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

Liverpool elected mayor candidates announced (BBC News)

Twelve candidates have been nominated to stand as Liverpool’s first directly elected mayor. Nominations closed at midday and voters will go to the polls on 3 May. Among the 12 are four members of Liverpool City Council, including Labour leader Joe Anderson and Liberal Democrat Richard Kemp.

Duwayne Brooks announced as Lib Dem deputy mayor (BBC News)

A friend of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has been named as a deputy to Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick if he is elected London mayor. Duwayne Brooks was with the 18-year-old on the night he was killed in a racist attack in 1993 in Eltham, south London. He became a Liberal Democrat councillor in Lewisham in 2009 and would be Brian Paddick’s deputy mayor for youth and communities. Mr Brooks said he was honoured to have been given the role. Mr Paddick said the position would allow Mr Brooks to “develop opportunities that turn youngsters away from the gang culture that has developed in London”.

Tod plans comeback in Winchester council elections (Romsey Advertiser)

MARTIN Tod plans to stand for public office again, two years after coming up short in his bid to be Winchester’s MP. Mr Tod has confirmed that he is due to be Lib Dem candidate for St Paul’s ward in the next local elections. He said: “My focus would be to be a good ward member … It’s always been my aim to stay in Winchester. It’s a great place to live and I really, really love the place.” Since losing the 2010 election, Mr Tod, who lives at Weeke Manor in Weeke, has worked for the charity, Shelter.

Alex Salmond asks to be investigated over ministerial code (BBC News)

The Scottish first minister has asked independent advisors to investigate whether he has breached the ministerial code. It was claimed last week that Alex Salmond had entertained two SNP donors and their wives at Bute House, his official residence. He was also said to have invited EuroMillions winners Chris and Colin Weir to tea. A spokesman for Mr Salmond said he had “total confidence” he would be cleared.

Senior Birmingham Lib Dem rapped over misleading election leaflet in Moseley (Birmingham Mail)

A SENIOR Birmingham councillor has been rapped for wrongly claiming his Labour opponents wanted to hike taxes by almost a quarter. Liberal Democrat Coun Martin Mullaney was ordered to correct a leaflet which asked voters if they agreed with Labour leader Sir Albert Bore that the “present council tax should be 23 per cent higher”. Now city leisure boss Coun Mullaney must send fresh information to every home in his Moseley and Kings Heath ward which received his original leaflet setting the record straight. … Coun Mullaney said he would comply with the ruling – but defended his position. “If I had used the phrase ‘artificially low’ it probably would have been okay. But I don’t think the public makes the distinction between a tax that is ‘artificially low’ or should be ‘23 per cent higher’. I will put out a letter, but all it has achieved is to highlight the flaws in the Labour budget again and I will ask residents to make their own minds up.”

David Walter obituary (The Guardian)

Gentleness and self-effacement are not usually qualities associated with either politics or journalism, but the Liberal Democrat politician, broadcaster and writer David Walter, who has died of cancer aged 64, was characterised by both.

You can read Chris Rennard’s tribute to David here on LDV.

Tributes paid to popular councillor (Sunderland Echo)

Liberal Democrat Barbara Sloan died at her home in Buckingham Road, Peterlee, on Friday, after a short illness. The 75-year-old married mother-of-two represented the Peterlee West ward on Durham County Council, and had previously served on Easington District Council for the Acre Rigg area.

* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.