Same again

Resident terrorised by Canvasser, shock?














Because we are determined to see personally as many voters as possible our campaining team will be out most days so yesterday was the same - ie still in Lumley but different streets - ie.
Runnymede
Strathmore
Tintagel
Featherstone
Pendragon
Sherborne
Medway
Sandbach
High Barnes
Broadviews
Riding Hill
Cranleigh
Front St (west half)
Hazel Leigh
Winchester
Canterbury Close
Salisbury Close
Gloucester Close
Exeter Close
Worcester Close
Lichfield Close
St Albans close
Norwich close
Cranleigh
Lincoln Walk

3 of us pestering this time but same results - issues troubling people were anti-social behaviour, immigration which the current government appears unable to control or even monitor.

Lib Dems believe social cohesion depends on us having proper controls of our own borders and ensuring the maximum freedoms for our citizens, within a framework of immigration policies which actually work in practice. The present system is chaotic and widely seen as unfair.

In Northumberland, where i am responsible for Community Safety we are dealing swiftly, firmly but fairly with bad neighbourliness and all anti-social behaviour, whilst developing ways of improving the society in the longer-term by improving the ways families and communities work together and improving the choices people make over how they live (healthier, more cooperative lives) ie we are focussing on the well -being of the whole community to achieve "the greatest happiness of the greatest number"

Out and about in Great Lumley

Monday 24 August was spent pounding the pavements of Great Lumley (to be precise:
Balmoral, Runnymede, Caledonia, Strathmore, Coverley, Tintagel, Danelaw, Grosmont, Holyrood, Kenilworth, Loefield) and talking to people whilst thrusting a scary paper (with my face on it) to present myself as the Lib Dem representative ("Parliamentary spokesman") as and when the election is declared
Same results and concerns as in Ouston & Urpeth, Chester North, South and West Central - ie Labour has lost touch with the people (I used to be a Labour stalwart myself when the party meant something) and they are sick of the sleaze and punch and judy style of Labour and Tories.

We intend to speak to as many people as possible over the next 9 months leading up to the election (probable date!) and continue the dialogue thereafter to ensure that N Durham's needs are actively and comprehensively pursued and the people are not just "consulted" at election time.

We will be in Great Lumley all the rest of this week (we work monday - Saturday).
So if you want to have a word and live in the area, just give me a call (07795334815) or keep an eye out for a tall, dark, handsome stranger (well a stranger anyway)

Music and lights

North Durham's Lib Dem candidate (Ian L, spouse of Mrs) relaxing in a sunnier part of the fest.

Mrs L in full festival downpour mode - typically fashionable North Durham Look

Just back from Thursday to Sunday 2 August in Cambridge
My kids bought Linda (mrs L) and me tickets and a camping ticket for the Cambridge “Folk” Festival which was great - it hasn’t much to do with folk in the fingers in the ear high-pitched voices at dawn sense thankfully.
Specially enjoyed the Zutons, Saw Doctors, Buffy Sainte Marie (sixties icon up there with Neil Young and Bob Dylan – wrote loads of good songs eg Universal Soldier which she gave to Donovan – listen to it it’s a great song and totally right-on) and a band I’ve never heard of before called Edward II (black and white reggae folk band if you can imagine that – really warm stuff.

Got drowned and mud bathed in the traditional festival downpour way on Saturday tea time. It went on until Sunday (from Thursday) but we had to leave (packing a wet tent at midnight on Saturday) cos had a meeting with North Durham campaign Manager (Natalie English – hereinafter referred to as Nat) on Sunday – so got to bed at 6am and up again at 11 to prep for meeting which turned out to be good.
We have got a great team of people to win N Durham back from the red hordes as soon as Gordon Brown lets us have a vote.

Monday 3 August
Went to Tyne and Wear Fire Service HQ for an all day session working on getting money to build new Community Fire Stations for the north east, especially 4 new ones in Durham – so people from all the fire services were there. I am responsible for Northumberland’s Fire Service at the moment and am part of the management board for the whole north east including Durham so it’s a great position to be in to help ensure we get the best services in N Durham.

It went well but because we have to bid for money from central government credits its very complicated and there is no guarantee of success regardless of need etc – it is a bit of a lottery but we have a fantastic team and if anybody can get the money we can

After a full day there, booted and suited more or less straight out to a meeting in my local ward – I’ve got housing, regeneration etc round the table with the local people to put together a bid to develop the big ex-council estate to break up featureless concrete and tarmac rat runs into smaller hamlety communities with loads of greenery and nice features. We should get the money as the area needs it.
There’s loads of potential in N Durham to put together groups to do the same there is money out there contrary to popular belief.

Rest of night 9 – midnight spent pestering people across N Durham about our campaign to win this seat for the Lib Dems