Stockport Liberal Democrats

Today is a day for reflection, as we consider the consequences of the fateful decision to go to war in Iraq.

Our first thoughts need to be with the families across the world who have grieved loved ones, experienced life-changing injuries, and witnessed destruction and despair often beyond description.

There is no justice that can compensate their loss, and today we have learned from the Chilcot Report what we all knew already in our hearts – it did not have to be this way.

For many members in my local party, the Iraq war was a genuine turning point.

Many others chose to join the Liberal Democrats when they saw Charles Kennedy step up to the challenge, in difficult times, and provide the strong, principled leadership our country so desperately needed.

In 2003, every Liberal Democrat MP voted AGAINST going to war in Iraq.

It was the right thing to do, and that has been proven again today. Sir John Chilcot’’s report has shown that this was a war of choice, that options for a peaceful resolution still existed, and that our Prime Minister wilfully mislead parliament and the British people to march us into a war he had already decided to launch.

We were proud to see our leader Charles Kennedy refuse to compromise, despite enormous pressure and abuse pouring in from all sides, on the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to internationalism and respect for international law.

You can see Charles’’ speeches below, he was a real example of principled leadership in a time of crisis. It is not just Liberal Democrats who are missing Charles today. Our whole country is all the poorer without him.

Finally, while Chilcot gives us the chance to reflect on past mistakes, we still have a duty to oppose the mistakes that our leaders are making today!

Right now, Britain risks cutting herself off from our most valuable allies and trading partners, putting millions of jobs at risk and doing massive harm to our economy. We are proud of Tim Farron for showing equal determination and leadership to fight Brexit and put Britain back where we belong, at the heart of an open, tolerant, free, and prosperous Europe.

If you agreed with us in 2003, if you agree with us now in 2016 – it is time to join the party that is proudly and passionately fighting for the better future we all believe in.

P.S. You can see some great videos of Charles Kennedy’’s speeches on Iraq in Parliament and at the anti-way rally in Hyde Park here (via Lib Dem Voice)

Richard Britton, who stood as Conservative candidate in Offerton, Stockport in the May 2016 local elections, has resigned from the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Democrats.

“I am now convinced that the Liberal Democrats offer the most constructive and positive platform to argue for progressive liberalism,” Richard said. “A much less progressive and more right-wing element has come to dominate the Conservative Party.”

Dr Richard Britton is a writer and academic, having gained his PhD in religions and theology from the University of Manchester in 2014.

Leader of Stockport Council Liberal Democrats, Cllr Iain Roberts, welcomed Richard into the party. “As the Conservative party moves to the right, and Labour remains trapped in internal warfare, we are seeing more and more people come to the Liberal Democrats.”

“Under Tim Farron’s leadership, the Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up for a liberal, outward-looking Britain,” Iain added. “Richard is one of more than 12,000 new members who have joined the party since the EU Referendum and I look forward to working with him.”

Stockport Liberal Democrats won more seats than any other party in the May local election and campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU.

 

Statement from Richard Britton

I never thought I would be writing this. After much careful thought, and for a variety of reasons, I have left the Conservative Party and joined the Liberal Democrats.

I realise some in my former party may feel deeply betrayed by this, but I am following my heart and trying to remain true to myself and my principles, and be honest with everyone. Unfortunately some feel I should have put the Conservative Party before my beliefs and what I think is best for the local area and the country. This assumption is a huge error of judgement by these people.

One reason for my defection is that in the lead up to the referendum and afterwards, a much less progressive and more right-wing element has come to dominate the Conservative Party. The Conservative contribution to the Leave campaign was also, in my opinion, second only to UKIP’s in terms of its inaccuracy and misleading nature. It now seems plain that this right-wing faction will either provide the new leader of the party, or indeed exert huge influence on whoever else does. In addition to this, I am dismayed at how some of the Leave misinformation has been propagated at a local level within the Conservative Party.

My main reason, however, is that I am now convinced that the Liberal Democrats offer the most constructive and positive platform to argue for progressive liberalism. As my old friends would no doubt testify, I was more conservative in my youth, but as I have grown older my views have become more diverse and mixed. I now realise that the Liberal Democrats best embody my values and principles, which are essentially liberal and social democratic.

I am incredibly excited for the future, and I really look forward to working with the Hazel Grove and Stockport Liberal Democrat team to help shape a more inclusive and progressive future for Stockport and for the country as a whole.

Following the publication today of a major report that suggests the Northern Powerhouse could be just ‘smoke and mirrors’, Liberal Democrats have called for the government to be frank and honest with the North West region about its future plans.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem group on Stockport Council and a deputy portfolio holder on the GM Combined Authority, said he was concerned that the whole Northern Powerhouse project could be dead in the water following the fall out from the EU referendum.

“David Cameron and George Osborne were the prime architects of this policy. With them both likely to depart their respective roles in government, there is now a huge question mark about its future,” said Mark.

“After the Referendum vote, we are already seeing foreign investors pull back from the North. Should the widely-predicted economic slump come about, there will be less money for the Government to invest too.”

Cllr Hunter fears a double-whammy of weak leadership and a weak economy will kill the Northern Powerhouse project before its even got out of the starting blocks.

“Where we should have clear policy we have a massive void. In my view, the wider support among Conservative MPs for the whole Northern Powerhouse concept was only ever skin deep. Without the influential backing of both Cameron and Osborne, there must be huge doubt about political support from the government moving forward.

“This would be a good time for Conservative MPs in the North West to speak up for our region and to re-iterate their support for this important project – without it, we stand to lose millions in potential investment at the very time our fragile economic recovery is, thanks to Brexit, once again under threat,” said Cllr Hunter.

At the Full Council Meeting last night, Group Leaders agreed to reaffirm the Pledge to Oppose Discrimination in Stockport first signed in April 2014.

Cllr Iain Roberts, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “I am proud that under Liberal Democrat control, and in the face of increasingly divisive campaign methods being used by some extremist groups at the time, the then Group Leaders all signed up to our pledge in 2014.

“In the light of the tragic death of MP Jo Cox during the EU Referendum campaign, and in the light of the reports of an increase in racially motivated hate crimes following the result, we are proud that Stockport Councillors will re-affirm the pledge through the current Group Leaders signing up to it once again.

“As the Group Leaders said two years ago, Stockport Council has always been a beacon for democracy and freedom of political expression. There can be no place in our democratic process for those who seek to incite or encourage racial hatred, prejudice and discrimination between others, whether that is done blatantly or covertly. This message is especially important as we work through the consequences of Brexit.”

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the 5,000 new members who have joined the party since Friday – more than a thousand a day.

“Stockport voted to Remain and the Lib Dems led the campaign. We’ve been inundated with support since the referendum,” said Cllr Iain Roberts, leader of the Lib Dems on Stockport Council.

“The Lib Dems are the only party committed to a future for Britain at the heart of Europe. While the two big parties fight over who should lead them, we are fighting for a caring, compassionate and outward-looking Britain, whether or not we are part of the EU.”

Nationally the Liberal Democrats have announced that they will fight the next election with a manifesto commitment to take a pro-European approach.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron MP, said: “Naturally we respect the result of the referendum, but Brexit will hit livelihoods, homes and jobs. As the Brexit camp renounce their promises on the NHS and immigration before the slogans have even been peeled off their battle bus, it is now clear that the British people were told lie after lie.

“We have always believed our economy and place in the world is stronger in Europe and it is only right that we offer that as a choice to people at the next general election – whenever that might be.”

If you agree with us, why not join us? You can do so here.

Statement on the EU Referendum result from Cllr Iain Roberts, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Stockport Council

The people have spoken and the UK will now start the process of leaving the European Union. There must be no talk of delay, nor of a u-turn: the decision has been made.

I am immensely proud of the role the Liberal Democrats have played in the referendum campaign. As is so often the case, the media ignored us but where we made our voices heard on the ground, in our communities, we made a difference. Against the national trend, the people of Stockport voted to remain in the EU.

Whether a Remain campaign with more of Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and less of David Cameron would have had a different outcome we can only speculate, but I am absolutely certain it would have been a more inspiring campaign that would have better connected with the people of Britain.

So what next? The Prime Minister has failed and is resigning. The money markets are terrified. The Leave campaign has made promises to the British people they will struggle to keep. And the Liberal Democrats have never been needed more.

Never have we needed more a party that looks outward, not inward. A party that sees the best in people, not the worst. A party that believes our future lies in playing a full and active part in the world, not in retreating behind the barricades of a mythical Little England that never was.

The Liberal Democrats have an important job to do over the coming years and the fate of our country and its people relies on our success. The Referendum was not of our choice but when it came we did not shirk and we did not shrink. We fought with every fibre of our being for our positive vision for Britain and we will continue to do so.

I invite everyone who shares our vision to join us today and to get active in the fight for our country – Britain needs the Liberal Democrats like never before and the Liberal Democrats need you.

Cllr Iain Roberts
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Stockport Council