"Oh no not another letter about Brexit from the East Lothian Liberal Democrats" I hear you sigh. Forgive me, but in a week when Liberal Democrats, the most unlikely of candidates for the label, have been branded as "dangerous extremists" it is sensible to explain our position to East Lothian voters.
We might have a General Election within weeks so it is right that I reply to Mark O'Brien and Tim Jackson's letters in last week's Courier. In essence Mark said that a People's Vote is undemocratic while Tim suggests that only the Conservative Party in East Lothian is capable of delivering "the certainty and stability that people need".
I have considerable sympathy with Mark's point; a UK majority did vote to leave Europe. However, the terms, means and costs of the exit were less than clear. A vote on any deal, or even leaving without a deal, represents more not less democracy. Since 1688 our Constitution has put ultimate power in hands of Parliament as opposed to a Monarch. We can't and shouldn't kick parliamentary democracy into touch just yet as it has been hard earned. That said, constitutional reform is needed including clarification of the place and status of a referendum so that we don't end up with any more botched jobs. There is a strong argument that the two party, first past the post Westminster system needs a radical overhaul not least so that an impasse such as the one facing this government is prevented in future. Cross party co-operation on long term policy and constitutional reform makes sense.
Tim's point is interesting; but sorry, it is hard to find evidence that recent Conservative governments have provided either certainty or stability; rather the reverse. Taking the party out of politics and working together to mend and reform a broken system will offer hope to voters in East Lothian, Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom. Given the will, we can create a better future for our children and grandchildren and, arguably, this is the very least that we owe them.
Yours,
Robert O'Riordan.
Prospective Westminster Parliamentary Candidate
East Lothian Scottish Liberal Democrats.
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East Lothian Scottish Liberal Democrats along with colleagues from Lothians held an Action Day in Musselburgh on Saturday August 17th.
Liberal Democrat party members delivered leaflets and canvassed in the streets around Stoneyhill Primary School. This area is in the Midlothian North and Musselburgh Holyrood Constituency and the East Lothian Westminster constituency.
The Government is now preparing for a "no deal" Brexit. East Lothian voters should be aware of the possibly disastrous economic and other consequences of such a move.
I realise that voters in East Lothian are fed up with both Brexit and politicians but may I once more point out that there is an easy, democratic and sensible way out of the current bind? That is simply to put the negotiated deal to a People's Vote with an option to stay in the European Union. This has wide cross party support and will avert a very hazardous leap into the unknown. To support this cross part initiative go to https://www.peoples-vote.uk .
The Scottish Government have recently announced (https://www.citizensassembly.scot/) they will arrange to conduct a "citizen's assembly" to discuss the future of Scotland.
Scottish Liberal Democrats party leader has indicated they will not participate in this exercise as they believe it is just a "whitewash" with the results being ignored if it says in it's not in favour of independence. Of course this is not party policy as it hasn't been discussed at conference, it's just a statement from the party leader. And it's a statement the local party does not agree with. We are in favour of co-operating with other people on an issue by issue basis. We are in favour of looking into this type of process to answer important questions and make decisions on them. We should engage in constructive criticism to ensure the process is robust enough to meet everyone's needs and not take part in "knee-jerk reactions" to suit a "political purpose".
When I woke the other day, it was like all my dreams had come true.
And it's all because of you.
Because of voters like you, the Lib Dems are now in the best position they have EVER been in to stop Brexit and give the people what they want. We are the BIGGEST and definitely the BEST Remain party for stopping Brexit. Our success in the European Elections just proves that the people trust us to deliver an Exit from Brexit and we will NOT let them down.
The journey doesn't end here.
We'll be fighting every day to stop Brexit- will you join our fight?
If you want to have a say in the biggest Remain party, then join the Lib Dems as a member. If you join before June 7th, you will have a vote on the next leader of the Lib Dems. For just £1 a month, you can help steer the course of our party and help stop Brexit.
Thirty years ago, the Lib Dems were founded on the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community. If these are the values you wish to safeguard, click here to join us now. I know that together, we can stop Brexit. Join our movement today, and let's fight for Britain's place at the heart of Europe.
Over the past three months Scottish Liberal Democrat campaigners have listened to hundreds of East Lothian voters both during the Haddington and Lammermuir By Election and then in the European Parliamentary Elections.
We achieved an excellent result in the by-election increasing our vote share compared to 2017. When the Euro Vote was counted last night we achieved our best ever result at this type of election. We came 2nd with 15.1% share of the vote, a huge increase of 9.4% compared to 2014.
Our current Councils are too big and/or distant from the people they are supposed to serve. There is a suggestion that we actually have too few Councillors to represent us properly and should have more. Is it therefore, time to change the way that local democracy works?
One way to do this is to allow our Councils to set up smaller groups based on local wards or polling districts and let the community run its own affairs and elect its own committee using STV. These groups could be referred to as a "development council". Each development council would arrange annual citizens' assembly for their community. The development council's job is to deliver the local vision, as set by their local citizens' assembly. They can work with other development councils to help accomplish this.
We are lucky to have so many historic and natural attractions across the Ward but there appears to be no clearlystated tourism strategy. Other parts of the county have one and there's no reason why Haddington and its surrounds should not.
We need joined up tourism, with visitors being attracted from Edinburgh and beyond by a well planned tourist trail which presents all the best we have to offer. This will need a bit of work between the Council and local community and businesses, but it can be done.
