The Northern no.

45
September

Democrat
2009

The newsletter for Liberal Democrats in the North of England

Nick in Newcastle
for key seats visit
Lib Dem Leader Nick
Clegg paid another visit to
the North East earlier this
month as part of a tour of
the party’s most winnable
seats.
Nick visited Newcastle on 10th
September. In a tight schedule, he
visited a Council apprenticeship
scheme, Newcastle Jobs Fair, the
Cyrenians training and support
centre and spoke at a packed
public meeting in the evening.
Nick was accompanied on his
tour by Newcastle Council Leader
and Deputy Leader John Shipley
and David Faulkner.
Parliamentary candidates Ron
Beadle and Greg Stone
accompanied Nick on the visit to
the Jobs Fair which was held at St
James’ Park (where Nick bumped
into Peter Beardsley.)
The meeting in the evening was
attended by over 200 residents who
asked a series of questions. The
meeting was chaired by Ron
Beadle.
“The tour was a great success
and the meeting was standing
room only,” said Ron. “Nick’s visit
was a great boost for us.”
The Newcastle meeting was the
49th open public meeting Nick has
held since becoming leader.
Full photo coverage of the visit lNick Clegg arrives in Newcastle and is greeted on arrival by City
can be found on pages 5-6. Council Leader John Shipley.

Produced, printed and promoted by Jonathan Wallace, 7 Laburnum Grove, Sunniside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 5LY
 Britain’s by-election capital sees son
Steven set to join Team Abbott
Steven Abbott, the eldest son of Chris and Glynis, leading Lib Dem Councillors in
Redcar and Cleveland, has been nominated as the Liberal Democrat candidate for
the South Bank By Election on 17th September.
There are five candidates contesting the vacancy caused by the death of Labour
Councillor Marilyn Bramley, herself a By-Election victor last October.
The result last time was:
Marilyn Bramley (Labour) 652 (49.9; -0.6)
Toni Meir (Liberal Democrat) 288 (22.1; +12.3)
Bernard Collinson (BNP) 206 (15.8; +1.4)
Oz Sadiq (Independent) 101 (7.7; -7.3)
Joan Bolton (Conservative) 59 (4.5; -5.8)
Turn out 27.6%
Majority 364
Lab hold
Swing 6.45% Lab to LD
This time there is no BNP candidate standing though UKIP have fielded a
candidate.
Redcar and Cleveland has had a string of by-elections in recent months, most of
which have been Lib Dem gains. Good luck Steven.
lClimbing in his parent’s

Northern By-election results footsteps: Steven Abbott is

hoping to join his parents
on Redcar and Cleveland
Harrogate BC, Starbeck York City UA, Heworth Council
date: 27/08/2009 date: 10/09/2009
LD Janet Law 886 (63.4; -8.8) Lab 876 (34.0; -2.6)
South Tyneside
Con 252 (18.0; +5.0) LD Jennifer Ayre 608 (23.6; +11.5) MBC, Westoe
Ind 178 (12.7; +12.7) Con 591 (23.0; +2.3) date: 10/09/2009
Lab 82 (5.9; +0.8) Green 302 (11.7; -6.1) Ind 694 / 194 (39.2; -26.4)
[BNP (0.0; -9.7)] BNP 172 (6.7; -6.0) Lab 567 (25.0; +6.1)
Majority 634 Raving Loony 25 (1.0; +1.0) Con 320 (14.1; +3.3)
Turnout 31.81% Majority 268 BNP 266 (11.7; +11.7)
LD hold Turnout 26.6% LD William John Troupe 225
(9.9; +9.9)
Percentage change is since May 2007 Lab hold
Majority 127
Percentage change is since May
Turnout 34.5%
2007
Ind hold

Conference r
eporters nee
ded now!
Northern Democrat needs people to report
on debates and fringe meetings at
Bournemouth Conference.
Would you like to be one of our reporters? If
so, call Northern Democrat Editor Jonathan
Wallace on 07860 730270 or email him on
jonathanwallace@compuserve.com
A fresh start for Britain
Lib Dems head for Bournemouth for last autumn conference before election

The Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth this

month will debate the key policy proposals on which
candidates will fight the General Election.
Northern Night Reception
A Fresh Start for Britain will be debated on the morning of Sponsored by ANEC and
Tuesday 22nd September and candidates are strongly
encouraged to attend and take part in the debate. Northumbria Water
Nick Clegg said:
With Labour finished and much of the country still Bryanston Suite
unconvinced that Cameron’s Conservatives offer
anything better, this is an extremely exciting time for Highcliffe Hotel
our party.
The ideas we agree in Bournemouth will shape the 8:15pm,
choices we offer voters at the next General Election.
Mon 21st September
The key themes are:
l tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes paid All are welcome
for by closing loopholes for the wealthy;
l creating green jobs to help the economy recover and
Any queries call
make our environment more sustainable;
l making sure every child gets the best chance in life.
0191 240 1084

Not going to Conference? Don’t

worry, you can still take part!
Even if you’re not going to the Bournemouth Conference, you can still take part! The conference features
three Question & Answer sessions, where questions are welcome from all Party members, whether you’re
there in person or not.
l Sunday 20th September (afternoon) - with Nick Clegg MP, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats
l Monday 21st September (morning) - Crime Policy: Panel including Chris Huhne MP (Shadow Home
Secretary), Jan Berry (Independent Reducing Bureaucracy Advocate), Juliet Lyon (Director, Prison Reform
Trust) and Professor Larry Sherman (Wolfson Professor of Criminology, University of Cambridge)
l Tuesday 22nd September (afternoon) - The Economy: Panel including Vince Cable MP (Shadow Chancellor
of the Exchequer), Jeremy Purvis MSP (Scottish Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and
Sustainable Growth), Cllr Howard Sykes (Leader, Oldham Council) and Liam Halligan (Chief Economist of
Prosperity Capital Management and Economic commentator, ‘Sunday Telegraph’)
If you can’t make it to Conference, you can still send questions to ask.
For the session with Nick Clegg, email ask@nickclegg.com. The deadline is 12.40, Sunday 20th September.
And you can email questions to the Crime or Economy sessions to questions@libdems.org.uk no later than 17.00 on
Thursday 17th September.
In all cases, please keep your questions concise - 25 words maximum. If you are going to conference, please submit
your questions onsite rather than by this route. See the agenda for details.
There will be more ways in which you can keep in touch with conference on LibDems.org.uk, including live video
coverage online and highlights on YouTube. There will be more details nearer the time.
 Photo ops at Conference
for Northern members
Liberal Democrat members from the North East
are invited to take part in photo ops at the
Bournemouth Conference.
These events have been organised by regional media
co-ordinator Angelika Schneider and the photos will
be taken by Northern Democrat Editor Jonathan
Wallace who is also running the national photo ops
for campaigners (see below).
The regional photo ops are as follows:
l Saturday 12.30pm-1.30pm - flooding. Join
Fiona Hall MEP on the beach with sandbags.
Meet in the Foyer of BIC
l Sunday 10am-11am - protest against ID
cards. Be pictured with a giant ID card. Meet in
the Tregonwell Hall. lOne of the photo ops from Conference last year put
on by the North East Region. This year there will be a
l Monday 9.45am-10.15am - housing. 72,000
photo op held by the region each day of Conference.
council homes in the North East are classed
as substandard. Be pictured with with some cut out houses to highlight the problem. Meet in the Tregonwell
Hall.
l Tuesday 8.45am-9.15am - high speed rail. The North East is in danger of being left out of a new high speed
rail network. Join in the call for the region to be included. Meet in the Tregonwell Hall.
l Wednesday 9.30am-10am - environmental labelling and cutting your carbon footprint. Be photographed with
Fiona Hall and a giant carbon footprint. Meet in the Tregonwell Hall.

MP photo ops
Jonathan Wallace, who has run photo
ops at previous Conferences, will be
holding further events at Bournemouth.
This is a free service for candidates and
campaigners. The events will take place
in the Tregonwell Hall as follows:
l Sunday 20th 3pm-4pm: Lynne
Featherstone, knife crime
l Monday 21st 10.30-11.30am:
Simon Hughes, environment/
carbon footprint
l Monday 21st 12pm-1pm: Tim
Farron, fair trade/farming
l Tuesday 22nd 2.30-3.30pm
Norman Baker: Labour/
Conservative rail failure
l Wednesday 23rd 10.30am-
11.30am: Steve Webb,
unemployment
l Wednesday 23rd 11.30am-
12.15pm: Vince Cable
In addition, we will have a number of previously used props which we are bringing to conference for use without
MPs. There will be two of these “general sessions” in the Tregonwell Hall: Sunday 20th, 12pm-12.30pm;
Tuesday 22nd, 6pm-6.30pm. (These two sessions can be used for taking portrait sessions as well.)
There will also be a session for candidates to have their photos taken outside the front of the Bournemouth
International Centre on Sunday 20th from 11am-11.30am.
 Nick in Newcastle
By all accounts, Nick Clegg’s visit to Newcastle on 10th
September was a great success.

After being met at Newcastle Central Station by Councillors

John Shipley and David Faulkner, Nick headed to an
apprenticeship school, City Build, Newcastle City
Apprenticeship Scheme, with teaching ranging from welding
to full road maintenance.
He met apprentice welders Daniel Hall, David Ridley,
Andrew Carr and Ben Cowley and toured the site with Mick
Murphy the Director of the school and Tucka Allen who was,
until recently the last apprentice in Newcastle (he finished his
apprenticeship in the 1970s).
Nick later spoke to Chloe Turner (Apprentice Plumber),
Hayley Allen (adult Apprentice Electrician), Charlotte Sheridan
and Kay McGuire (both Technical Trainees).

lNick at City Build, Newcastle City

Apprenticeship Scheme, testing out traffic light
electronics and giving a red light to Labour!

lAbove and below - Nick meets apprentices.

lJohn and Nick set up a road sign for the attention

of the Government.
Nick in Newcastle Jobs
Nick then travelled to St James Park for a jobs fair
where he visited stalls and saw the multiple
initiatives in Newcastle to bring young people back in
to work. He also met with jobseekers and heard their
stories.
He was accompanied by Newcastle candidates
Ron Beadle and Greg Stone.

lAbove and left - Nick Clegg with Ron Beadle and Greg
Stone at the Newcastle Jobs Fair
Homelessness
Nick then made a return visit to the Tyneside Cyrenians, a
leading North East Homeless Charity. Nick visited the
Cyrenians in 2007 where he tried his hand at plastering.
This time he met young people enrolled on horticulture
courses that seek to give clients a grounding and skills base
that will help them into independent living. The Tyneside
Cyrenians is a charity that works with homeless people,
helping them attain skills as well as provide sheltered
accommodation.
Nick met with residents of the project (pictured in the
greenhouses), one of whom was a heroin addict who is now
clean and is building his CV with skills he has learnt at the
Cyrenians.
Nick was accompanied by Newcastle Central candidate
Griff Kane.
Middle left -
Nick is shown
part of the
Cyrenians
horticulture
project. Left -
Nick chats to
one of the
residents,
accompanied
by Griff Kane.

Gosforth
Public
Meeting
Finally, Nick
addressed a
public meeting in
Gosforth Civic
Hall, attended by
over 200 people.
lAbove, Nick addresses the meeting in Gosforth. Left -
chair of the Gosforth meeting, Ron Beadle, listens whilst
Nick answers questions.
 Regional News

Vince to visit North East

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Vince
Cable MP, will be the keynote speaker at the North East Liberal
Democrats’ regional conference on Saturday 17th October. The
conference will be held at Gateshead Civic Centre.
Registration details for the conference are being circulated with this edition of
Northern Democrat.
Registration before 9th October is £12 and thereafter £15. (There is also a reduced
rate of £10 and £12 respectively.)
Vince will also be attending the Berwick Constituency dinner in the evening. See
below for details.

Berwick Annual Dinner

The Berwick Annual Dinner this year is on Saturday 17th October (the same day as Regional Conference). Vince
Cable is the speaker. It is at St James’ Church Hall in Alnwick, NE66 1JW. 7pm for 7.30pm.
Tickets are £25 each and include a drink on arrival, a meal of steak and ale with herby dumplings, a glass of wine
and a selection of home made puddings, entry into a prize draw and the chance to hear Vince Cable!
If you would like tickets, call 01665 602901 or email paul@berwicklibdems.org.uk.

North East benefits from end to bulbs - Hall

North East Lib Dem Euro MP Fiona Hall has welcomed the end of the 100-
watt incandescent light bulb saying it will open the way for new jobs in the
innovative North East lighting industry.
Fiona, who is an energy efficiency expert in the European Parliament, recently
visited Thorn Lighting in County Durham where she learnt about exciting new
developments in the field of printable electronics which make possible innovations
such as wallpaper acting as lighting.
“Raising the bar and demanding that lighting becomes more efficient is good
news for North East England,” said Fiona. “Our region is at the cutting edge of new
lighting technology. By insisting on high standards for lighting across Europe we
are driving forward a market demand for new forms of lighting which will translate
into more jobs.
“The industry is very innovative and compound fluorescent light bulbs are only
lFiona Hall MEP
one option for energy efficient lighting. Local DIY stores already have on sale two
or three other types of energy efficient lighting in addition to compact fluorescent bulbs.
“The EU is not alone in banning the 100-watt incandescent bulb. The United States, Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand have all put in place similar bans. There is a global consensus that the 100-year old technology of
incandescent light bulbs is not a bright idea any longer.”

Doreen’s victory in LGA committee election

In the recent Local Government Association elections, Newcastle City Councillor
Doreen Huddart was elected to the Community Well Being Board coming second.
“I’m delighted, humbled and amazed, given there was a strong field of candidates this year,”
said Doreen
“As I don’t know who voted for me I’d like to take the opportunity to say a heart -felt thanks
to everyone who placed their faith in me, and everyone else who participated in this
democratic process.
I’ll try to live up to your expectations and be a representative voice from the North East. I
shall try to consult with you through the email system, so that I can raise any issues of
concern.
lCllr Doreen
“I’m still available on 0191 240 1084 and dorhud@btinternet.com if you need to contact me.” Huddart