More sad news tonight as we hear that the surprise Liberal Democrat winner of the 1990 Eastbourne by-election, David Bellotti, died this morning.
I remember the delight when he won the Eastbourne by-election in 1990. Just 18 months earlier, the party had been utterly gubbed in the European Elections and his victory showed that we were well and truly alive. Sadly he lost his seat at the General Election two years later.
In latter years, he lived in Bath where he was Don Foster’s agent and a Councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council. I know how much admiration his ward colleague Katie Hall had for him.
I just had a wee look at Hansard to look at the sort of issues he talked about. You can tell a lot about someone by the things they raise in their maiden speech. 25 years ago, he was talking about mental health and social care:
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Can Reform UK even organise a booze-up?
Bournemouth's giant IMAX cinema lasted only 14 years
Housing protest on Thursday
Alex Macfie 
Jason Connor 
Tim 