Liberal Democrat Sharon Wilson tonight, (Thursday 7th September 2006), took Labour's last remaining seat in Warrington Council's Poulton North Ward with a sensational swing of over 16%.

The victory is a huge boost for Warrington Liberal Democrats who spectacularly took the leadership of the Council from Labour this May after 23 years of Labour control. Sharon's win made the Liberal Democrats the largest party on the Borough Council for the first time ever.

Councillor Sharon Wilson, who lives in Padgate, won with a massive majority of more than 850 votes over Labour to become Warrington Liberal Democrats' 26th Councillor.

There was no joy for David Cameron's Conservative candidate who came a poor third with less than 10% of the vote as the Tories' lost more than half the votes they secured in May 2006.

The full result in the Poulton North By-Election was:-

Sharon Wilson (Lib Dem) 1358 (64.2%)
Kevin Bennett (Labour) 505 (23.9%)
Francine Leslie (Conservative) 209 (9.9%)
Michael Jackson (Green) 43 (2%)

Councillor Sharon Wilson said "This is a great victory for positive Liberal Democrat action to tackle important local issues like crime and graffiti and a rejection of Tony Blair and Labour spin nationally and in Warrington.

I will be a strong local voice, as part of the Liberal Democrat team for our area, standing up for the residents of Cinnamon Brow, Fearnhead, Padgate and Longbarn who have elected me today."

Councillor Ian Marks, Liberal Democrat Leader of Warrington Borough Council, added "Sharon's spectacular win today shows that, with Liberal Democrat leadership, Warrington is moving forward again after years of Labour neglect. Our action since May to tackle crime has received strong backing from local residents voting for Sharon.

Sharon Wilson fully supports Liberal Democrat initiatives to introduce more Police Community Support Officers for our area and to set up alcohol-free zones in parks. With Sharon as part of our Liberal Democrat Council Team we can move even faster to implement these plans."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Sir Menzies Campbell MP will come to Rochdale on Friday, 25th August to help the party celebrate 100 days in power of the Council. Sir Menzies will come to see how the Liberal Democrats are already making a real difference to resident's lives. The Liberal Democrats now run Rochdale Council, having exactly half the Councillors on the Council and now run the Council's decision-making Cabinet. Their outstanding local election results in May ended a year of a Labour/Conservative Coalition. This was just a year after Paul Rowen MP regained the Rochdale Parliamentary Seat from Labour in the General Election.

Leader of Rochdale Council - Councillor Alan Taylor said, "We've had a hugely successful few years here in the Rochdale Borough, winning seats off both parties. We have made a strong start and are already delivering on our promise to devolve more power to the communities of Rochdale - with the decisions on how the Council's Budget is spent. I am delighted that Sir Menzies is joining us to celebrate 100 days in power, one of the strengths of Rochdale is the community groups across the Borough. We intend to take Sir Menzies to 3 such groups, including a resident's group, a youth group and a community group. We will then have a celebration of 100 days of the Liberal Democrats delivering for the people of Rochdale."

Paul Rowen MP said, "I hope Sir Menzies will enjoy his trip to Rochdale, I know that he has busy reaching out to different groups across the UK. I welcome the fact that he has come to Rochdale to celebrate our success as by far the fastest growing party in Rochdale. We see this as the next stage of our campaign to put Rochdale first, we are not complacent though and will continue to work for local people."

Sir Menzies Campbell said, "I am looking forward to visiting a Town so steeped in Liberal history with the likes of John Bright and of course Sir Cyril who I used to share an office with in the House of Commons. Like many places in the North-West, the Liberal Democrats are doing superbly in Rochdale and it will be good to see the progress they have already made in such a short time in control of the Council."

2006 Elections Manifesto

Menzies Campbell MP has launched the Liberal Democrats' manifesto for the 2006 local council elections. He said, "We all want to feel safe in our communities. We want access to decent, reliable local services. We want clean and sustainable neighbourhoods. And we want fair taxes we can afford to pay. But those simple aspirations are drifting out of reach.

"Labour and Conservative governments have spent decades taking power away from local people. Denying them the right to choose their own policing priorities. Imposing unfair and painful taxes. And letting faceless bureaucrats make decisions about local schools and hospitals they have never visited and will never use. That has to stop. It's time to give power back to people and to their communities.

"That's why Liberal Democrats across the country are fighting back. Campaigning for local action and solving local problems. By putting our policies into practice on the ground, we're making Britain safer, greener and fairer.

"People in every part of Britain are turning to the Liberal Democrats.

"There are no no-go areas. And where Labour and Conservatives have let people down, we're delivering. Better services, better value for money, and better accountability.

"So if you want to make a difference for your community, vote Liberal Democrat on 4th May."

You can download the manifesto here as a pdf file.

The Lib Dem council elections campaign in Preston had a major boost today as two Tory councillors announced they are to join the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Marie Milne, a Preston councillor since 1990, and Sharon Riley, who was elected in 2004 have defected to the Lib Dems. They approached Preston Liberal Democrat leader Christine Abram after becoming "disillusioned" with their own party.

The Liberal Democrats now have 13 members on the council, to the Conservatives' 16 and Labour's 23 - though all that could change with the upcoming local elections on May 4.

John Lee

The former MP for Pendle, John Lee, has been made a Lib Dem member of the House of Lords.

John defected to the Liberal Democrats from the Conservatives in 2001.

Menzies Campbell commented, "John Lee, Conservative Member of Parliament for Pendle from 1979 to 1992, was, among many other senior Government posts, Conservative Tourism Minister from 1987 to 1989. H e wisely joined the Liberal Democrats in 2001. He has made a very substantial contribution to Britain's civic life over the last three decades and he brings a wealth of private and public sector experience to the House of Lords."

John is one of five newly appointed Lib Dem peers, taking our group in the House of Lords to 79 members.

l-r: Manchester Lib Dem leader Simon Ashley, NW Chair Gill Gardiner & Sir Menzies Campbell MP

Liberal Democrats party leader, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, launched the council elections campaign for the North West in Manchester on April 4th.

He met with Manchester Liberal Democrats who are looking to build on their success in gaining 16 seats from Labour in the city at the last two sets of local elections. The Lib Dems are hoping for further triumph following
their spectacular capture of the Manchester Withington Parliamentary seat at last year's General Election when John Leech MP was elected with the biggest winning swing in the country.

Sir Menzies met Hazel Grove and Cheadle MPs Andrew Stunell and Mark Hunter, Stockport Council Leader Councillor Brian Millard and colleagues from the 35 Member Liberal Democrat ruling Group on Stockport Council to launch the Liberal Democrat local election campaign in the borough.

Sir Menzies said, "Liberal Democrats in the North West have made historic breakthroughs at Council and Parliamentary level in recent years. We offer a positive alternative and clear plans to remedy Labour neglect."

"That is why people are turning to the Liberal Democrats in ever growing numbers"

Regional Liberal Democrat Party Chair, Cllr Gill Gardiner said "It is great that Sir Menzies is coming to launch our campaigns in the North West on the first full day of this year's local elections. The North West has seen some of the most high profile Lib Dem successes in recent years, taking and retaining control in Liverpool and Stockport, gaining Pendle in 2004, and now as the largest party in Chester, Bolton, South Lakeland, and Rochdale. And of course making gains from Labour and Tories alike in the General Election last year."

Gill Gardiner added, "Liverpool used to have the highest council tax in the land before the Lib Dems took power. Lib Dem Stockport has the best recycling record of any metropolitan council in the country. People can see that voting Liberal Democrat can make a difference to their lives."

Stop ID Cards say Lib Dems

"Getting extra police onto the streets of the North West is a more important priority in the fight against crime than the Labour Government progressing its multi-billion pound identity card scheme" says Liberal Democrat Party Leader Sir Menzies Campbell. He will tomorrow (18 March 2006) address the Spring Conference of the North West Liberal Democrats at St Mary's Chambers in Rawtenstall, Lancashire on his first trip to the North West since becoming Leader.

At the Conference the Liberal Democrats in the North West and Party Leader Sir Menzies Campbell will launch a petition calling for 'Police not Plastic' to be the top priority of the Government in spending vital resources to tackle crime.

Sir Menzies commented, "Parts of the North West are actually seeing police numbers being cut this year as a result of inadequate funding. Other parts of the region are being pushed into merging their police forces against the wishes of local people who fear that the police will become more remote under the new structures. Although these Police cuts are taking place the Labour Government has already spent £32 Million on an ID card system whilst confusion reigns, from the Prime Minister down, over the costs, the benefits and the technology involved in such a scheme. Liberal Democrats in the North West and nationally say that Police not Plastic is the most direct and effective way of tackling crime in the Region and across Britain."

Gill Gardiner

Wirral Councillor Gill Gardiner, Chair of the North West of England Liberal Democrats, added " It is great news that Sir Menzies Campbell has chosen to make one of his first campaign visits as Leader of the Liberal Democrats to the North West Region. The Liberal Democrats have doubled our number of MPs and MEPs in the North West in the last two years and were the only Party to increase our number of MPs in the region at the 2005 General Election.

"We now need to build on our recent successes which have included winning back the Rochdale Parliamentary seat, electing Nelson-based Member of the European Parliament Saj Karim and gaining control of Pendle Council to make further breakthroughs here in Lancashire and across the whole of the North West. Having our Party Leader at our Spring Conference in Rawtenstall shows that we are stepping up our campaigning a further level in the North West Region. Our clear commitment to more Police on the streets of the region, as a priority for Government, shows that we are now more in touch with North West people than the tired Labour administration!"

Congratulations to Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell, who has been given role of Shadow to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in the new Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet unveiled by Ming Campbell this week.

Regional Chair Gill Gardiner said, "Andrew has been an excellent Chief Whip for our MPs for several years but this new role will give him a much higher public profile. Our congratulations to Tim Farron too who has been appointed PPS to the new party leader."

Menzies Campbell signs up to the "Police Not Plastic" campaign with NW Chair Gill Gardiner at the North West leadership hustings.

Following a one member, one vote ballot of members, the new leader of the Liberal Democrats is Menzies Campbell.

Regional Chair Gill Gardiner said, "My congratulations to Menzies on his victory in an election that has been a showcase of the talent and values of our party. The good humour and respect between the candidates and their teams has been obvious on the trips that all of the candidates have made to our North West Region during their leadership campaigns. The party will now unite behind Menzies this weekend at our Party's Spring Conference in Harrogate ahead of May's important council elections."

"Since 2004 the Liberal Democrats in the North West have doubled their number of MPs and MEPs. Elsewhere, even in the midst of a leadership election, the party was able to pull off a stunning by election victory in Dunfermline & West Fife. Now with an excellent new Leader elected we can look forward to greater successes to come."

 

The North West Liberal Democrats Spring Conference this year will be in Rawtenstall. Ed Davey MP will be the keynote speaker at the one-day conference, which will take place on March 18th.

To register for the conference, or for directions, see the conferences page.

 

BOLTON Council has passed its toughest-ever test from the government with flying colours.

It has been awarded a prestigious four stars - the top rating - in its latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment from the Audit Commission. Only eight councils out of 22 in the north west region have won four stars.

It consolidates the Lib Dem council's position as one of the country's best-run councils with another top performance award from the Audit Commission.  It's the third successive time that Bolton has won a premier rating.

Read more about it on the new Bolton Liberal Democrats website. Visit the new Bolton Lib Dems site here.

 

The official North West hustings for the Lib Dem leadership contest took place on Monday, 20th February.

It drew around 600 people to the Great Hall, the largest number of Liberals ever gathered in Manchester Town Hall and the three candidates received rapturous applause from the audience at the end of the question and answer session.

The event also saw members dig deep to support the North West region's fundraising efforts with almost £2000 donated to the cause, while two new members were signed up at the door on the night so keen were they to hear Ming, Simon and Chris speak!!

The North West Liberal Democrats kicked off the New Year with a "Making the Breakthrough" celebration dinner. With twice as many MPs and MEPs as we had two years ago, and many more councillors, there is much to celebrate.

Guest speaker was former Pendle MP, John Lee.

 

Gill Gardiner

The new North West Liberal Democrats Regional Chair for 2006 is Wirral councillor Gill Gardiner. Gill and the new regional executive team took office on 1st January 2006, after elections held in November.

See the Executive page for details of the full new Regional Executive Officer team.

l-r: Sir Cyril, Dave & Reggie

Regional Chair Dave Smithson was delighted to be asked to deputise for our Regional President this week and present Reggie Lane from Rossendale & Darwin with his Regional President's Award for services to the Party. The event took place in Rochdale Town Hall and on hand was former Regional President and Rochdale MP, Sir Cyril Smith MBE who was the man behind the first ever regional awards when he was President of the North West Region.

Dave commented, "it was a great honour and a privilege to be asked to perform this award, one of my last before I step down as North West Regional Chair at the end of the year, well done Reggie and thank you Cyril for taking the time and trouble to join us!"

There were seven other President's Award winners this year, with most receiving theirs at the Regional Conference in Birkenhead. Our congratulations also to Trevor Beswick (Wigan), Joan Collins (Wirral West), Ian Rule (Copeland), Margaret Saxon (Cheadle), Joyce Skerrett (Chester), Francis Smith (Tatton) and Hilda Styles (Stockport).

The voters of Cheadle backed Lib Dem Mark Hunter to be their new MP on July 14th.

Cheadle Figures
Mark Hunter (Lib Dem)
19,593 (52.15%)
Conservatives
15,936 (42.42%)
Labour
1,739 (4.63%)

The result showed yet another swing from the Conservatives to the Lib Dems, with more than half the votes cast being for Mark Hunter.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy visited Cheadle the morning after polling day to congratulate Mark and his team. He said, "What was really tremendous about this result was not just that the government lost its deposit, sweet though that was...

"It was the fact that weeks after the general [election]...we actually got a swing to the Liberal Democrats."

The byelection result means the Liberal Democrats again have 62 MPs - with 6 in the North West.

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating an excellent General Election result in the North West, holding their three existing seats and gaining another three.

Tim Farron ousted the Tory Shadow Education Secretary in Westmorland & Lonsdale, while in Rochdale Paul Rowen took back the seat Cyril Smith held for twenty years. In one of the biggest swings of the night, John Leech took Manchester Withington from Labour.

Patsy Calton retained her seat in Cheadle - with a majority of over 4000 in what had been the most marginal seat in Britain. John Pugh in Southport and Andrew Stunell in Hazel Grove were also re-elected with clear majorities.

In many other seats such as Liverpool Garston, Liverpool Wavertree and Manchester Gorton the Lib Dem share of the vote increased significantly.

Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, kicked off a flying tour of the UK on Tuesday 5th April in Manchester with the launch of the party's Urban & Suburban mini-manifesto.

Paula Keaveney, Tim Farron, John Pugh, Charles Kennedy and Stephen Wilkinson

Speaking at the launch, he said: "Across Britain, more and more people are looking to the Liberal Democrats to provide a real alternative to Labour and the Conservatives. But in our cities, especially our great northern cities, the Conservatives are out of the race.

It is the Liberal Democrats that are challenging Labour in its urban heartlands. In the last local elections the voters in Newcastle chose the Liberal Democrats to run their city. We run Liverpool too. We are challenging in Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff. The Conservatives have scarcely any councillors in these places. In Britain's cities, the Liberal Democrats are the real alternative to Labour."

"One of the stories of this campaign will be how the Liberal Democrats are taking on Labour in our cities - and winning."

Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council and Liberal Democrat Candidate for the forthcoming Cheadle by-election, has wished well to Make Poverty History Marchers who today set off from the Trinity United Reformed Church in Cheadle heading ultimately for the Gleneagles G8 Summit in Scotland at the start of July.

Yesterday evening Mark met nine marchers at Trinity Church as part of a celebration of their journey so far. The marchers led by Simon Topping of the Jubilee Debt Campaign set off from Victoria Square in Birmingham City Centre on Saturday 18th June and will arrive in Gleneagles on July 5th . Their arrival will coincide with the beginning of the summit of G8 world leaders who will be considering plans to tackle global poverty.

Mark Hunter

Mark Hunter said “It was a fantastic experience to meet the marchers and to add my support with members of the Cheadle community to the key aims of the Make Poverty History Debt March 2005 Campaign - the headlines for which are ‘Trade Justice', ‘Drop the Debt' and ‘More and Better Aid'. This is all about people power. The marchers that I met are hoping to meet directly with Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush to let them know that local people at every stage along their route are publicly calling for urgent action to tackle the poverty that leads to 30,000 avoidable deaths every day around the world.”

Councillor Hunter added “I am particularly proud as Leader of the Council that we are also playing our part locally. We are about to celebrate with the people of Cheadle the borough's second anniversary as a Fairtrade town – an initiative operating in our area that promotes products from developing countries which ensure that a fair price is paid to farmers or local manufacturers. This is about acting locally and acting globally to tackle horrific poverty and injustice. It was an honour to be invited to the celebration event at Trinity Church where the marchers were staying last night. Thanks to the marchers the call for action by world leaders to tackle global poverty will now go direct from Cheadle to the Summit – I wish them well for the rest of their journey.”

Councillor Mark Hunter, the Leader of Stockport Council which covers Cheadle, has been chosen by the Cheadle Constituency Liberal Democrats to be their Parliamentary Candidate for the by-election following the sad death of Patsy Calton MP.

Mark campaigning for the Metrolink with Patsy last Autumn

Mark lives in the borough with his wife Lesley and they have two children Francesca, 17, and Rob, 16. Mark worked as a Marketing Executive in the newspaper industry before becoming Leader of Stockport Borough Council in 2002.

Councillor Hunter said “It is a great honour to be chosen to succeed Patsy Calton as the new Liberal Democrat candidate in Cheadle. Patsy was a wonderful Member of Parliament for Cheadle who was always ready to help and to stand up for local concerns.

“As Leader of the Council I am already involved in many local campaigns and worked closely with Patsy Calton. I will do my very best to continue the standard of service and action set by Patsy.”

Mark added: “Everyone knows that this is a constituency that Labour can’t win. The by-election will be a straight fight between the Liberal Democrats who will put local issues and concerns first and the Tories who have been rejected at the last two elections by the people of Cheadle.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy MP said:

“I welcome the selection of Councillor Mark Hunter as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Cheadle by-election. Mark Hunter is an excellent local choice and will be a powerful voice for local people following Patsy Calton’s great success in putting Cheadle firmly on the political map both locally and nationally.”

Cheadle's Lib Dem MP Patsy Calton has died following a long battle with cancer.

Charles Kennedy said: "I wish to extend my most profound sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the late Patsy Calton following her death.

"In particular all our thoughts are with her husband Clive and their children.

"Patsy was a spirited and courageous Member of Parliament, and nowhere was that spirit and commitment more evident than in the way she continued to represent Cheadle throughout the recurrence of her illness during the general election campaign, and most movingly when only last week she took her oath in the House of Commons.

"Despite her desperate illness, her determination shone through.

"Cheadle has lost a wonderful constituency MP and the Liberal Democrats have lost a fine representative of our cause."

Patsy won her seat from the Conservatives with a majority of just 33 in 2001, which increased to over 4,000 at the recent General Election. A memorial service held in Stockport on June 17th drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people.

Internationally acclaimed artists the Singh Twins have issued a statement of support for the Liberal Democrats for the General Election.

The Twins have been passionately opposed to the war in Iraq and believe that the Lib Dems are the only major party to have spoken out against the war. They believe that the war did not have a legal basis and has been a crime against humanity.

Their recent painting 'Partners in Crime' features George Bush and Tony Blair and represents their personal anti-war protest - this image will be displayed at the launch. The Singh Twins shot to global fame three years ago with their distinctive portrait of the Beckhams as the new royal family - the painting was entitled 'From Zero to Hero'.

The Twin sisters, Amrit and Rabindra, have just finished a major retrospective exhibition of their paintings called 'Past Modern' at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool - one of the country's national galleries. They have an increasingly high profile and have featured recently in the Times of India, a Granada TV documentary and BBC Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour'. It is clear that the war is a key issue for the Singh Twins and for many others in determining their vote at this Election and leading Lib Dems from Liverpool and the national party welcomed their Statement of Support for the General Election at the launch.

Regional Chair Dave Smithson welcomes Stephen Wilkinson to the Lib Dems

Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, today (April 5) welcomed into the Party Cllr Stephen Wilkinson - until yesterday Labour's parliamentary candidate for Ribble Valley and a Labour member of Lancashire County Council.

Cllr Wilkinson said: "Until yesterday I was a Labour Party candidate - chosen by Labour to fight the General Election. Today, I am announcing that I have left the Labour Party and am joining the Liberal Democrats.

"Like many former Labour voters and activists, I feel angry that Labour have become increasingly authoritarian and failed to safeguard civil liberties. They have used the threat of terror to push for house arrest and compulsory ID cards and to justify the illegal war in Iraq.

"Who could have thought that a Labour government would become a lapdog to George Bush's right wing Republican administration.

"Charles Kennedy's Liberal Democrats come across as honest and straightforward. I believe that Charles Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats offer hope for the future. They are a principled alternative to Labour. The Conservatives are neither principled nor credible."

Mr Kennedy said: "This is the day when the Prime Minister announces a general election. I am taking the Liberal Democrat message to five great British cities in all corners of the nation. There are now no no-go areas for Liberal Democrats, and polling day will see our party make great strides into urban Britain where we are clearly the alternative to Labour.

"I warmly welcome Stephen Wilkinson and his courage in leaving his party to join the Liberal Democrats. When Labour cannot even retain the support of their own candidates, it is surely a sign of things to come..

George Slynn

Liberal Democrats in Lancashire are celebrating as their latest recruit joins the party.

Senior Labour member, County Councillor George Slynn, former Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council and a leading member of the County Council has cut up his new Labour membership card and joined the Liberal Democrats.

Councillor Slynn says he is disillusioned and dismayed with Blair's Labour party and feels much more comfortable as a Liberal Democrat.

Rochdale Lib Dem leader Paul Rowen

The Conservative Campaign in Rochdale is in tatters as two of their Councillors have quit the party and joined the Liberal Democrats. There are now 27 Lib Dem councillors on Rochdale with 24 Labour and 9 Conservatives.

Leader of Rochdale Liberal Democrats - Cllr. Paul Rowen said, "We obviously welcome the decision of Cllrs. William and Wera Hobhouse. We are working hard to find a safe, sensible solution to the huge problems at the former Turner Brother's site. Since becoming the biggest group on Rochdale Council we have been working hard with the Save Spodden Valley and Friends of Healey Dell pressure groups and the community to try and find solutions to the problems at the TBA site. I am delighted that William and Wera will be joining our fight."

With John Leech in Manchester Withington

Charles Kennedy has been touring the North West, visiting some of the key seats in which the Liberal Democrats may make gains during the General Election.

With Lembit Opik MP at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

In Liverpool, where the Lib Dems run the council with a strong majority, Charles commented, "we are going to give Labour a run for their money, the like of which they have never seen before".

In Manchester, he took part in a question - and - answer session with readers of the Manchester Evening News where topics raised included the Iraq war and regional devolution following the North East "no" vote.

"Iraqis who register to vote in Manchester for the Iraqi National Assembly elections could be putting their lives at risk unless they are able to withhold their names from the electoral register available to all voters" says senior Manchester Liberal Democrat City Councillor Jackie Pearcey.

Councillor Pearcey added "Reports suggest that only around 350 Iraqis have so far registered to vote in their National Assembly elections at the end of January out of a community of 75,000 in the North of England. The level of violence surrounding the preparations for the elections in Iraq itself looks like it has led members of the Iraqi community here to fear that they are putting themselves, and their families in Iraq, in great danger if they put their names on public display in the electoral register."

"Reports suggest that only around 350 Iraqis have so far registered to vote in their National Assembly elections at the end of January out of a community of 75,000 in the North of England"

Councillor Pearcey will call tomorrow (Wednesday 19th January 2005) at Manchester City Council's top-level Executive meeting for Iraqis living in the North of England to be given the same right to have their name edited out of the public version of the Electoral Register that is available to all voters as exists for British voters in our elections.

A report to the Executive Committee outlines the role that Manchester City Council Officers are playing in advising Election staff from the International Organisation for Migration who are organising voting for the Iraqi National Assembly in Manchester. Manchester is one of only three voting centres, alongside London and Glasgow, in the UK.

Councillor Jackie Pearcey said "In Britain the right of a voter to withhold their name from the publicly available electoral register is largely used to avoid junk mail being sent by companies who buy the register for commercial purposes. For the Iraqi elections this right could mean the difference between life and death as violent factions try to disrupt the elections and settle scores with supporters of other political groups. I hope that our City Council Election Officials will suggest and secure the right to withhold for the sake of the safety of Iraqis in Manchester and across the North of England!"

At September's Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth, party leader Charles Kennedy added his name to the Get Our Metrolink Back On Track petition. Read more about the campaign on the Manchester Lib Dems website

Read more about Jody Dunn and the Hartlepool campaign

The Lib Dems ran Labour close in yet another parliamentary byelection in Hartlepool at the end of September, cutting a huge Labour majority to just 2,033. There was a 19% swing from Labour to the Lib Dems.

In July, the Liberal Democrats scored a sensational by-election victory, taking the seat of Leicester South from Labour with a 22% swing from Labour. The victorious Parmjit Singh Gill has become the party's first MP from an ethnic minority. In his victory speech he stressed that the public had sent a strong message: "the Prime Minister has abused and lost their trust."

Labour also took a hammering in the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, held on July 15th too, where the Lib Dems got an even larger 27% swing. In this formerly rock-solid Labour seat, their majority was slashed to just 460 votes and Labour only held the seat after a recount.

The Conservatives performed badly in both July by-elections, slumping to a poor third in both Leicester and Birmingham: "that is extremely bad news for Michael Howard" (BBC). They then collapsed from second to fourth place in Hartlepool.

For further information on the campaigns, visit the Hodge Hill, Leicester and Hartlepool Lib Dem websites.

The Government has shunned the advice of the independent Electoral Commission on all-postal ballots for this year's local council and European Parliament elections the Chair of the North West Liberal Democrats said today (January 23rd, 2004).

In a written statement from the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Government announced it would pilot schemes in two regions not recommended by the Electoral Commission - the North West and Yorkshire & the Humber.

Cllr Dave Smithson, Chair of the North West Liberal Democrats, said: "It would appear that yet another conversation has been a waste of time, this announcement shows that Labour is prepared to rip up the advice of independent experts when it suits their electoral convenience.

"The all-postal ballots will be a recipe for confusion in the North West. It looks to me as if this is nothing more than a desperate measure to save Labour's skin in the European and local elections."

Following a one member, one vote selection process, the Liberal Democrats have unveiled their team for the 2004 European elections on June 10th.

The list of candidates for the North West region is headed by Chris Davies MEP, Pendle solicitor Sajjad Karim, and Liverpool councillor Flo Clucas. [more]

 

The Lib Dems won with a huge swing in South Ribble's Walton Le Dale ward on Thursday 31 October 2003, taking the seat from the Conservatives.

Full result:

LD Christine Leeming 316; 41.1%; +41.1
Tory 283; 36.8%; -26.1
Lab 92; 12.0%; -25.1
Oth 78; 10.1%; +10.1
Majority 33. Turnout 25%. LD gain from Con

The Lib Dems won two byelections in the North West on Thursday 17 October 2003. In Burnley, we became the first party to gain a seat from the BNP in a byelection anywhere - marking the Lib Dems out as the clear, credible opposition to Labour on the council. The result was overwhelming with over half the voters choosing to support Martin Smith and the BNP collapsing to third place.

Meanwhile in Cumbria we gained a seat from Labour on the county council - again with more than half of the vote.

Full results:

Burnley BC - Lanehead
LD Martin Smith 1070; 50.6%; +32.0
Lab 464; 21.9%; -9.8
BNP 357; 16.9%; -17.1
Ind 127; 6.0%; -9.8
Con 98; 4.6%; +4.6
Majority 606. Turnout 48.2%. LD gain from BNP.

Cumbria CC - St Michaels ward
LD Ian Francis 889; 51.1%; +41.4
Lab 851; 48.9%; -26.2
(No Conservative candidate fielded)
Majority 38. Turnout 44.4%. LD gain from Lab.