Month: October 2009

I’ve just spoken to a young member of the CLP – in his early twenties, I’d guess – who made the point about the need, in his opinion, to improve facilities for young people in Darlington. Firstly, whether it is a concern shared by most of the members remains to be seen, but it’s been… Continue reading Members’ concerns #3 – Facilities for young people and anti-social behaviour (not necessarily related)

It seems that although the UK and Scandinavia are doing well to try and cover poorer countries’ contribution to the anti climate change program, the Germans are reluctant to pay up. Full story here. Come on! We need to be united across Europe and stop squabbling ahead of Copenhagen. If we’re not as Europeans, and… Continue reading Climate change: Angela, put your hand in your pocket

A couple of different members have said to me, what can we do about Darlington town centre traffic, which can be horrendous, without affecting our ability to attract shoppers and, by extension, major retail chains to the town? It’s a tricky one, which I hesitate to plunge into because I am sure that my colleagues… Continue reading Members’ concerns #2 – Town centre traffic

A number of members have mentioned the local economy as their no.1 concern, and have asked me about how I’d help in bringing money and jobs to Darlington, were I to be selected as candidate. Well, firstly I got my masters in economics and I work an adviser to small business, so it’s a subject… Continue reading Members’ concerns #1 – stimulating the local economy

Now it’s time for that other Milliband, the Foreign Secretary – great interview with Gavin Hewitt here. Now, we have a choice at the moment, to shy away from supporting a European president, or run away from even the idea of it, like the Tories. Let’s leave on one side for a moment whether you… Continue reading It’s either be at the centre of Europe, or be on the outside – again

You can see how they try and twist whatever we do for political point-scoring. Jacquie Bell, Lib Dem candidate for Stockton South, complains about Labour not voting for their parliamentary motion on climate change. This was a nice try, but fundamentally misleading. As I helpfully point out in the comments to her letter… Now, Ed… Continue reading North East Lib Dems at it again

This is a great story for the Darlington area on making solar panels pleasing to the eye. It’s great to see the North East taking the lead on an issue dear to my heart.

Just got back from the Darlington “meet the candidates event” at the Arts Centre this weekend. Darlington I know pretty well, having grown up nearby, but it was nice to be back. Really nice bunch of people, and extremely well-organised. I had some grillings, as expected, from a few members, but that’s part and parcel,… Continue reading Great meeting, nice people

I set up this blog ages ago, but now I have much more of a reason to use it. Yesterday I announced my entry into the Darlington parliamentary selection, so this will be a place, initially at least, for my thoughts during this process, as well as on political issues in general in areas which… Continue reading Darlington – and they’re off…