Stephen Tall

LDVideo: So you want to watch 6mins 23secs of Lembit Öpik in a wrestling ring? You got it…

By | Sun 15th April 2012 - 3:57 pm

This weekend Jonathan Calder brought us the news that Lembit Öpik had contrived an appearance in a wrestling ring at Welshpool Town Hall. Distressingly, video footage has now been unleashed:


(Available on YouTube here.)

Ironically, today’s the day another Lembit story has appeared — that the former Montgomeryshire MP has thrown his hat into the ring for the role of Northumbria police and crime commissioner:

Mr Opik, a former Newcastle councillor, added: “The ball is definitely in the regional party’s court. But I have always said Newcastle is my favourite city in the world and it would be no hardship at all to fly the flag in the North East. … It would take a lot of persuading to get me to stand as an independent. It is not about me, it is about a certain philosophy, which is the liberal philosophy.” …

On his blueprint for the role, Mr Opik said: “The commissioner job is really one of oversight and governance than operational detail. “But in my opinion, it would be sensible to me to do all I could to reduce the administrative burden on our officers and to nurture a community approach to law and order.” The most cohesive communities were the safest, said Mr Opik who also promised not to “meddle” if elected as Northumbria police chief.

Carol Woods, chair of the Lib Dems regional party and a Durham County councillor, said: “We are still in the process of making a decision and I am not at liberty to comment until we have.”

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

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6 Comments

  • MarkW 15th Apr '12 - 5:24pm

    Am I the only one wondering why Lembit is a face in this and not the heel politician?

  • Paul McKeown 15th Apr '12 - 5:57pm

    LDs answer to Neil Hamilton, only without Mrs. Jolly Hockey Sticks. When’s he joining UKIP?

  • Liberal Neil 15th Apr '12 - 6:14pm

    No, I don’t!

  • Paul McKeown 15th Apr '12 - 6:28pm

    Thinking about it, that’s unfair on Neil Hamilton, who only became a professional buffoon when he was kicked out of parliament…

  • cassie 15th Apr '12 - 9:43pm

    >”I have always said Newcastle is my favourite city in the world ”

    Was he saying that when angling for selection as a candidate to be mayor of London?!

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