Generals

I was really pleased to see the various Generals come out against the BNP's exploitation of our armed forces and military symbolism yesterday, along with former servicemen like Andy McNab and Simon Weston. The BNP have previously rejected calls by Vera Lynn to stop selling a CD with 'We'll meet again' on it to bolster their party funds. This time, leader Nick Griffin drew parallels between the Generals sending troops to Afganistan and the Nuremburg trials in 1946. What is most striking about Griffin is that each time he opens his mouth, something even more absurd than his last utterance comes out. Despite his best, feeble, attempts, his party are still the poisonous, despicable gaggle of racists they have always been. I will be amazed if his appearance tomorrow night on Question Time will do anything other than show him up for the hateful bigot he really is.

Experience Culture

I was delighted to help out at the Experience Culture charity auction in Guildford on Saturday night. I was the auctioneer, filling in for the original host who was poorly. Having never conducted an auction before I was a little nervous, but it went brilliantly. The charity helps volunteers go to a village in Uganda to help the local community, and now are developing links with an Indian village too. They have also provided mosquito nets, HIV/AIDS testing, and materials for building. On the night they raised (at last count) £4500, every penny of which will go to the communities themselves. Lottie and Sarah, who run the charity, did an amazing job organising it all, with a live band, magician wandering around the throng, another singer, stalls selling local produce from the 2 countries, a silent auction and a raffle, as well as the main auction itself. It's also fair to say that I had a cracking time, and apologise for all the grief I gave the guys from the Royal Tank Regiment (and a Kings Hussar), who turned up in full dress uniform and spent a LOT of money! Can' wait for next year!

New Mayor in Bedford

The people of Bedford have elected Dave Hodgson as the new Lib Dem Mayor. Dave is a great guy, who will do Bedford Borough proud. It was great to get up there and campaign for his election. The Tories thought this was going to be the precursor to beatingthe sitting Labour MP at the General Election. How wrong they were. Having selected their candidate in their experimental 'open primary' selection system, it appears that this caused divisions in the Tory ranks, amid claims of interference from Tory Central Office. Is this what will happen to the Tory localism agenda come the next election? Time will prove that it's only the Lib Dems that truly listen to local people and believe in passing power down to local communities.

David Wilshire Resigns

As this story broke on Wednesday evening, the phone and email went into overdrive. The allegations made against Mr Wilshire by the Telegraph were out of the blue and quite extraordinary. As it became clear on Thursday that this really was serious for him, the press requests started. It is difficult when these things are allegations, but with them being potentially damaging, it seemed inevitable that he had to resign, as I told Radio Surrey on Friday morning. He is duly standing down at the next election, although some might ask why he should hang on for his golden handshake at the end of his term. Dr Ian Gibson didn't do so in Norwich North, and went straight away. What surprises me so much, however, are comments attributed to Mr Wilshire about being on a salary that was "dangerously close to the minimum wage" (as quoted in several newspapers over the weekend). Mr Wilshire had already shown a lack of contrition when other expenses claims were questioned earlier in the year. It is clear that he and his colleagues locally still maintain the Tory arrogance that they have a divine right to be elected. That is quite simply outrageous. The electors of Spelthorne are entitled to ask what their elected representatives do for them. The last of Mr Wilshire's infrequent contributions to Parliament before his announcement he was standing down at the next election was to sponsor a Bill that would have removed the minimum wage. How ironic.

Catching Up

It has been an incredibly hectic week, for some obvious reasons, so I will be putting up a few posts today to catch up on the events of the last seven days.......

Mayor of Bedford

There is a by election in Bedford at the moment to directly elect the mayor, following the death of the Independent Frank Branston. We have a superb candidate in Dave Hodgson, and I went out campaigning there last night. The local Lib Dems, like so many local parties, have been active for many years in the community helping local people, and this is paying dividends in the level of support Dave is getting. My feeling is we have a real chance of electing the second Lib Dem mayor in England, the other being Dorothy Thornhill in Watford. She was re-elected in 2006 having done a terrific job there, and has shown what a Lib Dem mayor can achieve for people. If the people of Bedford choose Dave, they too will get a passionate advocate for their area.

A Fantastic Result!

I have returned from my holiday, which coincided with the climax of the by election. What timing! Anyway, the team put together a a fantastic result, with a 15% swing to the Lib Dems. Missing out by just 72 votes was a real pity for our great candidate Richard Dunn, but we have shown we can win in Laleham and Shepperton Green, and I'm sure it will be a really close contest in 2011. Labour came a poor 5th, with less than 5% of the vote, and their support has collapsed outside of Stanwell. We really are the challengers to the Tories in the General Election.