It is going to be a long couple of days as the elections come in, so let's start with perhaps the most important thing: And thank you too to all the family, friends and colleagues whose support, love and encouragement is essential for all our candidates, agents and campaign managers and staff to play their part. https://t.co/i4zaM4RawG — Mark Pack [IMG: 🔶] (@markpack) May 2, 2024
Catching up on a couple of councils that I was watching... Gloucester has certainly seen an upheaval from a clear Conservative majority to a slightly awkward NOC. The good news is that the Lib Dems are the largest party with 17 (an increase of 7), compared with Conservatives on 11, Labour 7 and Others 4. Let's hope our Council Group can find 3 others they can work with to make a working majority. I have now moved the news about Elmbridge here. Our team in Elmbridge increased their seats but were just two short of the number needed for an ...
Welcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention poll from each pollster currently operating in Britain. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: Sign up to The Week in Polls "*" indicates required fields Email* Enter Email Confirm Email If you submit this form, your data will be used in line with the privacy policy here to ...
[IMG: 🔶] [IMG: 🥳] Liberal Democrats gain control of Dorset Council from the Conservatives. We are back in the West Country.#LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/O1A19xwzAf — Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) May 3, 2024 Brilliant result! We have an overall majority of 2. Lib Dems 42, Con 30, Others 10. A magnificent gain from the Conservatives. Congratulations! * Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
Excellent news coming out of Tunbridge Wells – probably the archetypal Blue Wall area. We have taken control of the Council winning 22 out of 39 seats. Congratulations to the team! I'm incredibly proud my friends and colleagues in the Tunbridge Wells Lib Dems. We have majority control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with 22/39 seats. Our vote share was 8% ahead of the Tories and Labour are dust. [IMG: 💪] Roll on the General Election [IMG: 💪] pic.twitter.com/5pksH47RIF — Mike Martin [IMG: 🔶] (@ThreshedThought) May 3, 2024 * Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She ...
Thanks to Liberal Democrat Voice for this photo of Ed Davey and some dinosaurs. Lord Bonkers tells me the party's original plan was to use his old friend Ruttie, the Rutland Water Monster, but in the event it proved impossible to agree a fee.
Since my last post we have held on to 3 further councils, making ten in all. All three will be celebrating increased majorities. In Cheltenham we now have 36 out of 40 seats! And Mole Valley is not far behind with 31 out of 39. Woking's results are equally pleasing – a win announced while there are still 7 more seats to declare. Things were looking very hopeful in Wokingham, but the final result has us holding exactly half the seats, so it is officially No Overall Control. Our eyes are still on Elmbridge and also Tunbridge Wells where we ...
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
I miss blogging in scuzzy internet cafes. I was in one in King's Lynn when I looked out the window and saw the town's Conservative Club was flying the flag of St George. As I then wrote: Until a very few years ago it would have been unthinkable for it to have flown anything but the Union Jack. We never used to be so keen on St George. I remember the saint's day being a big deal in the Cubs - we took part in a parade and the mayor was there in full fig - and churches would fly ...
Police and crime commissioners have not lived up to the hopes for them when the role was created, so it should be scrapped. In 2012 David Cameron told us: "This is a big job for a big local figure. It's a voice for the people, someone to lead the fight against crime, and someone to hold to account if they don't deliver." And: "This isn't just for politicians, but community leaders and pioneers of all sorts. People with real experience who've done things and run organisations, whether they are charities or companies. "Whatever their background, they will need to be ...
As I write we have made a net increase of 44 councillors. The Tories have lost 272 and these have been transferred across the parties with a sizable chunk going to Independents. We have retained control of 6 councils, adding Three Rivers, Watford and Gosport to Winchester, Eastleigh and Hull reported earlier. I have been watching West Oxfordshire, Brentwood and Wokingham. In West Oxfordshire we are now the largest party but without overall control. In Brentwood, where all the council seats were up for election, Lib Dems increased theirs by 1 while the Tories lost 2, but that wasn't quite ...
Did you prefer me in a maskor with my lived-in face revealed?My hooded eye, my crooked nose cracked lips and worn down snaggled teeth Was it better with illusion?Would you choose and even covetviews of artful, crafted fabric –or touch reality's drab shades?
The results overnight were much as expected. Lib Dems held onto control in three local councils – Winchester, Eastleigh and Hull – and have made a net gain of 18 councillors. In Portsmouth we gained one councillor, which leaves us still running a minority Council. This afternoon we can expect to hear from West Oxfordshire, Brentwood and Wokingham where we are hoping to increase our councillors and possibly take control. Later this evening watch out for Elmbridge and Gloucester. Please add any updates to the comments below. * Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was ...
The almost uniform laughter in political circles at Boris Johnson being turned away at his local polling station for not having the correct ID has, of course, far more serious undertones. The Guardian reports that the former prime minister was initially told by polling station staff he would not be allowed to vote in the police and crime commissioner election in South Oxfordshire without proving his identity. I have seen elsewhere that he brandished an envelope with his name and address on it as proof of who he is, showing once more that the former Prime Minister never really understood ...
Fri 3rd
07:00
Rascals Rummage market tomorrow at Logie & St John's (Cross) Church Hall #dundeewestend
There's another Rascals Rummage pre-loved kids' items market at Logie & St John's (Cross) Church Hall tomorrow - Saturday 4th May - from 12 noon to 2pm. All are welcome to join the fun, community spirit, and fantastic finds where you can dive into a treasure trove of pre-loved toys, clothes, and more!
