Speaking in Solihull and the Lorely for Leader campaign

8.27.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 26th Mar 2006

Lorely for Leader!

Busy weekend, as well as training yesterday I was the speaker at the Solihull Liberal Democrat political discussion evening last night. Today has also been been as I had Sean, Faye and Ian round for Sunday lunch (its Mother's Day I have taken the title of Mother Mucker for those that have read Tales of the City) and then out campaigning in Wolverhampton in the evening. But Solihull is what I want to write about and most excitingly the Lorely for Leader campaign.

I spoke at last year's Solihull political discussion and obviously they liked me enough to invite me back, not sure if I will be invited back next time yet! Last year I spoke about elections and how had we had to fight because as well as elections being important winning is even better - and they got Lorely Burt elected in the General Election is what many see as quite a surprise result - it wasn't a surprise to me. This year I talked about Leadership, not just about the Liberal Democrat Leadership contest - although it was touched upon but Leadership in its wider context.

I spoke of the need to Political Leadership from the Leader of a political party with both Sir Menzies Campbell and David Cameron have been elected in recent months and Labour due for a contest, to the Political Leadership of Local Councillors something that is very apt for Solihull as the Liberal Democrats are providing leadership by opposing a massive development in Shirley. I also touched on leadership with a regional and international context touching on events in Belarus but also the leadership provided by the West Midlands Liberal Democrats to local parties and that provided by our MEP.

I also managed to embarrass Lorely Burt the MEP when we discussed the Liberal Democrat Leadership, partly but launching her Leadership campaign. As you will almost certainly be aware I support Sir Menzies, Lorely support Chris Huhne and her husband Richard supported Simon Hughes which led to some interesting discussions (but we remain good friends). As you may remember I had a poll on this website as soon as I knew there would be a Leadership Election with all the MPs on it. Lorely actually led the poll for a while - I explained this to everyone present and as Lorely said when she introduced me that she would certainly want me on her campaign I have declared to support Lorely for Leader. Before coming to the meeting and knowing I was going to talk about Leadership I got 50 Lorely for Leader badges made up which I gave out - Lorely has spares should anyone desperately want one.

By the way the Lorely for Leader campaign is just (for now anyway) for fun - I am not planning a coup against Sir Menzies! I hear news of the campaign also reached Scotland at the weekend and a rival campaign may be beginning!