Estate agents are the only people to benefit as MPs’ stock diminishes

By some extraordinary coincidence I happened to be campaigning in Scunthorpe yesterday and in Dewsbury today just as the stories relating to those town’s respective MPs were breaking. The Elliot Morley story broke it the morning and as I arrived in Dewsbury it had been just announced that Shahid Malik had resigned as Justice Minister. The anger of people in both communities was palpable and sadly was directed at ALL MPs of ALL parties. I have no doubt that this anger is seen by candidates up and down the country. I share that anger and I am so annoyed with MPs who still fail to see the seriousness of the situation. If only we could have kept out of this then the electoral dividends would have been massive. We have to be much firmer on the reform message and if that means a few heads on poles then so be it. Small parties may benefit, but in the longer term we may see the emergence of Independent candidates and coincidentally in Dewsbury that hs happened already albeit for unconnected reasons: www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/Councillor-resigns-from-party-to.5269961.jp Having said that the YouGov poll in The Sun today looks encouraging and others may be reading the situation in an equally positive way as I am starting to get letters from people wanting work as my Parliamentary Assistant when I am elected!

There was a scene on the ‘sweary chef in America’ programme where he took a restaurant owner up to the hills behind Los Angeles in order for him to get his frustration with his employees out of his system. To do that he was encouraged, miles away from people, to scream as loudly as he could. I feel I want to do just that. I am sure the last few days have been enormously demoralising for people seeking election to office. An estate agent I met yesterday said he was delighted with the recent events as for the first time in living memory his was no longer the most hated profession. He felt he could hold his head up high in polite society. Somebody else said that rather than become an elected politician he might go and sell cigarettes to Third World countries and then his friends might speak to him again.

Liberals in the European Parliament set to get their first female leader in 20 years

With Graham Watson, the current leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group in the European Parliament, having already announced his intention to stand down from the post after June’s European Parliament elections, speculation has been mounting about who might be taking over. For a while, former Belgian PM, Guy Verhofstadt was being mentioned but nothing seems to have come of his possible candidature. Then the possibility of a German FDP member becoming leader was being mentioned. This won’t happen because the Germans are conscious of taking on too many senior roles in the Parliament. However, there has been a rising groundswell of opinion for Yorkshire (and the Humber’s) own Diana Wallis, who formally launched her campaign in Strasbourg yesterday with the backing of many of her MEP colleagues and at least one Liberal Commissioner. If successful Diana Wallis will be the first female leader of the Liberal group since Simone Veil in 1989. Her press release is below.

Liberal Democrat’s bid to lead her European Parliamentary group after June’s elections

Diana Wallis, a British Liberal Democrat MEP and currently a Vice President of the European Parliament launched her bid in Strasbourg today for the leadership of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group after the elections.

Diana Wallis said at the launch of her campaign earlier today:

“There have been a number of rumours about who may or may not be candidates; I want to make it clear that I will be. I have received clear indications of support from across the group and beyond which make be believe I should put myself forward if I am returned as an MEP after June’s elections.

 “I think the new mandate will offer good potential for strengthening and growing the Liberal and Democrat force in the parliament and I would like to play a key role in that. I believe after having served as my national delegation leader twice and building on my experience as a Vice President of Parliament I am ready for a new challenge if I am successfully elected in the June elections.”

 Commenting on the announcement, fellow ALDE group member form Slovenia, Jelko Kacin MEP, said:

 ”Diana Wallis is one of the most active and committed parliamentarians that I’ve ever met. As Vice-President of the Parliament she conducts the votes in such a relaxed and positive mood that she is admired by all political groups. She is more than sensitive to the most difficult issues in the Western Balkans and she has always inspired me how to cope and how to communicate with the people who suffered in a war zone. 

 “She knows the group and the Parliament best and she enjoys the trust of colleagues, so she is the evident choice.”

 A further endorsement came from Liberal Commissioner, Neelie Kroes:

  ”I am very pleased that Diana Wallis has announced her candidacy for the leadership of the ALDE group. In fact, I could not think of a better person for the job. She is motivated for the job, dedicated to her work, she is an excellent team player, open minded and above all I believe that she is determined to defend the principles of ALDE.”

 In addition, Ms. Wallis was delighted to receive a message of good wishes from Pat Cox, a former leader of the Liberal group and a previous President of the Parliament:

 “By virtue of your experience and competence as an MEP, qualities that I came to appreciate when we worked together as colleagues, I wish you well in your endeavours.” 

 end.

 Note

 The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is the grouping in the European Parliament of Liberals and Centrists including the British Liberal Democrats. It currently has 100 members in the 784 seat Parliament and it usually holds a pivotal position as no one party has overall control.

 The current Leader, Graham Watson, from the UK (South-West) has announced he will be standing down after five years in the post.

 If elected leader, Diana Wallis will be the first woman to lead this group (or its predecessor parties) since Simon Veil in 1989.