Hodson's Choice

I used to work with Niall Hodson, and I still run into him at election counts and what have you. Today, his was the only speech at the Liberal Democrat Conference against the new policy of revoking Article 50 without reference to anybody at all.

I do not know why people like Niall are staying in the Lib Dems when it is being taken over by Labour and Conservative rejects. Niall would make a much better Lib Dem MP, if there must such people, than any of those, and a much better Leader than Jo Swinson. 

The same goes for a lot of them, such as Consett's legendary Councillor Owen Temple, whom I have known for many, many years, and for whom I even voted for Parliament in 2017 because of his stand for the County Durham Teaching Assistants.

The Whig tradition is certainly not mine. But the Lib Dems as we have known them, who opposed the Iraq War and who opposed the Blair Government's assaults on civil liberties, who defended the County Durham Teaching Assistants and who defended those who were faced with losing their homes to the Haringey Development Vehicle, are being elbowed aside in favour of the very recent arrivals of Blairism in Exile and of David Cameron's old Parliamentary Private Secretary. Niall's speech is the first sign of a most welcome fightback on the ground.

All in all, another hung Parliament is coming, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party is now in the process of registration. After nearly 30 years of suggestion, speculation, and even a sort of preparation, I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham. The crowdfunding page is here, and buy the book here. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.