Haltemprice and Howden

Haltemprice & Howden Liberal Democrats will be welcoming their supporters to the Annual Dinner In February 2012.A Government Whip, Lord Wallace of Saltaire will be the guest speaker. A chorister who sang at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, William is an emeritus professor at the London School of Economics as well as a joint deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Peers. A plot holder of the Saltaire Canalside Allotment Society, William is also keen on walking and pub lunches in the Yorkshire Dales.

President of Haltemprice & Howden Lib Dems Diana Wallis MEP will be the guest speaker for this year's Beverley & Holderness Liberal Democrats Annual Dinner, which will be held on Saturday October 22nd at the Lairgate Hote in Beverley. Guests are invited to arrive at 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start for what promises to be a memorable evening. The hotel has an excellent reputation for its cuisine and the Beverley & Holderness Annual Dinner always provides a great social occasion. Tickets at £25.00 a plate can be obtained from Malcolm Lynn at 01482 899692.

On Thursday the 6th of October Diana Wallis MEP, President of Haltemprice & Howden Liberal Democrats welcomed local Lib Dems and University staff to a reception at her new office on Hull University's campus at Unit 10 Newlands, Newlands Science Park, Ingelmire Lane, Hull, HU6 7QT. Refreshments, including wine and very nice nibbles, delighted the mixed group of professors, councillors and activists. In a short speech Diana made it clear that her new office was to be a centre for advice and help to the people of Yorkshire and the Humber. She expressed her deep thanks to her staff, especially Stewart Arnold and Angela Hunter, for the work they had done in setting up the new office as well as taking care of the administration of the casework she had to do.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

Nick Clegg received a very warm welcome from local activists of the Yorkshire and the Humber Region, as he arrived to answer any questions they wanted to ask him. Jeanette Sunderland, the regional chair opened the meeting with a review of the past year and urged everyone to prepare for very tough campaigning over the coming months.

"We unreservedly welcome the recent announcement by the UK Payments Council that they will reverse their decision to scrap cheques by 2018 and continue to use them for as long as they are needed by bank customers," say local Lib Dems Parish Cllr Win Knight and Katrin McClure.

"We campaigned for this along with many other Lib Dems, as we recognise that cheques are vitally important to many individuals, charities and businesses who live and work in Haltemprice & Howden. Over one billion transactions were conducted by cheque last year which shows just how important this form of payment still is. Announcing its withdrawal caused a great deal of worry to many are now greatly relieved that the Payments Council has seen sense," say Katrin and Win.

"Were you honest with people when campaigning, that you might not be here?" The new teenage Labour councillor for Tranby Ward remained silent when Peter Levy first put the question. (Earlier in the interview he admitted that he had been offered a place at London University starting this October.)

Then after being pressed to answer the prospective student said,"We didn't tell them because we didn't think it was an important issue." Levy begged to differ and said, "It is important because their local councillor is at University in London. Can you be a successful councillor for Tranby if you are at University in London?" The answer came back, "I hope so and people will judge me on that in four years time."

In one of the Lib Dem's darkest electoral days the hard working Lib Dem councillors for Cottingham South, Win Knight & Katrin McClure lost their seats, (Win after a recount, which she lost by 10 votes). Along with them went Mary Kingston, a long standing & hard working Cllr for Tranby Ward and Fred Smith who had been re-elected last year for Willerby & Kirk Ella. The indefatigible MaryRose Hardy was re-elected to serve Tranby Ward as its Lib Dem Councillor for a further four years.

Sitting on a panel with Alan Johnson Labour MP at a Fair Votes campaign meeting at Hull University on Friday 8th of April, Diana said:

"Many people feel disenchanted with poltics right now. This is their chance to make an historic change. It could could be the end of a system we have been stuck with since the 18th century."

On 5th May you have a choice. You can keep the discredited First Past the Post system to elect our MPs, or you can choose a new and fairer system - Alternative Vote (AV). Back the campaign for change at www.YesToFairerVotes.org

AV is a small change that makes a big difference.

Saying YES! to Fairer Votes Means: