Western Counties Liberal Democrats have appointed Daisy Benson as their Director of Member and Supporter Mobilisation. Given her record at enthusing the Newbies, they certainly could not have chosen anyone better for this role.
Gavin Grant, Chairman of Western Counties region commented:
I shared the disappointment of many that the timing of this General Election denied Daisy Benson the chance to win back Yeovil.
But I am delighted to announce that within the time available to her, Daisy will use her skills in this key strategic role in our West Country Campaign team.
Since the snap General Election was called 13,000 people have
Daisy Benson has withdrawn herself as Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Yeovil citing personal reasons.
She appeared on The West Country debate less than a week ago but will not appear on ballot papers in June’s snap election because she’s “in the process of completing purchasing a house within the constituency.”
Her full statement reads:
With regret I’ve decided not to put myself forward to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Yeovil in the upcoming snap General Election.
Although I’ve been preparing for the past year, this election unfortunately comes at precisely the wrong time for me. I’m just in the process of completing purchasing a house within the constituency.
If you listen to most experts, the reason for the crisis in the NHS comes from under-resourcing and an aging population. But, no, UKIP council candidates in Chard in Yeovil have come up with another explanation. It’s all the fault of women doctors and their career breaks and part-time doctors. Buzzfeed has the story:
The leaflet was produced by local UKIP councillors in Somerset who suggest alleged positive discrimination in the GP hiring process could ultimately lead to local surgeries closing altogether.
“How many female Doctors are there in your surgery working 2 or 3 days a week?” it asks, warning the issue could result in thousands of patients being left without access to medical care when GPs retire.
They have a quote from Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Yeovil, Daisy Benson:
UKIP might wish we were living in the 1950s, but it’s 2017!
That’s why the Liberal Democrats are quietly getting on with the business of putting candidates in place with breakneck speed. Seats are using the sorts of expedited procedures normally used in by-elections to get candidates in place. These selections will expire next May if there has been no election.
Daisy Benson, indefatigable campaigner and commentator, has been selected for the key seat of Yeovil, which was held until 2015 by David Laws with a majority of 13,000.
Delighted to have been chosen by Lib Dem members in Yeovil to be their parliamentary spokes. What a privilege! pic.twitter.com/fJuhjFMokF
This is a very exciting appointment. One of Daisy’s massive strengths is the way she has thrown herself into finding, welcoming and engaging new members of the Liberal Democrats. She was pivotal in establishing the Lib Dem Newbies group on Facebook as one of the best and most positive Lib Dem discussion spaces.
Also in the West Country, in Steve Webb’s former seat of Thornbury and Yate, long-standing local councillor Claire Young has been selected.
Delighted and honoured to be selected as the @LibDems Parliamentary Candidate for Thornbury and Yate https://t.co/CNpWrDDAiD
While he was there, he visited a dairy farm whose owner is keen to remain in the EU.
Tim said:
Brexit is a real threat to our farming industry, and the many families that rely on exports for their livelihoods.
Our free access to 500m customers is invaluable, with 73% of UK agricultural and food exports going to the EU. Leaving would hit jobs and devastate rural communities.
The survival of rural businesses – and the precious environment they protect – is a fragile thing, and should not be put at risk by leaving.
By Stephen Tall
| Sun 25th September 2011 - 4:55 pm
There’s no prize at stake – just the opportunity to prove you’re wittier than any other LDV reader…
Here’s rising star Dr Julian Huppert, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, flanked by Reading councillor Daisy Benson and LibDemVoice’s own Mark Pack at a conference fringe event. What do you think they might be saying or thinking?
1. What’s your formative political memory?
The morning after the 1992 election – remembering my parents’ disappointment that Labour hadn’t won (again) and the pervading sense of gloom of another Tory government.
I also remember one election in the 80s when my parents displayed an SDP and a Labour poster in the same window!
2. When did you start blogging?
2007
3. Why did you start blogging?
I started because I wanted to communicate to my constituents what I did as a councillor on their behalf.
4. What five words would you use to describe your blog?
Local
Personal
Topical
Passionate
Committed
5. What five words would you use to describe your political views?
Humanistic
Instinctive
Pragmatic
Empathetic
Social
6. Which post have you most liked writing in the last year (and why)?
It’s the post I wrote about the budget-making process in Reading Council. I felt proud to have played a role in delivering one of the most difficult budgets in Reading Council’s history whilst protecting key services, and I wanted to contrast our approach with that taken by Labour opposition which I thought was totally lacking, obviously.
7. Which post have you most liked reading in the last year (and why)?
I really enjoy Mark Thomposon’s posts as they are always intelligent and thought-provoking. I enjoyed this post as I thought it was a point that need making about Labour.
Opportunities not taken is particularly interesting, as it highlights areas for improvement. It says that councillors and officers tend to face cultural, rather than technical barriers to using social media. Some councils still lack a clear social media policy for councillors or officers, either in a personal or professional capacity. Many councils routinely block access to social networking sites on their computers. The guide suggests ways for councillors to hold their councils to account over their social media approach.
The site also features a video of Lib Dem Councillor for Redlands (and 2009 LDV Blog of the Year shortlistee for her use of social media) Daisy Benson explaining why she uses social media:
Alistair Carmichael – http://alistaircarmichael.wordpress.com – the MP for Orkney and Shetland is a very welcome addition to the ranks of blogging Lib Dem Parliamentarians.
Today we say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Special One – Jose Mourinho – who is 47, and to ice hockey’s record goalscorer Wayne Gretzky, who is two years older.
Nine years ago today, more than 25,000 people died after a massive earthquake measuring up to 7.9 on the Richter scale hit the Indian state of Gujarat and neighbouring areas in Pakistan. In 1998, US President Bill Clinton told a White House press conference “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky”.
2 Big Stories
Mother aquitted in new ‘mercy killing’ trial
Yesterday Sussex mother and former nurse Kay Gilderdale was acquitted of attempting to …
Good morning, and Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers. 26th November is also the anniversary of the opening of the terrifying Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Today also sees a significant birthday for Tina Turner and a rather less significant one for Hilary Benn.
2 Must-Read Blog Posts
What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here’s are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator. I’ve taken two environmental picks today:
Do these lights have to be blazing all day? This simply does not make finanical or environmental sense. Christmas lights in the Town Centre are very visible. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas lights. But what message does leaving them on all day send out about environmental responsibility?
The beauty of an underground superconductor cable system would be that it would not only remain hidden, but the transmission of power from future expansion of energy in the South West (from renewable resources such as the Severn and new as yet to be built wind farms and tidal stream generators)
could with ease be accommodated in a super conducting cable. Super
conducting cables are also massively more efficient with losses of just 3%
compared to around 30% in the current national grid, something that is of
massive importance when we think of global warming and the need to conserve
and use energy wisely.
It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the five best.
Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.
First, a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar to cast your vote.
Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Bournemouth, do head along to Old Harry’s Bar in the Marriott Highcliff Hotel from 9.45pm on Sunday 20th September.
Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)
Daisy Benson, a Liberal Democrat member of Reading Borough Council, used Facebook to encourage young people to take part in a scrutiny review of the standard of private rented housing in the area. “I used it because the issue we were looking at particularly affected students and young people and it’s a good way to reach them.”
Benson set up a Facebook group and listed the consultation questions. The group attracted more than 80 members. Among
Joe Bourke It's pretty simple, Peter. If you lend me £10 no new money is created. You are transferring money within the existing money supply from you to me and vice vers...
Peter Martin @ Joe,
" Money supply contracts when loan repayments exceed new loan creation."
If I lend you £10 it's obviously a transfer of money from me t...
Tom Harney We know that there is a very high correlation between educational outcomes and family poverty. In fact of course it is registration for free school meals which ...
Joe Bourke New lending falls as interest rates rise. Money supply contracts when loan repayments exceed new loan creation. A rapid reduction in credit creation can lead to...
Lorain Sandy Smith,
It was Men who put Women's SPA down to 60 so they could skivvy and cook for their usually older husbands. Women had 3 jobs ...
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