New liberal ideas for our city and region: that is what is offered in The Leeds Yellow Book 2015: Essays on a Liberal Future for Leeds.

The Leeds Yellow Book 2015 is a collection of essays by Liberal Democrats and Liberal Democrat supporters offering fresh thinking and ideas for our city on how to ensure that everyone in Leeds and the Leeds City Region, no matter how they started out can make life better for themselves, their family and their community. The essays are focussed on Leeds but can be applied to any city or region.

The Leeds Yellow Book 2015 has been drawn together and edited by Michael Meadowcroft, former Leeds Liberal MP and Honorary Alderman of the City of Leeds, Liz Bee and Ian MacFadyen.

It is available priced £8.50, including postage and packing, from Beecroft Publications, 0113 257 6232 or [email protected], or from Amazon, www.amazon.org.

It may seem brave or foolhardy to publish a book of Liberal Democrat essays at this time. It is neither. It is an act of faith in a liberal future for Europe, the United Kingdom and the great City of Leeds. To win people’s trust and confidence once more, we have to offer clear visions of how our country and our city can be governed for all the people on Liberal Democrat values, principles and policies. We have to offer fresh ideas. The Leeds Yellow Book 2015 offers fresh ideas.

Our writers are a great, eclectic and individualistic team. Joanne Binns writes about keeping children and young people safe from the allure of gangs. Ruth Péchèr and Michael Meadowcroft write about education and Michael also writes about the need for community. Cllr Ryk Downes (Deputy-Leader, Leeds City Council Liberal Democrat Group) writes about transport. Vitus Asaga Bawa writes about youth culture. Dr Tony Lockett writes about social media and health. Ian MacFadyen writes about the population and governance of Leeds and the Leeds City Region and about the economy of the city and the city region. Modesty aside, these are all interesting and lively essays from people who believe in the people of our great city and their future. I am very grateful to all my fellow writers and editors.

The name Yellow Book comes for the work commissioned by Lloyd George on new ideas for Britain’s future that led to the publication of the first Yellow Book in 1928.

The editors are very grateful for the very generous support of our sponsors.

* Michael Meadowcroft joined the Liberal Party in 1958. He has served at every level of the party organisation. He was a Leeds City Councillor, West Yorkshire Met County Councillor and MP for Leeds West, 1983-87. For 25 years he led or was part of electoral missions to 35 new democracies on four continents.