Political discussion a Reminder
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Invitation
Just a quick reminder for you about a political discussion session for this evening with our Guest Speaker, Wera Hobhouse, the MP for bath and the Party`s Climate Change Spokesperon. It will start at 7.00pm and your ZOOM link is shown below
Keith Melton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Southwell - Talking politics
Time: Feb 9, 2021 7:00 PM London
Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Ed Davey, has recently had a mini-shuffle of Spokesperson roles in the Parliamentary Party. Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, has become the Party spokesperson for Climate Change again. She was also recently elected to become one of three honorary Vice-Presidents of the Green Liberal Democrats (GLD) at their recent (delayed) 2020 AGM. Ms Hobhouse also retains her spokesperson role for Equality.
So GLD Chair, Keith Melton, will be talking with her about how the two roles can now become complementary. The meeting has been set up in conjunction with Southwell and Newark Liberal Democrat branches in the Newark Constituency for next Tuesday 9th February at 7.00pm. Newark and Southwell members will be getting an email with the Zoom link, but if you are reading this and have not received a direct link please email Keith Melton to register your interest (keith.melton10@gmail.com)
I hope to see you there this evening (We`re locked down with the coronavirus and it is too cold to go out anyway - AND it is a Monday evening!) Come and enjoy the discussion at 7.00 PM this evening.
Keith M Melton
Chair, Southwell Liberal Democrats and Chair, Green Liberal Democrats
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023