Former Liberal Democrat MP Alex Carlile is to step down as the government’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on 31 December. He will be succeeded by David Anderson QC, a specialist in EU and public law and human rights and a visiting professor of law at King’s College, London. Lord Carlile will, however, provide expert, independent oversight of the official review of the government’s strategy (“Prevent”) for preventing violent extremism.

Politics.co.uk reports mixed views from Liberal Democrats about how the party’s backbench committees are working: “One co-chair charged with one of the biggest policy portfolios said the committees were a “waste of time”. He criticised the party’s policy formation process, which he said could take up to 18 months to shift direction, and claimed the committees had “no real influence” on the government. Another, home affairs policy committee co-chair Tom Brake, argued that the committees served as an effective “early warning system” for ministers, enabling them to flag up party concerns about particular policies.” The piece goes on to quote several other MPs, named ones giving positive or mixed views of how the system is working and unnamed ones – though it may all be the same person – negative views.

And a story we missed from last month: “A council leader has been suspended from the Conservative party after a photograph of him dressed as Adolf Hitler emerged on Facebook. Dr Mike Gardner, who was first elected in 1999 and is the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, was pictured giving a Nazi salute at a party in May.” (Jewish Chronicle)