Liberal Democrat response to Chilcot

Sir John Chilcot has published his report into the Iraq war. Responding, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

“Blair was fixated in joining Bush in going to war in Iraq regardless of the evidence, the legality or the serious potential consequences.

“Daesh has arisen from the complete absence of any post conflict planning by the government.

“Charles Kennedy’s judgment has been vindicated in every respect. I hope those in the Labour and Conservative parties who were so forceful in their criticism of him and the Liberal Democrats at the time are equally forceful in their acknowledgements today that he was right. An absence of scrutiny by the Conservative party opened the door for Blair and the Labour Government to pursue a counter-strategic, ill-resourced campaign.

“I hope Sir John Chilcot’s findings can in some way provide comfort to the families of the British servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives [including 14 from Wales], and to the people of Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have lost their lives and a generation has been shaped by this illegal war.

“Far from being Bush’s passenger, Blair was his co-pilot in taking this catastrophic decision which has destabilised Iraq, provided the hotbed for Daesh and tarnished Britain’s reputation around the world.“

Liberal Democrats consistently opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003

Fifteen thousand new members

More than 15,000 new members have joined the Liberal Democrats since the result of the EU Referendum was announced. With over 74,000 members, we now have more members than we’ve had in over a decade!

These new members have joined us because they share our values and principles. They know that we are the only party who can now speak for those who believe the UK is best when it’s tolerant, outward-looking and compassionate.

There are still many of you who are looking for someone to give them a voice in the wake of the referendum result. If you are not yet a member, you can join locally - see the sidebar on the right - or you can sign up via Twitter, Facebook or by clicking here.

Help us fight for the EU

Simple choices

With acknowledgements to Adams of the Daily Telegraph.

Peter Black says First Minister should not rush to give formal notification of EU withdrawal

A senior Welsh Liberal Democrat and former Assembly Member has criticised the First Minister’s call for official notification of the UK's intention to leave the EU under Article 50 to be sent as early as possible.

Councillor Peter Black has called on his former colleague Kirsty Williams, the Welsh Liberal Democrats Education Secretary to distance herself from the proposal, arguing that giving formal notification before proper arrangements are in place could leave Wales worse off.

“I understand that the First Minister wants to limit the amount of uncertainty faced by Welsh businesses,” said Mr. Black, “but if we go too early then negotiators could find themselves battling against an immoveable deadline to put in place new agreements on trade and free movement of labour. It would significantly weaken our negotiating position and potentially leave Welsh businesses struggling to compete.

“This is not a position that the Welsh Liberal Democrats support. It is important therefore that our only AM, who sits in the government, distances herself from Carwyn Jones’ statement.

“The vote last Thursday is a potential disaster for communities in Wales. It puts jobs under threat, it places key funding for agriculture and deprived areas in jeopardy and it undermines Welsh businesses. That is why Tim Farron and the Liberal Democrats are right to say they will put a pledge in their next manifesto to seek to re-join the EU.”

Referendum shows that people turn out when they know that their votes count

Anthony Tuffin of STV Action says:

Turnout

Yesterday’s EU referendum turnout was 72% compared with 65.1% and 66.2% in the 2010 and 2015 general elections.  An important reason for this is, as David Cameron said on 8 June, “every vote counts the same [in the referendum]”.

Comparison

Although the referendum result was very close (51.9% – 48.1%), at least it was clear and obvious – unlike the general election results in 2005 and 2015 when, respectively, the Labour Party was awarded an overall majority for only 35.2% of the votes and the Conservative Party was awarded an overall majority for only 36.9%.  This needs to be repeated over and over again.  Every vote should count in elections as well as referendums.

Who will represent us in the exit negotiations?

All of us, Remainers and Leavers alike and whatever party loyalties we may have, must hope that the Government gets the best deal possible in the crucial exit negotiations that will take place.  The Government’s duty is to represent us all but, elected by only 36.9% of the voters, it is not representative of us.

David Cameron has recognized this a little by announcing his resignation, but his successor will be chosen by the Conservative Party and not by the voters.  Others have recognized it a little more by calling for a general election but a new Government, elected by about 35% - 40% of the voters by First Past The Post, would still not be representative.

We should have a general election now by STV/PR to elect a truly representative Parliament and a Government with a mandate to negotiate.

Owen Winter launched a petition today for a PR general election.  Even if you think the Government will ignore it, it is worth signing to increase publicity for electoral reform and attract new supporters.  As he has written:

“After a divisive referendum campaign, UK public opinion is deeply split. The only way to reconcile our differences is an election where all voters have a stake in the result. As David Cameron said, every vote in a referendum ‘counts the same’. Surely this should apply for general elections too?”

Please click on MVMbrexit-petition to see the petition and sign it.

What next?

38 Degrees consulted with its members today on what its priorities should be now that the decision has been taken to leave the EU.  Unsurprisingly (because they never do), they did not even mention electoral reform as one of their possible priorities, but their final question invited general comments so I wrote:

“The Government is responsible for representing us in the vital exit negotiations but, elected by only 36.9% of voters, it does not represent us and a new Government, also elected by First Past The Post, wouldn't represent us either.  We need a General Election NOW by STV/PR.”

Constitutional issues

The Electoral Reform Society has published a blog, in which it makes the point that “the referendum demonstrated a clear public appetite to engage with constitutional issues of where power should lie” and suggests that the public should continue to be engaged.  The blog continues, “Leaving the European Union and determining the future shape of the United Kingdom are huge and difficult tasks – far too difficult to be left to politicians behind closed doors.”

Please click on ERSpublic-engagement for the full text.

Frank Little, secretary of the local Liberal Democrat party writes: "I largely agree with this and have already supported the inclusion on the agenda for the next Liberal Democrat conference a motion calling for a fair voting system for Westminster elections and local government elections in England and Wales. If the latter is good enough for the Scots, it is good enough for us."

Do you want to reverse what Wales did last Thursday?

Go to:

https://libdems.secure.force.com/LiberalDemocrats/NewMemberRegistration 

where you will find the simple form above.

The final message

UK's influence in the EU

The EU cannot override the UK in the following areas:

There are more facts here.

Referendum campaigning has ceased

As a mark of respect to Jo Cox, and with regard to the current overheated political atmosphere, it has been decided not to proceed with campaigning. In particular, the street stall planned for the Lidl store in Bryncoch South this weekend will not now take place.

 - Frank Little, Secretary

Fellow-Europeans' big contribution to public services

The E(U)conomic cliff

Leave would cost us

The EU referendum

Away on EU polling day?

Use it or lose it

Anne Curie in Roger Roberts' office writes:

On 23 June 2016, Britain will face one of the greatest electoral questions of this decade. Voters will be asked to decide whether or not they wish to see the UK remain in the European Union.  Yet as this crucial election draws ever-nearer, there is an important issue which must be contemplated: registering to vote.

The deadline to register to vote for the referendum is midnight, 7 June. The party-neutral Bite The Ballot (of which Lord Roberts is Honorary President) is running an innovative #TurnUp campaign in the week approaching this deadline. I urge everyone to support this cause. It’s vital to ensure that the 30% of young people missing from the roll are able to have their say.

Regardless of how you choose to vote, it is crucial that all eligible voters turn up to vote and have their say on the future of Britain’s membership of the EU. That said, Lib Dems have adamantly chosen to become the party of remaining ‘IN’ the Union. Our party chooses this path because it’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do. 

There are economic benefits to remaining in the Union which will benefit a substantial portion of the British public. The GNP per capita will remain higher, the UK will retain its access and influence to the single market, and unemployment will remain lower. British citizens will retain their right to live and work in other EU member states – a fact that affects over 2 million Britons today. Finally, remaining in the single market allows Britain the continued access to trade agreements with other nation states. This means there will be no need for renegotiation of bilateral trade agreements between the US and UK, or between Canada and the UK.

If these sorts of economic benefits are not enough to encourage an ‘in’ vote, there is another side to the argument for remaining in. The social benefits of remaining in the Union are many, but in my mind there are two at the forefront: 1) cultural exchange, and 2) sustainable peace. The EU has maintained sustainable peace within its borders for 70 years thanks to the alignment of goals and working together to achieve them. Yet this is also because of the first point; a cultural exchange of ideas, customs, languages and values. By engaging with the Continent, the UK has become culturally enriched and open. Though this is my personal opinion, this seems to me a beautiful reason to remain in the EU.  Why not continue to partake in benefits such as Erasmus+? Why cut ourselves, and future generations off, from the world?

For more information about why Lib Dems support remaining in the European Union, please check out the #INtogether campaign. But most importantly of all – as a Party – we must remember to inspire every we meet and work with to get registered, get informed, and #TurnUp to vote!

* We are grateful to Liberal Democrat Voice for this article

80% of special Welsh conference members vote to back Kirsty Williams as Education Secretary in Welsh government

At a special conference held in Newtown yesterday, the Welsh Liberal Democrats endorsed overwhelmingly the Progressive Agreement announced on Thursday, 19 May 2016, by Welsh Labour and Kirsty Williams and the invitation made by the First Minister to Kirsty Williams AM to take up the position of Cabinet Secretary for Education within the Welsh Government.

Results from English council elections

The last counts - from Bristol City - having been completed, these are the final scores:

Kirsty's message for the election tomorrow

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams has this message:

"Tomorrow’s vote is your chance to make a difference for your community. Before you cast it, I want you to ask yourself: who has delivered the most for you and your family?

"If our record over the last five years shows anything, it's that a vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats is a vote for our policies being put into action. Tomorrow will be no different – your vote could help make our ideas a reality.

"If you support smaller class sizes, if you want more nurses on hospital wards, if you want an Opportunity Economy that enables people to get on life, then you have to vote for it – you have to vote Welsh Liberal Democrat. Only then can we begin to deliver a Wales that works for you."

Welsh general election 2016

On Thursday May 5th vote for Helen Ceri Clarke in Aberavon, for Frank Little in Neath, for Welsh Liberal Democrats on the South Wales West regional list (lead candidate Peter Black) and put a cross in column 1 for Judith Woodman on the Police and Crime Commissioner Ballot.