Category Archives: News

The Voice

Alex Cole-Hamilton’s Christmas message

By The Voice | Wed 24th December 2025 - 7:30 am

Scottish Lib Dem Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has released his Christmas message:

First of all I would like to thank all of those in our emergency services and those in the military who cannot spend Christmas with their lived ones because they are on duty today. You have our thanks, stay safe.

It’s been a massively successful year for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. From pushing for action on long mental health waits and the closure of care homes, to delivering progress on the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion and the Belford Hospital in Fort William, I am so proud of how my party gets stuck in and gets stuff done. That’s what Scottish Liberal Democrats are all about.

It was with that energy and ambition that we kicked off our spring conference in Inverness, welcoming the former Conservative MSP Jamie Greene into our ranks. Jamie’s decision struck a chord with all those people who are frustrated with the Conservative Party as it lurches to extremes and apes the likes of Nigel Farage. Sensible, moderate voters – who perhaps took a chance on Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives – deserve better than this.

In every corner of Scotland, people deserve a party that will restore decency to our politics, that will fight for them on the issues that matter – that’s what you get with the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

It is now just over 100 sleeps until the Scottish election: a chance to get the change Scotland truly needs – a change of government.

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Liam Yip

ALDC by-election report, 18th Dcember

By Liam Yip | Fri 19th December 2025 - 12:45 pm

This week, there were five principal council by-elections. All of this week’s contests were in England, stretching from Blackpool, where the Christmas season is marked by the glow of the famous Illuminations, down to the Cornish coast at Newquay, and across to the eastern edge of the country at Lowestoft.

We start on the south bank of the River Ribble in Penwortham. We held this seat, pushed our vote share up and left Reform a long way behind. With Preston just over the bridge, and with us as the official opposition there, this is an area where visible local work still cuts through, and the result made that clear. Congratulations are due to Councillor Clare Burton‑Johnson and the local team for keeping the seat firmly in our hands.

South Ribble Borough Council, Broad Oak
Liberal Democrats (Clare Burton‑Johnston): 810 (65.9%, +0.4)
Reform UK: 263 (21.4%, new)
Conservative: 95 (7.7%, -9.5)
Labour: 62 (5.0%, -12.2)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Turnout: 35.29%

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Callum Robertson

Reform in local government guilty of attacks on those with the least

By Callum Robertson | Tue 16th December 2025 - 10:55 am

No one should be trapped in poverty. That’s a principle that is core to our identity as Liberal Democrats. Another is trust—trusting people to manage their own lives, with the government stepping in only when necessary to help. That’s why we champion universal credit for those who need support and an NHS free at the point of use.

These principles drove us in government: when we raised the personal tax threshold, taking millions out of paying income tax and enabling people to keep more of what they earned. We also did it when we introduced targeted help like the Pupil Premium to give disadvantaged children a fair start.

They guide us in local government too, where Liberal Democrat councils run some of the most progressive council tax reduction schemes in the country—Watford, Three Rivers, and Richmond among them.

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Chris Bowers

Ed needs to up his game and take lessons from the Dutch Liberals’ sense of insurgency

By Chris Bowers | Tue 16th December 2025 - 9:05 am

It was buried in the depths of The Economist’s ‘2026 Outlook’, and I almost missed it. Could there really be a Liberal Democrat leadership election in 2026? It feels an odd thing to say, 17 months after the party went from 15 to 72 seats, albeit far more off the back of the abject performance of the Conservatives than from our own good works.

The Economist said, “Yet not all in Lib Dem land are content. A private discussion about Sir Ed’s suitability will become a public one. Some MPs are fed up that the party continues to plod along, neither a party of power nor a party of protest, but instead a symbol of mild discontent in England’s most prosperous parts … Perhaps 200 seats could be theirs for the taking with a suitably determined leader. Sir Ed is not that man.”

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Tim Holden

Hope dawns for Britain’s neglected communities: honouring the Brexit vote by fixing trade, not leaving prosperity behind

By Tim Holden | Mon 15th December 2025 - 2:44 pm

To the proud Leave voters across the Midlands, the North East, the South, Wales and all areas that backed the decision: You voted for sovereignty, you voted to take back control, and you voted for a better economic future in British hands. The Liberal Democrats understand that vision and share your desire for a thriving United Kingdom.

​But across our fishing ports, industrial heartlands, and farming communities, there is a growing, painful reality. The Conservative Government’s deal failed to deliver on those promises, creating a legacy of bureaucracy, crippling costs, and a constant drag on our local economies.

​Worse still, the Labour government, despite acknowledging the damage, has so far refused to take the decisive action needed to fix it. While ministers debate in private and offer small ‘resets’, they remain trapped by the same old ‘red lines’, ruling out the most effective solution and leaving our businesses in limbo.

​The Liberal Democrats have therefore taken the reins to deliver. We are leading the push in Parliament to finally bring about the economic renewal you voted for.

​The Shared Failure to Deliver: Why the Labour Government’s Stance Falls Short.

​From Hull and Grimsby to the industrial towns of the North East and the manufacturing hubs of the West Midlands, the pain of the current trading arrangement is evident.

​Manufacturing Stalled:

Local factories rely on complex ‘just-in-time’ European supply chains. The current deal means paperwork, checks, and delays that slow production and hike costs. Neither the Conservative deal nor the current Labour government’s minor ‘resets’ have addressed this fundamental friction.

​Betrayal of Our Fishers:

Seafood exporters are still facing bureaucratic nightmares. The Labour government, like its predecessor, has refused to embrace the one goods based solution, a Customs Union hat would virtually eliminate this red tape.

​A Failure of Political Will:

While Labour ministers have suggested that a new customs arrangement would boost growth, the party’s official position continues to stick to manifesto promises that lock them out of the most effective path to prosperity.

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Mark Valladares

15 December 2025 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 15th December 2025 - 11:16 am

Davey on strikes: “Government must declare a national emergency and offer flu jabs unconditionally”

Following news that resident doctors have voted to strike from Wednesday in England, and following surging rates of hospitalisation for flu in recent weeks, the Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to treat the NHS crisis as a national emergency.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has urged the Government to introduce emergency measures, including universal access to NHS flu vaccines in community spaces across England, an appeal for retired doctors to work winter shifts and regular COBRA meetings chaired by the Prime Minister. The party would also …

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Mark Valladares

15 December 2025 – the overnight press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 15th December 2025 - 7:30 am
  • “Less than two weeks to save Christmas” – Lib Dems call for new winter discharge unit as figures reveal patients wait 268 days to leave hospital
  • Brexit and SNP missed opportunities are costing Scotland dearly

“Less than two weeks to save Christmas” – Lib Dems call for new winter discharge unit as figures reveal patients wait 268 days to leave hospital

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new dedicated winter discharge unit to stop thousands of patients being trapped unnecessarily in hospital over the festive period amidst a perfect storm of doctors strikes and winter pressures.

The unit would use a new £90m fund to deliver a surge of locum doctors during discharge bottlenecks to free up doctors on shift, backed by 24/7 patient transport, and 5,000 emergency social and home care packages a week over the Christmas period.

It comes as a Freedom of Information request by the party reveals the scale of the crisis in our NHS and social care which is leaving patients waiting hundreds of days to be discharged.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust admitted that their longest delay for a patient to be discharged last year was 268 days, which is almost 9 months. Surrey and Sussex Health Care NHS Trust had similarly eye-watering waits, with their longest hospital discharge hitting 196 days, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust left a patient waiting to be discharged for 193 days, or over 6 months.

Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS foundation trusts reported their longest waits of 162 days, whilst Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust revealed their longest day was 154 days. This is the equivalent of over 5 months.

In December 2024, even without strikes or record levels of flu, 20,000 people had a delay being discharged of longer than four days, with 2,553 facing delays of over 21 days. The cost of delayed discharge has been estimated by the Kings Fund at £395 per bed, per night. Last December, more than 10,000 patients a day remained in hospital who were no longer meeting the criteria to stay, suggesting a cost to the NHS in excess of £122m.

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Caron Lindsay

Scottish internal election results

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 14th December 2025 - 10:39 am

The federal and all the State parties have been having internal elections.

The Scottish Party announced its results on Friday with a brilliant mix of people being elected to office bearer roles and committees. Except the President – watch out for her, she’s bound to be trouble.

Returning Officer John Lawrie emailed all members:

President – Caron Lindsay
Convener – Jenni Lang
Policy Convener – Neil Casey
Conference Convener – Fraser Graham
Campaigns & Candidates Convener – Charles Dundas
Treasurer – Mike Gray
Executive Committee Members (12 Members) – Willie Wilson, Alan Reid, Jill Reilly, David Evans, Stephen Harte, Amanda Clark, Christine Murdoch, Greg Foster, Daniel O’Malley, Grant Toghill, Lauren Buchanan-Quigley, Jacquie Bell
Policy Committee Members (5 Members) – Sally Pattle, Andy Williamson, Amanda Clark, Jack Clark, Eloise Martin
Conference Committee Members (6 Members) – Paul McGarry, Mel Sullivan, Ross Stalker, Noah McGarry, Leo Dempster, Jacquie Bell
Federal Council (3 Members) – Stephen Harte, Fraser Graham, Christine Murdoch
A member of The Federal Policy Committee – Daniel O’Malley
A member of The Federal Conference Committee – Paul McGarry
A member of The Federal People Development Committee – Caron Lindsay

Congratulations to everyone elected and commiserations to everyone who didn’t make it this time.

We have our youngest committee member in Noah McGarry, who is 14 but wise beyond his years. He has been elected to Conference Committee after impressing so many conference go-ers with his speeches and supporting role to his Dad, Paul, the former Conference Convener. He wants to make Conference accessible and enjoyable for young people.

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report – 11 December 2025

By Liam Yip | Fri 12th December 2025 - 7:36 pm

4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logoThis week, there were nine local council by-elections, from all over the country. Three local by-elections did not have a Liberal Democrat candidate.

We start in the Highlands, where wewere able to gain this seat, at the expense of the SNP. Congratulations are due to Councillor Matthew Prosser and the local team for winning this seat.

Highland Council, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
First preferences:
Liberal Democrats (Matthew Prosser): 925 (40.5%)
SNP: 665 (29.1%)
Reform UK: 220 (9.6%)
Green Party: 216 (9.4%)
Conservative: 175 (7.6%)
Labour: 87 (3.8%)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from SNP
Elected at Stage 5

Turnout: 25.9%

In the Central Belt, Reform successfully gained this seat, for their first Scottish electoral victory. Thank you to Dougie Butler and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

West Lothian Council, Whitburn and Blackburn
First preferences:
Reform UK: 1177 (32.0%)
SNP: 1028 (28.0%)
Labour: 627 (17.1%)
Independent (Lynch): 484 (13.2%)
Conservative: 129 (3.5%)
Liberal Democrats (Douglas Butler): 102 (2.8%)
Green Party: 101 (2.7%)
Independent (Millar): 27 (0.7%)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour
Elected at Stage 8

Turnout: 22.2%


In the Tees Valley, there were two by-elections this week, yet only one had a Liberal Democrat candidate. In Darlington, Reform were able to gain this seat off Labour, with us and the Tories finishing in joint second place. Thank you to Simon Thorley and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Darlington Borough Council, Red Hall and Lingfield
Reform UK: 341 (37.7%, new)
Conservative: 157 (17.3%, -22.5)
Liberal Democrats (Simon Thorley): 157 (17.3%, new)
Labour: 152 (16.8%, -37.1)
Green Party: 89 (9.8%, +3.6)
Independent: 9 (1.0%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Turnout: 27.47%


In the West Midlands, the Conservatives successfully defended their seat. Thank you to Morag Maclean and the local team for winning this seat/flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Lichfield District Council, Armitage with Handsacre
Conservative: 630 (46.7%, -6.3)
Reform UK: 431 (31.9%, new)
Labour: 127 (9.4%, -23.5)
Liberal Democrats (Morag Maclean): 99 (7.3%, -6.8)
Green Party: 63 (4.7%, new)

Conservative HOLD

Turnout: 22.43%


Moving south, we turn to the Welsh Valleys, where a local by-election was prompted by the outcome of the recent Senedd by-election. Plaid Cymru were able to comfortably hold this seat. Thank you to Mary Lloyd and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Caerphilly County Borough Council, Penyrheol
Plaid Cymru: 956 (60.1%, +6.3)
Reform UK: 422 (26.5%, new)
Labour: 114 (7.2%, -24.4)
Conservative: 66 (4.2%, -10.4)
Liberal Democrats (Mary Lloyd): 32 (2.0%, new)

Plaid Cymru HOLD

Turnout: 16.3%


In East Devon, we were able to gain a seat at the expense of the Conservatives, who were attempting to defend this seat, which they won in 2023, but the resigned councillor had since become independent. Congratulations to Councillor Steve Hunt and the local team for this decisive victory.

East Devon District Council, Seaton
Liberal Democrats (Steve Hunt): 789 (41.3%, +21.2)
Reform UK: 565 (29.6%, new)
Conservative: 400 (20.9%, -9.5)
Independent: 156 (8.2%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

Turnout: 33.4%


The results for the three by-elections which had no Liberal Democrat candidates are below.

South Kesteven District Council, Aveland
Reform UK: 290 (41.0%, +26.5)
Conservative: 280 (39.5%, +19.0)
Green Party: 115 (16.2%, new)
Labour: 23 (3.2%, new)

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James Baker

Banning children from online games, and spying on every device: Why we must oppose Baroness Benjamin’s attack on liberty

By James Baker | Fri 12th December 2025 - 10:25 am

Shortly, families across the country will gather to celebrate Christmas. Elves will have been busy making presents for Children, and Santa will be loading his sack. Parents will look forward to the joy on their children’s faces as they unwrap them.

For many teenagers, this joy might take the form of a new computer game to play with friends over the holiday. Maybe Minecraft, Fortnite, or the latest Mario Kart.

Yet if one Liberal Democrat peer has her way, no one under the age of 16 would be able to play an online game that allows them to talk or interact with another player.

Baroness Benjamin is backing a series of illiberal amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

One would:

require all regulated user-to-user services to use highly-effective age assurance measures to prevent children under the age of 16 from becoming or being users.

While the stated intent is to ban under-16s from social media, the definition of a “user-to-user service” under the Online Safety Act 2023 is far broader. It covers almost any service that allows users to create content or communicate online. This includes social media, messaging apps, forums, and, critically for teens (and gamer parents who game with their children), Multiplayer video games.

In practice, this would ban under-16s from:

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The Voice

Three new Lib Dem Peers announced – and two more get to stay

By The Voice | Wed 10th December 2025 - 8:18 pm

Three new Lib Dem peers have been announced today.

Party Chief Exec Mike Dixon, Ed Davey’s Chief of Staff Rhiannon Leaman and former MP and winner of an epic by-election in Brent East Sarah Teather will be joining our Group in the House of Lords in the very near future. Sarah was also Children’s Minister during the first couple of years of the Coalition Government.

In addition, two of our hereditary peers, who would otherwise have been kicked out, get to stay. Dominic Addington and John Russell, have also been granted life peerages so they can continue their important contributions to Parliament after the Hereditary Peers Bill passes.

John Russell is the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, Dominic Addington is the Liberal Democrat Disabilities Spokesperson; is a passionate campaigner on special educational needs and disability; and is reported to be the most active peer in the entire House of Lords.

But on to the newbies:

Sarah Teather won a stunning by-election victory to become MP for Brent East in 2003, before serving as Children’s Minister between 2010 and 2012 where she led the way in doubling the pupil premium targeted at children from deprived backgrounds.

Rhiannon Leaman has served as Jo Swinson’s and then Ed Davey’s Chief of Staff since 2019.

Mike Dixon has served as Chief Executive since 2019, overseeing the transformation of the party that helped deliver four by-election wins and a record number of MPs.

Both Mike Dixon and Rhiannon Leaman will continue in their current roles for the party.

You can find out more about them here.

Ed said of the new three peers:

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Nick da Costa

Federal Conference Committee report

By Nick da Costa | Wed 10th December 2025 - 4:06 pm

The newly elected Federal Conference Committee (FCC) met on the evening 8 December, following the most recent round of Federal Elections. 

I would like to begin by offering warm congratulations to all newly elected and re-elected members of the Committee. I look forward to working with you over the coming years. I also extend commiserations to those who were not not successful on this occasion, and a heartfelt thank you to members who were not re-elected or who chose to stand down. Their contribution to delivering our conferences over the last term has been exceptional. 

The new FCC members are: 

Directly elected: Chris Adams, Jess Brown-Fuller, Nick da Costa, Gareth Epps, Alison Jenner, Eleanor Kelly, Chris Maines, Shaffaq Mohammed, Kath Pinnock, Jennie Rigg, Callum Robertson, Sarah Teather.  

The Party President: Mark Pack (Josh Babarinde from 1 Jan)

Wendy Chamberlain (as Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons)

English Representative: Darryl Smalley (Dionne Daniel from 1 Jan)

Scottish Representative: Fraser Graham (Scottish Rep elections currently underway)

Welsh Representative: Matthew Palmer (Chloe Hutchinson from 1 Jan)

YL Representative: Leo Dempster

Federal Board Representative: vacant

Federal Policy Committee Representatives: Duncan Brack & Alex Brewer

FCEC Representative: vacant 

FPDC Representative: Charley Hasted

Election of Officers

The Committee confirmed its officers for the new term. I am delighted to have been re-elected as Chair of the Federal Conference Committee. 

We also elected two Vice Chairs: 

  • Chris Adams: responsible for the General Purposes Subcommittee (GPSC)
  • Eleanor Kelly: responsible for the Conference Communications Group (CCG)

I look forward to working closely with Chris and Eleanor in the team ahead. 

General Purposes Subcommittee (GPSC)

The GPSC is responsible for the initial consideration of many organisational matters before they come to the FCC. Working in collaboration with the Conference Team, the GPSC will consider:

  • Future venue options for Federal Conference,
  • Conference registration rates, 
  • Party body rates, and recognition of bodies eligible for concessionary rates,
  • Conference stewards, including reports from the Chief Steward,
  • Conference finances and future conference budgets,
  • Access-related matters, 

Conference Communications Group (CCG)

The CCG bring recommendations to FCC based on work covering:

  • FCC communications with members and conference attendees, 
  • Marketing of Conference to members, 
  • Encouraging participation, diversity, and outreach
  • Accessibility of conference materials. 

Subcommittee membership

 We confirmed the membership of both the GPSC and CCG. These groups will each meet in the new year to review and refine their work plans for the term of office, which will then return to the FCC for further discussion. 

Constitutional & Standing Orders Working Group

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Liam Yip

ALDC By-Election Report, 4th December

By Liam Yip | Fri 5th December 2025 - 4:48 pm

This week, there were six local by-elections, of which three were Liberal Democrat defences.

In Watford, we secured a decisive win and defended this borough council seat. Congratulations are due to Councillor Callum Robinson and the local team for winning in Watford.

Watford Borough Council, Tudor
Liberal Democrats (Callum Robertson): 821 (52.6%, +4.3)
Reform UK: 433 (27.2%, +17.8 )
Conservative: 148 (9.3%, -10.5)
Labour: 111 (7.0%, -16.4)
Green Party: 77 (4.8%, new)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

In East Devon, we were able to ensure this seat remained Liberal Democrat, with a solid win over Reform UK. Congratulations are also due to Councillor Fran McElhone and the local team.

East Devon District Council, Exmouth Halsdon
Liberal Democrats (Fran McElhone): 551 (35.9%, -3.9)
Reform UK: 438 (28.5%, new)
Conservative: 393 (25.6%, -4.1)
Green Party: 153 (10.0%, new)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Staying in Devon, we were able to gain this seat off the Conservatives, who were pushed down to third place. Congratulations too to Stephen Middleton and the local team for gaining another council seat for the Lib Dems.

Torridge District Council, Winkleigh
Liberal Democrats (Stephen Middleton): 325 (42.3%, +8.7)
Reform UK: 252 (32.8%, new)
Conservative: 191 (24.9%, -23.7)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

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Caron Lindsay

The Federal Election results are out!

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 3rd December 2025 - 4:09 pm

I am just quickly posting this now in between appointments and I will do some commentary later.

The Federal Returning Officer Crispin Allard sent this email out giving the results of the Federal Committee elections:

I can confirm that today we have completed the count for the internal federal elections, following an initial delay.

The results can be found below:

Federal Board:
Hannah Kitching; Janey Little; Prue Bray

Federal Board – Councillor Rep:
Lucy Nethsingha

Federal Council:
Adrain Hyyrylainen-Trett; Aiden Van de Weyer; April Preston; Candy Piercy; Caroline Leaver; Caron Lindsay; Charley Hasted; Dominic Martin; Donna Harris; Gareth Roberts; Hannah Perkin; Humaira Sanders; Janice Turner; Jenny Wilkinson; Keith Moffit; Rachel Barker; Richard Cole; Sarah Cheung Johnson; Simon McGrath; Teresa Cooper; Victor Chamberlain

Federal Council – Councillor Rep:
Sudhakar Achwal; Tim Pickstone; Thalia Marrington

Federal Policy Committee:
Abrial Jerram; Antony Hook; Duncan Brack; Katie Mansfield; Laura Gordon; Lucy Nethsingha; Martin Horwood; Mohsin Khan; Nick Harvey; Phil Bennion; Rebecca Jones; Richard Cole; Rosie Shimell; Simon McGrath; Zoe Hollowood

Federal Policy Committee – Councillor Rep:
Susan Juned; Thalia Marrington

Federal Conference Committee:
Alison Jenner; Callum Robertson; Chris Adams; Chris Maines; Eleanor Kelly; Gareth Epps; Jennie Rigg; Jess Brown-Fuller; Kath Pinnock; Nick da Costa; Sarah Teather; Shaffaq Mohammed

Federal International Relations Committee:
Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett; Allessandra Rossetti; Ann Keeling; David Chalmers; Eleanor Rylance; Hannah Bettsworth; Irina von Wiese; Khadija El Morabit

ALDE Delegation:
Chloe Hutchinson; Helen Belcher; Irina von Wiese; Jacqueline Bell; Phil Bennion; Rowan Fitton

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that, on 12 November, Josh Babarinde was elected as President, and Victoria Collins was elected as Vice President with responsibility for ethnic minorities.The Federal Returning Officer team extend our sincere thanks to all candidates for putting themselves forward, and to every member who engaged in the process and made their voice heard.

A few quick thoughts:

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The Voice

Danny Chambers’ Animal Welfare Bill becomes law

By The Voice | Wed 3rd December 2025 - 10:25 am

Dogs, cats and ferrets across the world have cause to be grateful to Lib Dem MP Danny Chambers. His Bill preventing puppy smuggling and trafficking of heavily pregnant animals received Royal Assent from the King yesterday and is now the law of the land.

“Britain will no longer be a market for animal cruelty” said Danny to Lib Dem Conference in September. Here’s his whole speech where he was completely upstaged by Vikki Slade’s gorgeous dog Todd.

Speaking as his Bill received Royal Assent, Danny said:

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The Voice

Federal Election counts happening today

By The Voice | Wed 3rd December 2025 - 8:45 am

After a three week delay, the counts for the Federal elections will get underway at 10 am.

By the end of the day, we should know who has been elected to the Federal Board, Federal Conference Committee, Federal Policy Committee, Federal International Relations Committee, ALDE delegation, Federal Council and the Councillor representatives to FPC, FCC and FC.

The counts were delayed in the wake of the decision of the Returning Officer to change the ways the diversity quotas operated just one day before the ballots opened. This was successfully challenged to Federal Appeals Panel which led to the results being delayed. 

We …

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Liam Yip

ALDC By-Election Report, 27th November

By Liam Yip | Fri 28th November 2025 - 4:09 pm

This week saw three principal council by‑elections in England, each offering a glimpse into the shifting local political landscape. The most notable was in Pendle, where the Liberal Democrats faced the challenge of defending this council seat against the rising threat of Reform, whose presence on the ballot paper added uncertainty surrounding the contest.

Beginning in the town of Barlick, we were able to successfully defend this seat with a clear and decisive victory. Polling day happened to fall on Lancashire Day, even though the town itself has sat on the wrong side of the county line for the past fifty years. The Liberal Democrats strengthened our position, while both Labour and the Conservatives saw their vote collapse. Meanwhile, Reform UK made its first appearance here with a sizeable vote share but ultimately fell well short of mounting a serious challenge.

Congratulations are due to Councillor Bryony Hartley and the local team for ensuring this remained a Liberal Democrat seat.

Pendle Borough Council, Barnoldswick
Liberal Democrats (Bryony Hartley): 1,008 (59.8%, +1.5)
Reform UK: 441 (26.2%, new)
Conservative: 170 (10.1%, -11.7)
Labour: 66 (3.9%, -11.1)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Turnout: 25.8%

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The Voice

Ed Davey reacts to “botched” budget

By The Voice | Wed 26th November 2025 - 2:30 pm

Ed Davey has described Rachel Reeves’ budget as a failure. He said:

This was a botched Budget delivered by a Chancellor who has diagnosed the disease, but refuses to administer the cure.

This Government has chosen to reject the single biggest thing it could do to turbocharge economic growth and repair the £90 billion Brexit black hole.

Labour was elected on a promise of tackling the cost of living crisis and growing the economy – and this is the second budget where it’s failed to do either.  For millions of people struggling with higher bills, all this budget really offers is higher taxes.

David Chadwick, our Welsh MP, had this to say:

This is yet another budget that fails to deliver the structural changes needed to deliver for the people of Wales.

My constituents will be bitterly disappointed in the lack of help for the cost-of-living crisis and the failure of the Government to listen to Liberal Democrat calls to make energy bills cheaper and cut VAT for hospitality businesses.

Rural communities have been left abandoned again, with Labour’s refusal to compromise on the family farms tax set to cause devastation to the entire wider supply chain.

The Government has deliberately turned its back on the single most effective step it could take to kick-start growth and fill the £90 billion Brexit-shaped hole in the public finances. No wonder our public finances are in such a rough state.

He made further comments on the lifting of the two child benefit cap, which we opposed from the start:

This is a commendable move that will go a long way to addressing Wales’ sky-high child poverty levels, which are amongst the highest in Europe and something the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning on since 2017.

But this could have been done much sooner; thousands of Welsh Children have been dragged into poverty due to the Conservatives and Labour’s refusal to do this sooner.

This must be the start, rather than the end, to reducing child poverty in Wales, with the level of children in poverty almost stagnant since Labour started running the Welsh Government in 1999, we will need further action.

That is why we are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every child in Wales aged between 9 months and 4 years old.

And he welcomed the release of the investment reseerve of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme back to its members. This will not cost the public purse anything but will make a massive difference to the lower paid staff in particular – the office staff and the nurses, for example, who are its members and are mostly women. In fact, it will bring a gain in taxes.

He has been really active on this issue since he was elected last year:

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The Liberator Collective

Liberator 432 is out

By The Liberator Collective | Wed 26th November 2025 - 8:55 am

Cover of Liberator 432 showing two horses in middle of road signed Lib Dem strategy, both saying they are not frightened.

Liberator 432 is out.

You can download Liberator 432 for free here. and remember you can sign up here to be emailed when each issue comes out:

In this issue we have what we think is the first full account in English of how social liberal party D66 won in the Netherlands, and how Roz Savage MP’s solo ocean rowing experiences informed her views on the environment.

Also, find out in Radical Bulletin what went wrong with party elections, what’s happened to membership and about a panic over the Federal Council’s powers

MAN TROUBLE 

Young men are drifting to Reform but the Liberal Democrats could win them back if they only tried, says Isaac Tucker

YES WE CAN!

Annelou van Egmond explains how a stricter immigration policy helped the social liberal party D66 come top in the Dutch general election.

REGENERATION GAP.

Roz Savage MP argues Britain needs more than net zero targets and masterplans – it needs a great regeneration of nature, communities, economy and democracy

EATING THE BIG APPLE 

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

HAS THE FIGHTBACK AGAINST TRUMP STARTED?

Martha Elliott looks at signals that the American public has had enough of its president

GIVE THE HIGH STREETS A HEART 

The Liberal Democrat policy paper on high streets and town centres lacks ideas on how to rescue them from decline, says Roger Hayes

MISSING MEMBERS 

Why do the Liberal Democrats pay so little attention to membership? wonders Tad Jones

WHEN TO FLY A  FLAG

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Caron Lindsay

What are Lib Dems saying about the Budget?

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 26th November 2025 - 8:27 am

I don’t know if you feel the same, but it seems to me that this is the longest run-up to a Budget that I can remember.  We’ve been talking about it forever. At times the Government’s communications around Rachel Reeves’ second budget have made the Omnishambles Budget of 2012 look competent.

First we were raising income tax rates then we weren’t, the Black Hole in the country’s finances has been of varying sizes and suddenly there now seems to be billions down the back of the sofa to stave off a break in the manifesto promise.

I don’t mind paying more tax. In fact, if I want decent public services and to tackle poverty,  I think a household on our income should be paying significantly more than we are. I really hope that our reaction to today’s announcements is more than “Aaaargh…..tax.”

So what do Lib Dems want to see from the Budget?

We’re looking for energy bills to be cut, cutting VAT for hospitality and getting a better deal with the European Union. We quite like the increase in the minimum wage, but we want to see more opportunities for businesses to grow as Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

Increasing the minimum wage is always welcome news for millions of low-paid workers but unless businesses are able to grow, there is a danger that this will result in fewer jobs being available overall.

The government must make people’s money go further by slashing energy bills, boosting our high streets with a cut to VAT for hospitality until 2027, and going for growth with a better deal with Europe.

We’ve opposed the two child benefit cap brought in by the Conservatives from the start so we should welcome its abolition.

After Lib Dem instigated research from the House of Commons Library showed that the costs of Brexit to the nation, namely a staggering £90 billion in tax revenue in 2024/25, Scottish spokesperson Susan Murray said:

The economy is at a standstill. Despite years of promises from the Conservatives and now Labour to kickstart growth and clamp down on crushing household bills, the British people are facing a cost-of-living permacrisis and yet more betrayals from those in charge.

The Government must not load struggling households or high streets with yet more tax rises to pay for its own mistakes. Rachel Reeves must take bold action to slash the cost of living, rescue our high streets, and start fixing the mess left by Brexit – by negotiating a new Customs Union with the EU, to grow our economy and bring in tens of billions for the Exchequer.

Anything else would be tantamount to a dereliction of duty.

Steve Darling, our DWP Spokesperson, has been talking about the impact of freezing tax thresholds on pensioners. I agree with him that we need to worry about those on the lowest incomes having to find extra money because they’ve been dragged into income tax.

This is a stealth tax bombshell that will hit pensioners hard, leaving those affected £800 a year worse off – and Labour is poised to make that nightmare even worse.

Rachel Reeves once called extending these tax thresholds a policy that would ‘hurt working people’. Now it’s clear she’s getting ready to copy the economic vandalism of the past.

The Chancellor must stand by her word, rule out an extension to this outrageous tax freeze at the Budget, and stop hammering pensioners who have already been left out in the cold by skyrocketing energy prices and the disastrous Winter Fuel Payment scandal.

According to a blog post from Independent Age for Equal Pay Day, many of  the poorest older people are women so it is improtant that we take an intersectional approach to this:

While poverty affects almost two million of all older people across the UK, older women are disproportionately impacted. Behind closed doors and on fixed incomes, hundreds of thousands of older women are finding it harder to make ends meet. The statistics are stark:

Poverty among older women is projected to rise from 20% in 2022 to 26% by 2040
Women aged 55 to 59 have 48% less private pension wealth than men in the same group
Older women too often face a future shaped not by rest and recognition, but by rising costs, shrinking incomes and a system they feel overlooks them. At Independent Age, we are determined to ensure that all older people in financial hardship receive better support which they are entitled to.

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Liam Yip

ALDC By Election Report 20th November

By Liam Yip | Fri 21st November 2025 - 7:24 pm

This week, there were seven local by-elections, of which there was a Liberal Democrat candidate in all but one contest. The six-month rule has now come into effect for seats that are up in 2026, so no more for this cycle will be called.

We start in Stratford-on-Avon, where there were two by-elections. One was a Liberal Democrat defence, whilst the other saw the Conservatives defending their seat. In the former, we successfully defended this seat. However, in the latter seat Reform were able to successfully gain off the Conservatives, only 3 votes ahead of us. Congratulations are due to Paul Harrison for his win. Commiserations to Huw Lewis and the local team for the extremely close result.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Quinton
Liberal Democrats (Paul Harrison): 437 (47.3%, +3.5)
Reform UK: 306 (33.1%, new)
Conservatives: 137 (14.8%, –26.2)
Green Party: 35 (3.8%, –4.7)
Labour: 9 (1.0%, –5.7)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Turnout: 30.41%

Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Salford Priors and Alcester Rural
Reform UK: 272 (33.3%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Huw Lewis): 269 (32.9%, +9.7)
Conservatives: 227 (27.8%, –29.1)
Green Party: 31 (3.8%, –5.3)
Labour: 18 (2.2%, –8.6)

Reform UK GAIN from Conservative

Turnout: 33%

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Mary Reid

Lib Dem councillors win 2025 Cllr Awards

By Mary Reid | Thu 20th November 2025 - 10:17 am

The winners of the Cllr Awards for England and Wales were announced by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) at an event on Tuesday night. Of the five awards two were won by Liberal Democrats, while a third was awarded to a former Lib Dem.

The Innovator of the Year award went to Cllr Alex Ehmann (centre of photo) of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.  His citation says:

Councillor Alexander Ehmann of the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames has elevated transport and air quality agendas by focusing on residents’ involvement in the design process. He is leading the council’s transformation of its transport strategy with the development of the Richmond 2040 plan. And he was responsible for an innovative new entry treatment for school streets, which is now being adopted by other London Boroughs.

Cllr Harry Boparai (second from left) from Spelthorne Borough Council and Surrey County Council was gained the Community Champion award.

Councillor Harry Boparai from Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Borough Council is a tireless, hands-on problem-solver praised for his impact on everyday quality of life. His focus is on the issues that matter to residents, from tackling rogue landlords and fly-tipping to improving road safety. Well-known for his practical support of local causes, he plays a leading role in protecting green spaces, heritage projects, and supporting organisations working with young people.

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Mark Valladares

19 November 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 19th November 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • Inflation stats: Chancellor must put households and high streets first
  • Lib Dems: Govt must go further and “ban surge pricing”
  • PMQs: Kemi Badenoch should apologise for £40bn of Conservative stealth tax hikes
  • Scottish Liberal Democrats call for World Cup fan parks and late night licenses
  • Stone secures meeting with Treasury to save high street banks

Inflation stats: Chancellor must put households and high streets first

Responding to the latest ONS inflation figures released this morning, Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said:

As the cost-of-living crisis rages on, the Chancellor mustn’t look this small gift horse in the mouth.

Hitting people with a stealth tax at next week’s Budget would prolong the pain of higher taxes for much longer and unfairly pull poorer pensioners and low-income workers into paying tax for the first time.

We Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency measures to slash people’s energy bills, save our high streets with a VAT cut for hospitality and boost growth in every corner of the UK – funded fairly by taxing the banks. The Chancellor must put households and high streets first and put an end to the most vulnerable from having to choose between heating and eating.

Lib Dems: Govt must go further and “ban surge pricing”

Responding to the government’s announcement banning the reselling of tickets for profit, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, Anna Sabine MP said:

Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to ban surge pricing – a practice that can see ticket prices skyrocketing for in-demand events, and require ticket resale platforms to verify that listed tickets actually exist before they are allowed to be sold.

So while this is a good opening act, let’s make sure the encore truly gives live events back to the fans, not the scalpers.

PMQs: Kemi Badenoch should apologise for £40bn of Conservative stealth tax hikes

The Liberal Democrats have blasted Kemi Badenoch’s hypocrisy on stealth taxes at PMQs, highlighting the £40bn stealth tax bombshell the Conservatives hit the public with during their time in office.

Between the stealth tax being announced in 2021 by the Conservatives, and the 2024-25 financial year at the end of the last Parliament, frozen income tax thresholds hit households with £38.7bn in total, according to figures from the OBR.

The Conservative freeze on income tax thresholds has meant that, by the end of the last Parliament, basic rate taxpayers had paid an additional £950 in total due to the freeze on the Personal Allowance, while higher rate taxpayers were hit with nearly £4,800, according to Liberal Democrat analysis of figures from the OBR.

Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

Kemi Badenoch should apologise for the years of stealth taxes put in place by the Conservatives if she wants to be taken seriously by the public.

The Conservative government she loyally served hammered families with years of unfair tax hikes.

Both Labour and the Conservatives seem intent on punishing the public with endless tax hikes, instead of turbocharging our economy with a closer trade deal with the EU.

Scottish Liberal Democrats call for World Cup fan parks and late night licenses

Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for huge fan parks to be set up across the country so fans can gather to watch Scotland’s World Cup games and for pubs to get special dispensation to show their matches in the event that they are scheduled for late at night.

The party says stadiums and parks could host huge screens to beam back the games from the USA, Mexico and Canada.

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Mark Valladares

18 November 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 18th November 2025 - 11:57 pm
  • Highest number of 8 hour waits at A&E in 2025
  • Scot Lib Dems call for action on Alzheimer’s and dementia
  • Rennie: Scottish education deserves better than third decade of SNP
  • Government must set out support for workers at Mossmorran
  • McArthur: Prison crisis shows every sign of getting worse
  • Rennie: Housing Secretary has some nerve as heating bill dropped

Highest number of 8 hour waits at A&E in 2025

Responding to new figures showing only 61.5% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 9th November 2025 (11,020 waited more than 4 hours, the highest in 2025), while 4,532 people waited over 8 hours (the highest in 2025) and 2,181 waited over 12 hours, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

Under the SNP it feels like every week at A&E is breaking a some kind of record for long waits. We are now seeing the highest number of people waiting over 8 hours of the entire year.

With the cold snap of the last few days we can be under no misapprehension that winter has now arrived, yet the SNP have squandered the months it had to prepare and left our A&E departments in a perilous state.

The Scottish Government needs to start taking serious action to support the staff facing these pressure cooker conditions. Scotland’s A&E patients deserve better – and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for change with fairness at its heart.

Scot Lib Dems call for action on Alzheimer’s and dementia

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today called for the Scottish Government to make sure people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias don’t fall through the cracks as new figures confirmed that they now account for around one in 10 of all deaths.

New figures published today by the National Records of Scotland show:

  • There were 6,612 deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias registered in Scotland in 2024. This is one of the leading causes of death in Scotland, accounting for around one in 10 of all deaths.
  • After adjusting for age, there were 122 deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias per 100,000 people in Scotland in 2024. This rate has almost doubled over the last two decades.
  • Almost two-thirds (64%) of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were females and 36% were males.

Delegates at the Scottish Liberal Democrat autumn conference recently backed a motion calling for the Scottish Government to urgently establish minimum national care standards and entitlements for Scots with dementia.

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Mark Valladares

17 November 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 17th November 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • Asylum hotels: state-endorsed robbery will not fix the crisis
  • Lib Dem MP calls for National Crime Agency crackdown after “mountain of waste” uncovered in Oxfordshire
  • Greene calls for Scotland-wide school fire safety audit
  • Poll suggests Lib Dems can win over wide range of voters and take on SNP
  • Scottish Conservatives seem to have nothing but name-calling left

Asylum hotels: state-endorsed robbery will not fix the crisis

Commenting on the Government’s annoucement to confiscate asylum seekers’ jewellery to pay for their housing costs, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said:

The Government must fix the asylum system, but stripping vulnerable people of their family heirlooms will not fix a system that is costing taxpayers £6 million every day in hotel bills.

This policy goes against who we are – a nation that has long responded with compassion to those fleeing the worst atrocities imaginable.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the end of asylum hotels and to give asylum seekers the right to work, so that they can support themselves financially, integrate and pay tax. That is how we bring down the bill – not by state-endorsed robbery.

Lib Dem MP calls for National Crime Agency crackdown after “mountain of waste” uncovered in Oxfordshire

The Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, Calum Miller, has used an urgent question in Parliament to call on the Government to pay for a 150 metre illegal waste dump in Oxfordshire, and for the National Crime Agency to investigate the most serious cases.

The mountain of rubbish, which is situated in a field between the River Cherwell and the A34 near Kidlington, has been described by Calum as “pollution on a grotesque scale.”

Calum also suggested that the site has to “be seen to be believed” and condemned criminal fly-tipping gangs, who he said are “carefully planning operations to dump industrial waste in the countryside” without consideration for the “health of people or animals”.

Calum has today (Monday 17th November) used an urgent question in Parliament to call on the Secretary Of State to issue an “urgent directive” to clear up the site “before it is too late” for the River Cherwell. The cost of cleaning the pile of waste, which is up to 20 feet high, is more than the entire budget of Cherwell District Council. Calum also called for an Independent “root-and-branch review” into the Government’s response to waste crime.

Greene calls for Scotland-wide school fire safety audit

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for the West of Scotland Jamie Greene has urged the Scottish Government to conduct a Scotland-wide audit of fire safety in schools.

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Caron Lindsay

Josh Babarinde asks The Question in Parliament

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 17th November 2025 - 7:31 pm

Every week Lib Dem MPs ask questions in Parliament, aiming to hold the Government to account.

But last week proved to be busier than usual for newly elected President Josh Babarinde.

He asked The Question of his partner Connor in the House of Commons chamber, with the permission of the Speaker and the help of fellow MP Jess Brown-Fuller. And our Earl Russell was on hand to take these beautiful photos.

We think Josh is the first MP to actually propose in the Chamber itself, though photos of that private moment can’t be published.

How cute is this?

Josh said on Twitter:

Last Thursday, I asked a very special question in Commons after official business had finished for the day – not to the Prime Minister, but to my partner Connor (on his birthday!)

…and his answer was YES! 🤩

We marked it with a photo just outside the chamber afterwards.

🙏Thank you to Mr Speaker
@CommonsSpeaker, his team, the Sergeant-at-arms, the doorkeepers, events team and all those who helped make this surprise happen.

And a huge thanks to one of my top pals, @JessBrownFuller, for being my wingwoman in helping me plan this and pull this off over the last few weeks and months!

Connor and I couldn’t be happier and we will never forget it 🙏

📸: Lib Dem member of the House of Lords (and pro photographer)
@EarlRussellLD – thank you John!

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The Voice

Marie Goldman’s statement for Trans Awareness Week

By The Voice | Sat 15th November 2025 - 11:30 am

Lib Dem spokesperson for Women and Equalities Marie Goldman has issued a statement for Trans Awareness Week in which she reaffirms the Lib Dem commitment to fight for a society where everyone is free to be who they are and where trans people are protected from discrimination. She said:

Many trans and non-binary people – in the UK and across the world – face unacceptable barriers to healthcare, employment, education, and public life. In the

…

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ALDC By Election Report, 13th November

By Chris Ward | Fri 14th November 2025 - 6:24 pm

This week saw five local by-elections, four of which had a Liberal Democrat on the ballot.

Congratulations are due to Cllr Hannah Griffin and the team for the Lib Dem hold in Vale of White Horse.

Vale of White Horse District Council, Ridgeway
Liberal Democrats (Hannah Griffin): 442 (43.1%, -14.9)
Conservative: 250 (24.4%, -17.6)
Reform UK: 204 (19.9%, new)
Green Party: 122 (11.9%, new)
Labour: 8 (0.8%, new)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Turnout: 38%

Friday’s count in Canterbury delivered less pleasing news, as the Green Party gained from the Liberal Democrats. Commiserations to Guy Meurice and the team.

Canterbury City Council, Wincheap
Green Party: 842 (39.1%, +24.1)
Liberal Democrats (Guy Meurice): 518 (24.1%, -12.2)
Reform UK: 351 (16.3%, new)
Labour: 276 (12.8%, -25.5)
Conservative: 166 (7.7%, -2.6)

Green Party GAIN from Liberal Democrats

Turnout: 33.27%

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Caron Lindsay

The presidential and vice presidential results are out…..

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 12th November 2025 - 11:45 am

As I said earlier, the party’s presidential and vice presidential elections have been counted.

Josh Babarinde and Victoria Collins have been elected as President and Vice President respectively.

The presidential result was as follows:

Josh Babarinde 3742   69%

Prue Bray 1698  31%

Turnout 9.1%

The vice presidential race was closer

Victoria Collins  2788 57%

Kamran Hussain 2102 43%

Turnout 8l2%

Congratulations to both Josh and Victoria who take up their new roles on 1st January. The President chairs the Federal Board and is there to be the voice of the members to the leadership. The Vice President is responsible for increasing diversity in the party.

All four candidates contributed to an illuminating, positive and interesting campaign.

After the count, Josh said:

I’m so grateful to Liberal Democrat members for electing me to serve as our next Party President.

With the traditional parties failing to stand up to Reform’s division, I’m fired up to help ensure our party is ready to be the last line of defence against them.

I’ll be working across the party to broaden our reach, apply my youth work experience to engaging young voters ahead of votes at 16, and get battle-ready for next May’s elections for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and councils and Mayors across England.

Ed Davey added:

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Caron Lindsay

Presidential and Vice Presidential counts to get underway at 10 am but all committee counts postponed

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 12th November 2025 - 9:33 am

Today the counts get under way for the federal internal elections.

Online voting ended at 2pm yesterday but the voting period was dominated by the changes to the diversity quotas announced the day before polling started on October 28th.

On that day, presidential candidate Prue Bray wrote that she was so angry she could barely type.

It is far from clear what the law is exactly at this point, but even if we are not compliant with it, the party should have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do this! If we give up without a fight, not only will we be letting trans and non-binary people down and violating one of the core values of the party, namely, our opposition to discrimination of any kind – we will also do ourselves immense damage. We will lose the trust of many of our LGBTQ+ members and voters and their allies. Some may choose to quit the party altogether. The stupidity of the way that this has been done, without any explanation to those involved, without any priming, without any expression of regret..! I am not sure whether I feel furious – or heartbroken.

Her fellow candidate Josh Babarinde said shortly thereafter that he stood with trans an non binary Lib Dems.

What has happened in the last 24 hours represents the mere tip of the iceberg of the kind of thing trans and non-binary people face when going about life day-to-day, never mind when putting their heads above the parapet to stand in elections to represent us.

We’ve got to do more to support our trans and non-binary candidates, and ensure they feel safe and valued making contributions to public life. I’ve already had discussions with trans and non binary members about what this practically needs to look like, and I’m fired up to continue these discussions and drive action accordingly, irrespective of the Presidential election.

Since then, there has been an extraordinary and brilliant display of joint working between Josh, Prue and the official diversity organisations within the party, LGBT+ Lib Dems, Lib Dem Women, Lib Dem Campaign for Racial Equality and the Lib Dem Disability Association. They met the KC who had provided the party with the legal advice which had kicked this all off on Friday and issued a detailed statement on Monday which we reported here.

At the same time, Lucas North, a candidate in the elections, challenged the Returning Officer’s decision at a Federal Appeals Panel hearing on Monday. The decision was published yesterday and found in Lucas’s favour. The 2 page decision is published in full below.

The Federal Returning Officer David Crowther announced his resignation this norning:

Following the decision by FAP I don’t believe my position as FRO is any longer tenable and so I have resigned with immediate effect.

I’d like to put on record my thanks to Rachel Minshull and Mike Dixon for their support and endless hard work that made the volunteer role at all possible.

David was in an impossible position. As a volunteer, going against the party’s legal advice would have been extremely risky. We should be grateful to him for his service in this role.

There will have to be a review of what happened because there is much to learn from this. It should be carried out in a spirit of transparency and humility and we should make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.

How we deal with the quotas going forward will need to be addressed too, but the willingness we have seen for all the key players to work together over the past few weeks is an extremely good sign.

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