Whoever runs the Lib Dem Lords’ Twitter account has a sense of humour:
For those who can’t get enough of leadership elections votes for the new leader of the @LibDemLords will be counted at 1530
— Lib Dem Lords (@LibDemLords) September 13, 2016
Dick Newby beat Robin Teverson in the race to succeed Jim Wallace.
As leader I am determined to head a team which speaks clearly as the credible voice of opposition.” @RichardNewby3 pic.twitter.com/pgZmVGNAkd
— Lib Dem Lords (@LibDemLords) September 13, 2016
Dick has been the Chief Whip in the Lords most recently but has a long history in politics. He was National Secretary of the SDP in the 80s. I first spoke to him as a 16 year old when he set me straight that the party wasn’t awash with money and that the only employment opportunities for students in the Summer were unpaid.
He’s been in the Lords since 1997 and took over as Chief Whip in 2012.
He will now have to work across parties to make sure that Government legislation gets the roughest possible ride in the second Chamber. With grammar schools and Brexit, he’ll have his work cut out.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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5 Comments
With no women mps , this was a good opportunity for a woman leader, did none stand?! Surely an argument either for parity in numbers, meaning we would have had more women to choose from, or against exact quotas , for when we have able women it does not mean they always want to lead. Gender does not always influence it.
A shame , here, for we have good women in the Lords. Dick Newby , congratulations to a nice man , but hardly a radical move!
Robin Teverson deserves a mention as one of two MEPs who was elected first past the post, although many people thought it could not be done, because of the size of the constituencies.
In the next door constituency we were cheated by someone who stood as a “Literal Democrat”, which would not now be allowed because of rules about the registration of party names, so we should have had three.
Since nothing here appears to give the voting figures, Liberator is reliably informed it was Newby 59 and Teverson 44.
Good to have a straight talking Yorkshireman at the helm His experience as Chief of Staff to Charles Kennedy will make him a great asset to Tim and I’m sure he will do well with the media too..
David Steel is one of the signatories today of a letter to The Times on Lords reform. Previously he achieved legislation which included voluntary retirement for peers. Some said this would not attract volunteers, but it did.