Best ever year for Lib Dems in local authority by-elections

Last night, the Liberal Democrats won another three council by-election victories with huge swings from the Conservatives - securing the party's best ever year for by-election gains.

Complementing Sarah Olney's victory in the Richmond Park by-election, the Liberal Democrats have gained 31 seats in local authorities across the country this year.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/best-ever-year-byelections

7 people tell us #RightToStay matters to them

With the Government still not prepared to guarantee EU citizens #RightToStay and with Tory MPs like Liam Fox claiming EU citizens are cards, we asked some of the people who signed our #RightToStay petition to tell us why it matters to them - these are their stories:

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/why-right-to-stay-matters

Alderdice Review: Call for Evidence

Call for Evidence: independent inquiry into improving process and culture within the Liberal Democrats – focusing on race and ethnicity

by John, Lord Alderdice

At the request of the Party President and the Federal Executive I am undertaking an independent inquiry into improving process and culture within the Liberal Democrats, focusing specifically on race and ethnicity.  I have not been asked to address particular individual cases but as part of the party’s commitment to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society this inquiry has been commissioned to focus on issues and/or barriers faced by BAME members and supporters of the Liberal Democrats.

Among the questions I am asking are –

1.Are there barriers to participation for BAME members? If so, what and where are they?

2.Do barriers differ in different parts of the party?

3.How effective are existing mechanisms/procedures in addressing the issue?

4.Does the Party do enough to engage with BAME voters and ensure accessibility for potential BAME members?

5.What further steps should, or could, be taken by the Party to address the issues identified in this review

Having embarked on the process of gathering evidence I am keen to hear from all those who have relevant experiences and views to help me form an accurate picture.  All the submissions I receive, whether written or oral, will be treated in confidence, and in respect of written submissions, I may well need to follow up on specific aspects in a face to face conversation.

I will be gathering the formal policies of the Party and other parties and will explore how these have evolved, where they now stand and how far they have been implemented with effect.  However, as I note above, I will not be making judgements on specific cases or making any assumptions regarding the innocence or guilt of any individuals.

I would be grateful to receive all written evidence by Friday 20th January 2017 and it can be sent to me at either diversity@libdems.org.uk or alderdicej@parliament.uk or in hard copy to me at –

Professor, the Lord Alderdice FRCPsych

Millbank House

House of Lords,

London SW1A 0PW

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/alderdice_review_call_for_evidence

Sarah Olney's Richmond Park victory speech

Speaking at the count following her shock victory in the Richmond Park by-election, newly elected MP Sarah Olney said: 

"Let me start by thanking the other candidates for a hard-fought campaign – and to Zac Goldsmith in particular, I wish you well and assure you that I will continue your fight against the expansion of Heathrow.
 
"I also would like to thank the returning officer, the staff that have worked so hard today and yesterday and of course the police. I want to thank my amazing campaign team led by James Lillis and the thousands of volunteers who have taken time to support me over the course of the campaign. I want to thank my family and friends for the wonderful support they’ve given me – particularly my husband Ben and our children. I want to thank our leader Tim Farron, and all the other party members who could not have been more supportive. And I'd like to thank the Greens, More United, the Women's Equality Party and all the other people beyond the Lib Dems who have supported me in this campaign.
 
"A year and a half ago, I wasn’t involved in politics. I wasn’t a member of a political party. I’d never been involved in a political campaign. I’d never thought about being a politician. But I knew I was a Liberal – I believed in openness, tolerance, compassion, working with our neighbours at home and around the world – and when I saw what happened at the General Election and I felt I had to get involved.
 
"I think a lot of people in this community had the same feeling this summer. Richmond Park is full of people like me who felt that something was going wrong. That the politics of anger and division were on the rise. That the liberal, tolerant values we took for granted were under threat. We were seeing the UKIP vision for Britain in the ascendancy – intolerant, backward-looking, divisive; just as we see it in America and across Europe.
 
"Well today we have said no. We will defend the Britain we love. We will stand up for the open, tolerant, united Britain that we believe in. The people of Richmond Park and North Kingston have sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit Government. And our message is clear: we do not want a ‘hard Brexit’; we do not want to be pulled out of the Single Market; and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win."
 

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/sarah_olney_s_richmond_park_victory_speech

Tim Farron responds to shock Richmond Park by-election win

The Liberal Democrats have won the Richmond Park by-election following a swing of 21.7%.  Folllowing the victory Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:    "The message is clear: The Liberal Democrats are back and we are carrying the torch for all of those who want a real opposition to this Conservative Brexit Government. "We are the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united, and the only party that has said, loudly and proudly, that we want Britain to remain a member of the Single Market and that we want the people to be given the final say over the Brexit deal. That message has been resoundingly backed by the people of Richmond Park. "This was a remarkable, come-from-nowhere upset that will terrify the Conservatives. A year and a half ago, their man won by nearly 40% and had a majority of more than 20,000. In one fell swoop we have wiped that out completely. "If this was a General Election, this swing would mean the Conservatives would lose dozens of seats to the Liberal Democrats – and their majority with it. No one believes the Labour Party will win any seats off the Tories – and the SNP could only possibly take one off them. But there are dozens in our reach. So, as this by-election has demonstrated, the only way to prevent a Conservative majority at the next election is to vote Liberal Democrat."

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/tim_farron_responds_to_shock_richmond_park_by_election_win