Tag Archives: john pugh

Simon Shaw

Exclusive: Former Lib Dem MP John Pugh to stand in Southport Council by-election

By Simon Shaw | Thu 28th September 2017 - 5:49 pm

A snap by-election on Sefton MBC in Merseyside could see John Pugh, Lib Dem MP for Southport until he stood down in 2017, make a return as a councillor.  He previously served as one for 14 years until his election as MP in 2001.

If successful, John would be following in a expanding line of former Lib Dem MPs who have gained council seats in recent times, people such as Adrian Sanders, Tessa Munt, Mark Hunter and John Leech.

The by-election takes place on Thursday 2nd November in Dukes Ward (which covers Southport Town Centre and West Birkdale) following the resignation of a sitting Conservative councillor due to ill-health.  Dukes Ward is generally regarded as the most Conservative of Southport’s seven wards.

The resignation was only submitted last Thursday 21st September with the Tories “calling” the election the following day and they have been distributing a leaflet since last weekend.  However Southport Lib Dems have also been quick off the mark with a Focus leaflet going out from Sunday.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 7 Comments
The Voice

Sue McGuire selected to fight Southport

By The Voice | Thu 27th April 2017 - 8:31 am

It’s just a week since John Pugh announced his decision to retire at the snap General Election. Last night, local Liberal Democrats selected Cllr Sue McGuire to fight the seat on 8th June.

From the Southport Visiter:

Sue McGuire represents Cambridge Ward in Southport, which covers parts of Churchtown and Marshside, and is a governor at Marshside Primary School.

She was first elected to Sefton Council in May 2010, and was chosen as leader of the party in June 2015.

Born and bred in Banks, Sue attended Tarleton High School.

She has worked extensively within the community to support and help residents on issues including local health services, council services and tenancy problems.

You can follow her on Twitter here.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 11 Comments
The Voice

John Pugh to stand down as an MP

By The Voice | Wed 19th April 2017 - 5:23 pm

John Pugh has announced that he won’t be fighting the General Election in his Southport constituency.

From the BBC:

John Pugh, MP for Southport, said he planned to retire next month, but “did not bank on the prime minister’s opportunism” in calling an election.
He said he did not want to work through “the nightmare chaos of Brexit” in the next parliament.
The local constituency party will now choose a new candidate from an all-woman shortlist.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged and | 11 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Farron: PM must clear up David Davis’s single market mess

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 6th September 2016 - 11:13 am

Yesterday, Brexit Secretary David Davis made his first parliamentary statement since his appointment and it didn’t reveal very much. Our EU spokesperson was not impressed:

Paul Walter found some cause for optimism but there were also some very worrying aspects.of his answers to questions from 85 backbenchers.

He stated that full access to the single market was “very improbable.”

I am saying that this Government are looking at every option, but the simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, then I think that makes that very improbable.

Tim Farron has written to Theresa May to ask her to clarify exactly what he meant. Is the Government actually giving up on the single market before we even start? If so, that is a real disaster for the country.

Tim said:

David Davis yesterday seemed to rule out membership of the single market for access, in a statement, from the government, at the dispatch box.  I know it has been a while since he was on the front bench and he might be rusty but these things matter.

The public need to know if ideological zeal is threatening our economic security.  It is time for the Prime Minister to step in and clear up the mess.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , , , and | 13 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Guardian revelations about Clegg, Cable and the Lib Dem election catastrophe

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 24th June 2015 - 11:05 pm

Well, as the ballot papers get sent out in the leadership election, the Guardian publishes a series of revelations tonight about the last year of the coalition and the aftermath of the European elections.

Apparently Nick Clegg was ready to resign in the wake of the European elections and was talked out of it by, among others, Paddy Ashdown and Tim Farron. Certainly at the time, the feedback that Federal Executive members gave at our post Euro disaster meeting was that there was no appetite in the wider party for a leadership election, but they did want things to change.

Vince Cable, it transpires, did know about the Oakeshott polls.

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , and | 78 Comments
Caron Lindsay

Nick Clegg’s leadership: A summary of the coverage

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 25th May 2014 - 9:37 am

Nick Clegg visits Manchester VelodromeWell, there was a certain inevitability that poor election results would lead to calls for Nick Clegg to resign. Today, the papers are full of comments from activists and MPs critical of the Deputy Prime Minister.

John Hemming, John Pugh and Adrian Sanders have all gone public with their criticism of Clegg. It should be noted that none of them are particularly noted for being his biggest fans. There is a certain irony that where there were elections on their patches, they did reasonably well. In Pugh’s Southport …

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , and | 46 Comments
The Voice

Lib Dems: “Cyril Smith’s acts were vile and repugnant and we have nothing but sympathy for those whose lives he ruined”

By The Voice | Sun 13th April 2014 - 3:15 pm

cyril smith bookWe reported here yesterday the latest revelations of extensive alleged paedophile abuse by former Liberal MP, Cyril Smith, in a new book co-authored by his Rochdale successor, Simon Danczuk. Today’s Observer highlights the party’s response, and the responses of two current Lib Dem MPs, John Pugh and John Hemming:

In a statement the party said: “Cyril Smith’s acts were vile and repugnant and we have nothing but sympathy for those whose lives he ruined. His actions were not known to, or condoned by the Liberal Party or the

…

Continue reading »
Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 43 Comments
Advert



Recent Comments

  • User AvatarAndrew McCaig 18th Oct - 11:51am
    As for standing paper candidates: evidently opinions differ on this. Policy is to stand, and I don't think complaining about multiple times it is very...
  • User Avatarexpats 18th Oct - 11:50am
    Laurence Cox 18th Oct '17 - 11:[email protected] how many voters do you think pay as close attention to local council by-election results as you do....
  • User AvatarAndrew McCaig 18th Oct - 11:43am
    Katharine, I think to be honest the mistake we will not be making again is spending several £k (kindly donated by local members) on leaflets...
  • User AvatarGeorge Kendall 18th Oct - 11:38am
    @David Becket Completely right on both counts.
  • User AvatarDavid Becket 18th Oct - 11:16am
    When Universal Credit was first proposed it looked a good idea, making the system simpler. Since 2015 it has gone badly wrong thanks to the...
  • User AvatarLaurence Cox 18th Oct - 11:15am
    @expats And how many voters do you think pay as close attention to local council by-election results as you do. I'll give you a clue,...