Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past few days…

Disabled benefits: Tanni Grey-Thompson and Steve Webb (BBC News)

The paralympian and cross-bench peer Tanni Grey-Thompson tackled the Liberal Democrat work and pensions minister Steve Webb over government changes to benefits. … minister Steve Webb told her the changes, which will be phased in over a number of years, would mean “spending more money overall”, adding that the amount of cash disabled people get will be protected. “If what you would get under the new one is less than what you’re currently getting that cash amount is protected,” he said.

Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles applies for Bank of England governor job (The Guardian)

Sharon Bowles, the Liberal Democrat MEP, has joined the race to succeed Sir Mervyn King as governor of the Bank of England, saying she had applied for the £302,000-a-year role after encouragement from “people in London”. … Bowles, who chairs the European parliament’s economic and monetary affairs committee, will compete for the eight-year post with Financial Services Authority boss Lord Turner, deputy Bank governor Paul Tucker, and Sir John Vickers, who led the government’s independent commission on banking.

Former MP calls it a day (Reading Chronicle)

FORMER Newbury MP David Rendel will not be fighting a general election – for the first time in 28 years – when the country goes to the polls in 2015. The Lib Dem spokesman and former MP, who has stood for the Newbury seat in every election since 1987, announced today that he will be standing aside as his party’s candidate.

Lib Dem election candidate Vincent McKee jailed for fraud (BBC News)

A Liberal Democrat candidate who stood in the 2010 general election in Coventry has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for fraud. Vincent McKee, who ran a city centre-based student tuition firm, was found guilty of 25 charges of fraud. Coventry Crown Court heard the 54-year-old stole about £23,000 from students and their families between October 2009 and January 2011.

Avon and Somerset PCC: Lib Dem Pete Levy to help addicts (BBC News)

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Avon and Somerset police elections says he wants more help for drug addicts. Pete Levy says he wants common sense policing for drug and alcohol crimes which recognises addiction as a health issue. Mr Levy has been a Liberal Democrat councillor for the North Bristol ward of Horfield since 2010. He said while drug dealers should be locked up, addicts needed treatment not sentences for their problem.

Former West Wilts councillor stands in Police Commissioner elections (Swindon Advertiser)

Paul Batchelor, a former West Wilts District Councillor, was selected for the election on Thursday, November 15 after an overwhelming ballot of Liberal Democrat members supported him to be Wiltshire first Police and Crime Commissioner. As chair of the Warminster Police Neighbourhood Tasking Group, Paul has overseen real results including a 41 per cent reduction in case of anti-social behaviour. With his 17 years of local authority experience and 24 years of managing a successful business in his home town Paul has the experience and the skills to deliver for Wiltshire.

Labour says Lib-Dem defector Graham Jones should defend his seat at a by-election (Norwich Evening News)

North Norfolk Labour Party members are calling on councillor Graham Jones to follow the advice he has given fellow Liberal-Democrat defectors and contest a by-election after his resignation from the party yesterday. Mr Jones, 69, has also resigned from the Lib-Dem groups on North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) and Norfolk County Council, intending to remain as an “Independent Liberal Democrat”. In a statement he said he had become “totally disillusioned with party politics across the political spectrum” but admired North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and would continue to support him.

Jan Hornby under pressure to quit Hull City Council after walking out on Lib Dems (This is Hull & East Riding)

A LIB DEM councillor is under mounting pressure to give up her Guildhall seat after walking out on her party. Councillor Jan Hornby resigned from the party hours after learning she had lost a ballot to find a candidate for the 2014 council elections.