The news just broke: turns out that the SNP spent more on the recent Shetland by-election than in the entire EU referendum campaign.

It seems that the SNP just see Brexit as a golden opportunity to push independence at the price of our country's well-being.

Shocker

The party spent £99,000 on the Shetland by-election (of a spending limit of £100,000), compared to just over £90,000 in the 2016 referendum (13% of the limit)

Newark Liberal Democrats have expressed their extreme disappointment after research by the Guardian newspaper showed that Newark MP Robert Jenrick has one of the worst voting records on climate issues of any MP. In the research the Guardian ranked each MP by the percentage of positive votes that they have cast to tackle climate change and Mr Jenrick scored zero percent.

With her conference speech today Nicola Sturgeon has shown that she has given up on all the people across the UK trying to stop Brexit.

The momentum is with us. We can win this, if we stick together.

Instead of helping to unite people across the country, the SNP this week ruled out any co-operation unless they get independence.

Mike joins us from his current position as Chief Executive of Addaction, a mental health, drug, alcohol and young persons charity, and was previously Assistant Chief Executive at Citizens Advice and through both of which he has extensive experience of managing member-style organisations.

I am delighted Mike will be taking on this crucial role at such an exciting time for the Liberal Democrats. Mike's experience in senior management and at leading organisations will be hugely valuable to the continuing growth of the party off the back of successive election campaigns which have put the Liberal Democrats back in a strong position in UK politics.

During the recent online hustings, the chair Lorely Burt produced a horribly complicated diagram from a few years back showing how the Liberal Democrats are structured. It's a good point - our organisation can be complicated, confusing and even hazardous to navigate.

Looking at the diagram, I did a quick mental tally of how many of the bodies shown on it I've served on at some point in my many years as a party staffer, including running the party's digital operation for Charles Kennedy, and as a volunteer, as a local party officer, regional officer, English party committee member and federal committee member.

Today, Her Majesty The Queen opened the new parliamentary session. But we have exactly the same problems as we did in the last session: a government with no majority, no leadership and no realistic plan for our country.

I used my speech in Parliament today to give a warning to my fellow MPs.

Here's my speech in full:

As both coaches announced previously were already fully booked, a new coach is being shared between People's Vote, European Movement and AEIP whose branding appears on the booking site. You do not have to be in the 'left bloc' or even a past SDP member 😉 to take advantage of it.

You can book here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nottingham-coach-to-let-us-be-heard-march-with-the-left-bloc-tickets-74853684385?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Newark Liberal Democrats now have our very own You Tube channel. We'll be adding new videos every few days, featuring our parliamentary candidate David Watts and other members talking about issues thataffect the constituency and the country. You can subscribe to our new channel here or by clicking the You Tube link at the bottom of the page.

PLEASE BOOK THE DATE

Friday 29 November, evening

Annual General Meeting and Dinner

Speaker: Bill Newton Dunn MEP

Venue : Rutland Water Golf Club

Other details tba

Don't forget to go to the Peoples Vote March in London Next Saturday 19th October!

https://www.libdems.org.uk/brexit-march

This link tells you where to join the Lib Dems at the march!

1st Prize (£35) #92. 2nd Prize (£15) #38

Congratulations to the winners

If you wish to join our 50-50 club which raises funds for our local party please email info@newarklibdems.org.uk

Southwell Branch hosted their annual lunch at Kelham Country House Hotel earlier today. There was a big turn out to hear our guest speaker, East Midlands MEP Bill Newton Dunn. We were particluarly pleased to welcome a number of new party members.

Bill spoke passionately about the workings of the European Parliament and how it had been misrepresented in the British Press over the years leading to the deadful impasse in which we now find ourselves.

I know it's tempting fate and that I shouldn't really, but this week I have not been able to resist the temptation to think what life might be like if I were to win the Presidency.

So I decided to think what a week might be like in this possible future, combining my job as MP with the job of President.

Our experience has taught us that the best campaigns are built on personal stories.

They give an emotional and personal connection beyond cold, hard facts.

So to help our campaign to stop Brexit succeed, we have a very specific request.

Can you tell us how Brexit is personally affecting you and your family?

Parliament is in deadlock and we are preparing for a GE to be held soon. The Liberal Democrats will go into any election campaigning to win, fighting for our place in the European Union, where we can work internationally to tackle the Climate Emergency.

Help us make that happen.

Be ready to vote for the Lib Dems by registering for a postal vote now.