Fylde Liberal Democrats

Congratulations to LibDem candidate Marion Sweet, who took on and defeated the Conservative candidate by 58 votes to win a seat on the Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council.

Whatever Faith or none that you believe in, Fylde Liberal Democrats would like to wish all our visitors a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for 2012 when it comes. We'll be back after January 3rd 2012. Thanks for visiting.

Nick Clegg, speaking on today's Andrew Marr show said: " Whatever your views about the EU, to be a minority of one in a field of 27 is NOT a good result". "There is nothing 'Bulldog' about the UK hovering on the margins".

Setting aside the crowing & axe grinding of some print media & politicians, the more considered views expressed in a letter to the Financial Times from a London City financial executive deserve attention. He wrote: " The business model of the City only works if it works for the EU as a whole - - - the City can only maintain its ascendency in financial services as a fully committed member of the EU. Nothing could be more damaging to foreign investment in the UK & the City than the idea that the UK would leave the EU". We should not forget that the City is dominated by foreign banks which have absorbed most of the 'British' institutions. The FT Editorial warns that Cameron may well have worked against UK interests & put his goal of repatriating powers beyond reach. These commentators are the people the Cameron 'veto' was all supposed to be for.

There were just two by-elections on 1st December, both held by the Conservatives, but the good news was that Helen Groves increased the Lib Dem vote in the Brent Ward of Somerset CC by 17.4% taking 12% from the Conservatives and 5.4% from Labour. Hopefully voters are beginning to realise that Labour is not the place to go even if you are unhappy about things.

Well done to Liberal Democrat Alex Slater who took the Hazelmere South Ward of Wycombe District Council from the Conservatives at the by-election on 24th November. Alex increased the Lib Dem share of the vote by 19%. In the Beaver Ward of Ashford BC LibDem Jack Cowan did not win but came from nowhere [there was no LD candidate in this ward in May] to gain 19.3% of the vote. In the Wendron Ward by-election in Cornwall, Mebyon Kernow took the seat from Independent (gaining almost all the 16.5% of votes the Independent lost). Only John Martin of the LibDems put up a show for main stream parties in this election coming second & increasing the Lib Dem vote by 12.3%.

Public opinion is all over the place and can you blame voters for being confused. The good news for Liberal Democrats is that a recent poll from one of the most accurate teams at the General Election shows LibDem support up 5%. Labour is still in the lead but it is hard to figure out why. Voters were asked who was trusted most to run the economy. The coalition team of Cameron/Osborne/Clegg were chosen by 40% while just 26% selected Labour's Two Eds.

Liberal Democrats Ron Harrison & Josh Mason retained both seats in Zetland Ward of Redcar & Cleveland Unitary Authority at the by-elections held on Thusday the 17th November. Sandra Jane Bradshaw similarly retained the Liberal Democrat seat in Poulton North on Warrington UA. She increased her share of the vote by over 5%. Congratulations to them all. And commiserations to Simon O'Rourke who missed out in the Salthill Ward of Ribble Valley Borough Council by just 4 votes despite increasing his share of the vote by 9.2%. Simon retained the Town Council seat which is some consolation.

Huge congratulations to Liberal Democrat Cathy French who took the St Margaret's Ward of Ipswich Borough Council from the Conservatives at the by-election on 10th November.