comments.

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