The Liberal Party notes the commencement of the COP26 or the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference this weekend in Glasgow.

This conference arguably represents the world’s last opportunity to put in place the agreements and measures to halt a global temperature rise more than 2.5 degree Celsius.

Whilst the party accepts that the majority of world governments having pressing financial, economic and social issues to address in the post-Covid era, simply returning to economic business as usual would be a calamity.

Whilst commitments made today will not reverse the ongoing global climate emergency, they will allow the trajectory of rising world temperatures to be brought back within manageable boundaries whilst the world moves to a carbon neutral existence.

The simplest message for the delegates at the conference is that action on climate change needs to be made this week in Glasgow.

The Liberal Party can confirm that there was only one valid nomination for Party Leader under our new Constitution, that
being Cllr Steve Radford

For the NEC we had valid nominations for the following 16 Candidates, under the new constitution as there are
potentially 20 vacancies no election is needed and they take office with immediate effect.

 
Kayed Al-Haddad     
Stephen Graham       
Anne Bradshaw         
Paul Bradshaw             
Chris Ash
Fares Mousa
Jack Baker
Cllr Charles Shaw
Cllr Peter Mitchell     
Dana Neal                   
Cllr Joe Dunne  
Neil Taylor  
Cllr Billy Lake
Cllr Chris Eccleston  
Rob Simpson
Angela Preston  

Hazel Williams - Returning officer

The Liberal Party recognises the vital role of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s) or small businesses in the need to create growth to increase economic recovery from the Covid pandemic.

This means that we need to create the balance of social needs and business flexibility to encourage growth whilst protecting workers rights.

Therefore, we call for an immediate review of rules applicable to SME’s or small businesses with reference to employment law and to this end propose:

     SME’s be subject to the same balance of proof by any employee in any unfair dismissal proceeding

     That the proof of being an unfair dismissal must not rest on procedural issues alone, but the substantive judgment
     by the employer was unreasonable

     We would like to see greater use of arbitration and reconciliation.

We believe this protection be given to SME’s or small business of equivalent to 20 full time employees as one tribunals case alone could threaten the viability of the business.

To improve the rights of employees the threshold for unfair dismissal claims would be reduced to 1 year.

We are pleased to confirm that Alasdair Clark will be contesting the Cropton ward for the Liberal Party.

Assistance with canvassing in the ward which would be greatly appreciated.

Jimmy Richardson with be representing the Liberal Party in the Anfield ward.

Liam Buckley with be representing the Liberal Party the Clubmoor ward.

Many thanks to the candidates for stepping forward to contest the seats and Cllr Steve Radford for acting as Election Agent.

Assistance with canvassing in the district would be greatly appreciated.

I read with interest the announcement of the new regional AUKUS security pact encompassing America, Australia and Britain.

Unfortunately, the first thing which sprang to mind was the ill-fated and short lived American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command, created in late 1941 with the commencement of the Pacific campaign.

Whilst there is no-longer a Dutch presence in the region, there are compelling reasons to have included the French in the new scheme, with its own military commitments in the Pacific.

The ABDA lasted a matter of months before being rendered irrelevant by military events. For AUKUS to be sustainable it should look beyond a narrow Anglo-American horizon for support and credibility.

Nor should the acquisition of advance nuclear submarines for reasons of national prestige be allowed to strain political or economic relations which may outlive any transient security pact.

The next Liberal Party Special Assembly & open NEC will be held on Saturday the 20th November at the Fountain Inn, 102 Wrentham St. B’ham B5 6QL.

Items for debate are welcome and should be forwarded to a member of the current NEC.

The Liberal Party will be contesting 4 council by-elections on November 18th, 2021. By-elections provide a great opportunity for those not fighting their own campaigns to join the By-election campaign team to network and to promote the Liberal cause. It's also a great opportunity to get an insight on how to campaign to win a seat.

We have 3 by-elections in Liverpool, in adjacent seats to Tuebrook ward which is held by 3 hardworking Liberal councillors. We also have a by-election in Ryedale for the Cropton ward seat which was held by John Clark for the Liberals until his untimely death. Cropton ward is an adjacent seat to Pickering which is represented by 4 hardworking Liberal councillors.

If you are able to support any of the by-elections in any way  please get in touch with a member of our NEC, even a couple of hours delivery or a few hours on election day will help our campaigns.

The Liberal Party notes with great anguish the death of the MP for Southend West Sir David Amess at a constituency surgery being held in a local church.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends as well as his constituency at this moment in time.

MP’s as well as other high profile public figures provide a vital local service meeting and discussing issues affecting communities and residents in as open and informal manner as is practical.

Such high visibility activities do carry some risk, but it is vital for democracy that they are carried out regularly and they are not restricted by any real or implied threat.

Following the Annual Assembly and Constitutional changes agreed on Saturday, subject to confirmation by the E
lectoral Commission.

The current role of Party President will predominately become Party Leader, therefore under the transition
arrangements agreed all acceptances and nominations made to date for Party President will be deemed as
acceptances and nominations for the new role of Party Leader.

Anyone wishing to vary their intent can advise Hazel Williams the Returning Officer via any member of the current
NEC.

The National Executive will be increased to 20 plus Party Leader.

Under the transitional arrangements agreed all current acceptances and nominations for the NEC made to
date will be deemed as applicable for the larger NEC.

Nominations for Party Leader and NEC will continue to be open until 1st November.

Members may also be advised the constitution going forward will allow vacancies on the NEC to be filled by co-option.

The new role of Party President will be elected by the new NEC and will have powers and duties to look at
membership and Constitutional issues whilst not be a member of the NEC.