Because Kathy Pollard is worth it...

My candidacy in Upper Gipping came about because somebody else wanted it to happen. Kathy Pollard inherited the challenge of being our Group Leader on Suffolk County Council and has worked incredibly hard to encourage us to do our best as a campaigning force.

She was determined that, unlike past years, we flew the flag in every county division and, I'm delighted to say, this time we have (with one, wholly justifiable, exception). Alright, we may not be likely to win everywhere, but there is nowhere where a voter can say that they didn't have the opportunity to vote for a Liberal Democrat.

She has also sought to ensure that we run the best campaigns we can, sacrificing what spare time she has from her own division of Belstead Brook to help others.

And so, this afternoon, I'm going to go to South Suffolk and deliver some leaflets for her. Because, as the adverts suggest, she's worth it...

Basking in the sun in Mid Suffolk

It's a gorgeous day here, deep in the Suffolk countryside. The sun is shining, and I have a modest sense of achievement.

The remains of a now superfluous piece of furniture plus some old textiles and ancient paint tins have been taken to the civic amenity site. I've settled some bills using my internet banking facility, I've updated the Facebook page.

And now I'm at a bit of a loose end. I do, admittedly, have a glass of St Peter's India Pale Ale - damned good, I must say, and brewed within 30 miles of the Valladares demesne - so I'm not wasting my time. Well, I don"t think so, anyway...

Sunshine over Mundesley - I can't believe it's so Lib Dem

As my campaign in Upper Gipping rises to its crescendo, I thought that it might be nice to contribute to someone else's effort. So there I was, on the North Norfolk coast, to help our candidate.

Yes, I was on the far side of the Waveney, in Mundesley, one of those typically English seaside resorts, small, without obvious attractions but with a gently sloping beach, tea rooms and a crazy golf course. And, joining me were, amongst others, the hyperactive local MP, Norman Lamb, no.2 on the European list, Linda Jack, and county candidate Graham Jones.

Initially, we weren't finding too many people in, but as we knocked on more doors, it became clear that everyone knows someone who's been helped by Norman Lamb. It's just like Berwick - "oh yes, we always vote for that nice Mr Beith" - and a tribute to Norman's hard work. To be honest, it was hard to believe that so many people were willing to vote Liberal Democrat, but given the quality of the canvas team, it's hard to put it down to mere optimism.

And, as the sun shone, and LibDem definites and probables emerged in droves, one might almost have believed that we might do quite well...

Thoughts from the Train: act in haste, repent at leisure...

I'm a cautious soul at heart. I like to have as much information as I can get before I plump for a particular choice. On one hand this, on the other, that. I tend to be suspicious of the obvious answer. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I'm not great at strategic board games. When I played the Germans in 'Sturm nach Osten', I was great as far as taking Kiev was concerned, but tended to waste time admiring my handiwork without focussing on the next step.

And in the great MP expenses scandal, perhaps some honest reflection has turned out to be a pretty decent strategy. Labour have held the line, with only those MPs found guilty of mortgage interest fraud walking the plank or, rather more accurately, standing at the end of one whilst someone saws it off near the ship. The calls for individual MPs to go have, for the most part, been comparatively limited. Is there really any likelihood that Gerald Kaufman will go, for example? Margaret Moran is, I grant you, an exception, but once St Esther of the Jungle had got her teeth in, it wasn't going to go away. No, most of them will attempt to bail out and head for the Lords, in the expectation that Lords reform remains a dream.

The Conservatives, on the other hand, have provided a regular supply of shark bait. Egged on the voracious followers of Guido Fawkes, the consistent sacrifice of those who were greedy rather than criminal has rather lowered the bar in terms of the level of offence that suffices to end a career. It looked quite clever to pension off a few aging knights of the shires, until it becane clear that if the likes of Sir Peter Viggers had to go, there were so many more whose failings were of a similar, if not quite so ridiculous, degree.

And the problem is that blood attracts sharks. When there is such a mob mentality, it is a brave politicians who stands up and says, "It was only a duck house, and I paid the money back, what more do you want?". As for those who acted on the advice of the Fees Office, is the latter's incompetence or spinelessness likely to be taken into account? Didn't think so.

You'll have to judge for yourself whether or not the approach of the Liberal Democrat leadership has been appropriate. However, whilst the initial response of a minority of Lib Dem bloggers was to reach for the nearest lamppost and piano wire, as far as the Commons is concerned at least, there has been little organised effort to defenestrate any of them. There has been, it appears, a realisation that, in comparison with charges of flipping, moat cleaning and dodgy mortgage interest claims, their offences have been ones of vanity rather than outright greed.

So, perhaps the rush to punish has served a political purpose in terms of making the weather, but in terms of changing the climate, has a little reflection allowed for some rather more long lasting?

Thoughts from the Train: a new feature for Liberal Bureaucracy

Life changes, and sometimes you get more time to think. And so, this seems like a good opportunity to write a few more reflective pieces as I journey from London to Stowmarket and back.

Let's see how it goes...

Suffolk Liberal Democrats - for better care

Liberal Democrats will ensure that the Council puts care back at the top of the agenda. In the past four years, charges have rocketed under the Conservatives. We will:

Review all charges - the Liberal Democrats will review the charging policy for care in Suffolk, to make sure that the elderly and vulnerable are getting the best deal possible.

Re-introduce free day care - since the Conservatives first started charging per day, the number of sessions attended by elderly people has halved. This will initially be funded by the huge reserves held at the County.

Help people claim the benefits they are entitled to - the council should be proactively helping all elderly and vulnerable citizens to get the benefits they have earned.

Provide free bus passes for carers - there is no point in offering free transport to disabled people if their carers have to pay. Giving carers free bus passes would encourage both to use public transport.

Ensure adequate funding for drug and alcohol support services - the Conservatives have cut funding to this vital service.

Work with the NHS to provide the best possible service for Suffolk residents - The Liberal Democrats will fight any proposals that could cause a reduction in the level of care for people across Suffolk.

Reforming our Democracy - why not just tear down the building while you're at it, Nick?

At last, the debate about reforming our political institutions has been seized by the scruff of the neck and given a good shake. Better still, it's our side doing it.

I'm bored with listening to David Cameron play off one side against the other. His calls for reform are meaningless without some content, and, as usual, our friend in the blue has been lacking in substance. This could, of course, be because the idea of reform doesn't really come naturally to him, but as the PR man in him comes to the surface, he is smart enough to know that if he talks about change with sufficient conviction, faked or otherwise, he'll fool enough of the people, enough of the time, to get away with it.

On the other hand, our teams in both the Commons and the Lords have been calling for reform for years, to a chorus of yawns and catcalls from both the Government and its loyal Opposition. These things never seem to matter in the good times, the cynical view being that the public don't really care. Sadly, they may have a point in that sense, in that, when times are good, little attention is paid to how decisions are made.

Now, however, with a tidal wave of excrement being tipped over our Parliamentarians, there is a realisation that 'something must be done'. Just enough to remove the stench, just enough to make it go away but not so much that politicians are taken out of their comfort zone.

No, not good enough. What we need is a power hose (I like them, they're fun...), radical reform, a veritable cleansing of the temples. So I would add something to the list of demands - a new Parliament building. Organisations grow comfortable in their familiar environment, and unless you remove the social equivalent of the cosy armchair, they'll just revert to their old ways. So build a new Parliament, equip it for the new politics, provide access to the public and reinforce the sense that things are different now. Oh yes, and make the BBC televise it live on a new BBC Parliament 2.

In the meantime, we'll need a use for Needham Market Middle School when the Conservative County Council close it down, so they can all meet there until the new building is completed...

Suffolk Liberal Democrats - for a smarter education

A good education is one of the most valuable assets in life, yet over the past four years Suffolk has seen a drop in GCSE results and the disruption of the education of our children and young people in three tier areas. We will:

Halt the closure of middle schools - the Conservative administration has pushed ahead with closures, despite overwhelming public opposition. Liberal Democrats across Suffolk have been opposed to middle school closures from the start. For stage 1 areas we would consult again with parents, children and the local communities to ask them what they want.

Improve educational attainment - the exam results in 2009 highlight our need to support Suffolk’s schools to improve their results.

Introduce free School Transport for all children and young people - to enable young people from lower income families to stay on in education post 16. It will also discourage young people from driving to school and college.

Adopt the ‘Rights, Respect and Responsibilities’ plan in schools across the County - this initiative improves behaviour, reduces exclusions and increases school attendance and attainment.

Continue to support the University Campus Suffolk - to provide a first class education to a new generation.

Provide greater funding for youth activities - to provide positive activities for young people.

Scrap tuition fees - this national party policy is extremely important to ensure that our young people don’t grow up saddled with debt.

A day at the Suffolk Show

Despite the somewhat inclement weather, yesterday saw me at the Suffolk Show, the annual 'agrifest' of sheep, cattle and agricultural equipment. Don't ask me to explain what most of the latter does, but it is fearsomely complex looking stuff...

For two days every year, town meets country, and you can see the difference. The bourgoisie of the county set, in (often garish) jacket, tie and chinos, farmers in hard wearing yet practical outfits and the Ipswich locals, keen to enjoy free samples of local food, drink beer and point at weird and wonderful farm animals, mingle under the supervision of gentlemen in bowler hats, wearing old school or regimental ties, known as stewards. There are women in hats and heels (odd, considering the grass), in their finery.

And yet, the show is a vital event for the county's economy. For the farming community and its suppliers, it is an opportunity to seek new customers, market new products and network. For food producers, the chance to attract new consumers, to increase market share offers an opportunity to ride out the recession. Indeed, despite the recession, the only obvious sign of distress was in the luxury furniture pavilion, which did seem rather emptier than it had the year before.

Naturally, I took the opportunity to buy some more beer from St Peter's Brewery, plus a couple of bottles of lager, brewed in Coddenham Green, not far from Creeting St Peter. Which reminds me, it's high time I got back to the Elmhams to restock...

Suffolk Liberal Democrats - for a better run council

Suffolk County Council will be going through difficult times, so we must make sure that the organisation runs as efficiently as possible: reducing red tape, but protecting front line services. We will;

• Tightly control top salaries - under the Conservatives the number of employees earning more than £50,000 has mushroomed, costing the taxpayer an additional £10m in the last three years. There must be a freeze on salaries over £50,000.
• Consult HONESTLY with you - many people feel that the Conservatives are ignoring the results of consultations if it doesn’t suit them. We promise to listen to the public and take their views seriously.
• Introduce further opportunities to hold the council to account - you should be able to hold the council to account. If the public feel strongly about an issue, they should be able to ask for it to be examined.
• Ensure the continuation of European funding for Suffolk - we have already seen the benefits from previous funding on such projects as the Waterfront in Ipswich, and the A14 Haughley Bends. Liberal Democrats at European, County and Local level are also lobbying to upgrade the rail line from Felixstowe to Nuneaton, to take freight off the roads.
• Ethical investment policy - recent events have shown that ethicalinvestment is prudent as well as morally right. We will ensure that thetax payers money is invested safely without causing damage.

Europe - telling it like it is...

Yes, it's that time in the political cycle again, when European elections take place. And, once again, the motley crew of Europhobes that is the United Kingdom Independence Party have taken centre stage. Their mixture of smears, inaccuracies and petty nationalism appeals to an electorate who, to be honest, have little idea as to where their money goes and what the European Union does for them.

Oh yes, the European Union is a flawed creation, overly secretive, with a democratic deficit and byzantine structures. Too many of its big decisions stem from fudged agreements made in smoke-filled rooms by the ministers of the national governments. And yet it has been, in broad terms, astonishingly successful. The creation of the biggest multinational free trade area in the world has acted as a model for other regional groups such as ASEAN, the freedom to work in other countries and to travel across borders without the need for passports, all of these things have made life better for those of us willing to take advantage.

Programmes such as Erasmus, the exchange scheme for students whereby they can study in another country for a year, encourage a freer flow of knowledge and engender greater understanding. Investment in key transportation routes eases the free flow of people and goods. For example, in mid-Suffolk, European Union funds helped to fund improvements to the A14 at Haughley, straightening the route and eliminating a notorious accident blackspot on the main road between the Midlands and the huge container port at Felixstowe.

Liberal Democrats have, in the past, been cowed into taking a defensive position on Europe by those who accuse us of being fanatically pro-European. Yes, we do believe in Europe and in greater cooperation, but not at any cost. The argument has to be won, and we need to be willing to talk about the good that comes from Europe, as well as the bad.

In Needham Market yesterday, a voter told me that he was opposed to Europe, and didn't see what we got in return. So I mentioned the A14 project, and pointed out that there was a sign stating that the project had benefited from EU funds. He was surprised, and felt that perhaps the sign should be bigger (and perhaps it should). Now I'm not going to claim to have changed his mind, but perhaps he won't be so quick to condemn in future. And if we can get EU funding for improving the key rail route from Felixstowe to Nuneaton (via Needham Market and Stowmarket, let us not forget), maybe he'll have something else to think about.

And for any UKIP voters out there who might be reading this, think about this. You sent them to Brussels last time, and did it change anything? Did they achieve anything apart from having one of their number get arrested for nineteen counts of benefit fraud? Although, in fairness, their difficulties with expenses (Tom Wise, anyone?) almost compare favourably to those of the Conservatives. And as for Labour, well they clearly didn't get it either...

On the other hand, Liberal Democrat MEPs have campaigned successfully against attempts to restrict civil liberties, in favour of lower roaming charges for mobile phone users in Europe, and spoken out for greater transparency in decision making processes. They have also published a code of conduct which is binding on all of our sitting MEPs and candidates, requiring the publication of their expense claims in full. The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that it was published a year ago.

So, if you believe in a better, fairer, freer Europe, you know where to put your cross. Just look for the bird of liberty...

I'm being followed by a boa constrictor...

... alright, I exaggerate a bit (okay, a lot), but I encountered this creature on a walk at the weekend.

It's a slow worm (angius fragilis) basking in the sun on one of Creeting St Peter's many footpaths. It isn't actually a snake, although easily confused for one, but is actually a legless lizard. The test? Lizards have eyelids, snakes don't. Of course, they aren't dangerous, but at this time of year, they are a bit sluggish and vulnerable to birds and, to be honest, being trodden on.

The main threat to them otherwise is domestic cats, as they have little to defend themselves. Luckily, my two are probably too stupid to know what to do if they encounter one (I love them really, but they are still adapting to country life...).

Liberal Democrats - for a greener Suffolk

The Liberal Democrats are the only major party genuinely committed to protecting the environment. We must aim to reduce, reuse and recycle more than we already do. We will:

• Reduce business miles - the County Council has continually missed its own targets for reducing the 20,000,000 (yes, 20 million!) miles travelled by staff each year - that costs you £8 million per year and adds to the Council's carbon footprint. We can reduce this by encouraging remote working, and audio and video conferencing.
• Promote advanced mechanical biological treatment - and other modern technologies instead of costly, inflexible and environmentally unfriendly waste incineration, but ultimately;
• Aim for Zero Waste - we want to encourage a zero waste solution for the County, and will put pressure on companies to reduce packaging. Zero waste = zero need for incineration.
• Include green planning in all council policy - making sure that all future policies and developments are assessed for their environmental impact
• Improve public transport - we will review ALL public transport services, including rail, to ensure that they are properly integrated and provide the best possible services for residents and visitors throughout Suffolk.
• Examine the feasibility of seasonal park and ride - coastal towns are big tourist attractions during the summer months. Introducing a seasonal park and ride will reduce the impact of cars in these towns and villages.
• Promote green technology - using the already established hub at Lowestoft’s Orbis energy centre we will continue to invest in Green Technologies in order to become market leaders.

Alan Johnson's idea of reform - giving people a new system whilst leaving Party control intact

Amidst the sea of people applauding Alan Johnson for proposing a revisit of the recommendations of the Jenkins Commission, I feel the need for a raft for those who wish to blow a raspberry.

'Alternative Vote plus' does little to put power in the hands of the public. Yes, an MP will need to gain the support of 50% of those voting, and yes, there will be greater proportionality. But that just ensures that the spoils are more evenly divided, it doesn't give the public a genuine say about the identity of the individual who represents them. A small, fairly unrepresentative clique of Party activists will still choose the candidates and, in all likelihood, the top-up lists will be as they are in European, Scottish Parliamentary, Welsh and London Assembly elections, on a closed basis.

Not good enough, not good enough at all. But don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for an open primary system for selecting our candidates. The last thing I want to see is a candidate adopted by a bunch of people who have no sense of commitment to getting him/her elected, and who may not have the best interests of liberal democracy at heart. Besides, who pays for the process, and how does an aspirant candidate campaign for support? No, if I'm going to dedicate myself to getting him/her elected, I want to restrict the franchise to those making a commitment to my Party, and who share its beliefs.

If we really want to break the patronage of political parties whilst retaining their philosophical core, let's have STV, on multi-member constituencies, with open lists. We, the Party, decide which five, or seven, or whatever Liberal Democrats we think are best equipped to serve the constituency, and you, the public, decide which ones you prefer most. Candidates can campaign in their own name, competing against each other for your vote. You can vote for a particular type of candidate if you wish, and diversity is likely to improve. Even incumbents will have to work harder, if they want to retain their seats.

I don't think that Alan Johnson is being particularly cynical - after all, he has believed in electoral reform for some time. What I do think is that he fails to be radical enough. Political parties have become part of the problem - by giving up part of their control, they could yet be part of the solution.

Suffolk Liberal Democrats - Six to Fix

As the Liberal Democrat candidate in Upper Gipping, I am proud to support our platform designed to make Suffolk a better place for all of its residents. As part of our overall manifesto, we have focussed our efforts on six core pledges;

1. Support Middle Schools - we will stop the closure of Middle Schools in Suffolk, such as Bacton Middle School
2. Better Care Services - we will review all care service fees and make elderly day care free once again
3. Safer Suffolk - we will reduce accidents on our roads and reduce speeding in our towns and villages
4. A Better Run Council - we will freeze all council salaries over £50,000 and run services fairly and efficiently
5. Greener Suffolk - we will cut the 20,000,000 miles travelled by council staff every year
6. Smarter Education - we will reverse the fall in GCSE results and invest in our children's future

Whilst the future of Suffolk County Council is unclear, Suffolk Liberal Democrats are committed to doing their very best for everyone who lives here. If you agree with some or all of our ideas, we invite you to vote Liberal Democrat on June 4th.

Letters from Creeting St Peter - an interesting canvassing concept

I spent this morning as part of the canvassing team in Needham Market this morning, where we are defending the Bosmere county division held by Julia Truelove. The response on the doorstep was pretty good, although it was noticeable that a number of previously canvassed Conservative supporters were claiming to be switching to UKIP.

The candidate herself was joined by the two sitting District Councillors, Wendy Marchant and Mike Norris, and I was intrigued to see that Mike had his most recent payslip from Mid Suffolk District Council with him. If challenged on expenses and suchlike, his response was to show them the payslip, showing his allowance as a councillor, and his effective hourly rate, a miserable £1.90 per hour. I did suggest that the council should be done under the national minimum wage provisions... I'm quite impressed that Mid Suffolk include that information, and wonder how many other councils do.

It just goes to show that not all politicians are doing it for the money... as if most of them ever were...

A publishing policy change for Liberal Bureaucracy - you break it, you pay for it...

The events of the past week, and the response of a significant chunk of the Liberal Democrat blogosphere appear to have made my current publishing policy untenable. Accusations that I am merely 'a lackey of my wife', and suggestions that my comments somehow presage the opinions and plans of the Party President have demonstrated that, whilst we collectively talk a good game in terms of freedom, democracy and opposition to conformity, when push comes to shove, nothing beats a good mob scene. And as for the right to hold and espouse an opinion, that appears to depend on who you are.

There is clearly a price to be paid, and in this instance, it's a price I pay with a heavy heart but a sense of relief. So, until the time comes when a new Party President takes up his or her office, I will refrain from comment on the following:

• anything to do with the activities of the President
• anything to do with the internal workings of the Party

This means that, unfortunately, my offer to report for Liberal Democrat Voice on English Council and English Candidates Committee must be withdrawn (much to the relief of the latter body, I suspect). Sorry about that, Alix...

Saving Lib Dem Blogs for the Liberal Nation

Well, I've made my donation, making up for back years, so given the number of others who have given generously, Ryan should be funded for a while yet.

It is typical of Liberal Democrats that the funding for such a useful medium should be dependent on the kindness and sacrifice of an individual, and it must be acknowledged that many of us take Ryan for granted. We moan when Lib Dem Blogs goes down, which does occasionally irritate him, and just assume that technology is a cost-free option. Clearly, it isn't.

Perhaps, however, we need a more settled solution for the long-term health and prosperity of both Lib Dem Blogs and Liberal Democrat Voice. If I can help in that process, I will...

Liberal Vision told to "resolve" accuracy issue or "it will come back to haunt us"

So, my cynicism regarding the return of 'Liberal Vision' is renewed by the stance taken in another piece demanding that the Federal Executive do something about Lord Rennard.

A piece containing two major inaccuracies designed to create a stir is published. It then mysteriously gets a prominent place in the blogs of the two leading Conservative commentators, neither of whom could be described as being entirely objective. Describing Liberal Democrat Voice as Cowley Street-backed and conflating Alix Mortimer's personal views with comments made by someone completely different does rather smack of an underhand attempt to force the agenda. And, given the author's undoubted media skills, you'd have to accept that it looks more like conspiracy than cock-up.

Oh yes, by the way Charlotte, saying that misrepresenting someone and, as a result, getting them plenty of coverage, is a good thing is a mite disingenuous.

Now, for the record, I'm not convinced that I've been wildly impressed with Alix Mortimer's approach to the expenses scandal - just a bit too willing to condemn first and consider the rebuttal later for my taste. However, I'm a bureaucrat and I tend to a 'shades of grey' stance rather than a 'fluorescent' one. And, of course, Alix wins awards and I don't, so I'll assume that she's doing something right (that's a compliment Alix, just so that you know...). However, rewriting someone's words, and quoting their private e-mail without permission does smack of abusing someone to do your dirty work for you. It is disrespectful and potentially impacts on Alix's ability to do what she does so well for LDV.

I don't know what will happen regarding the accusations against Chris Rennard and, at the time of writing, I don't know what happened at Federal Executive - you'll have to wait for comment from someone who was there. However, if people want to attack him, I'd rather they did it themselves. After all, we're all in favour of openness and transparency, aren't we?...

Getting wet in Somerton & Frome

It's all very well talking about the impact of the expenses scandal, but nothing beats being on the doorstep to find out how real people are thinking. So I've spent the morning in Langport, knocking on doors.

And, to be honest, the level of Lib Dem support seems to be holding up well. Yes, I've met a number of people who aren't going to vote because 'you're all crooks', but when you probe further, you discover that many of them don't vote normally anyway.

It was nice to spend some time with David Heath on his patch though. For those who expect their MP to be a clean-shaven man in a smart suit, David isn't going to quite fit. On the other hand, if you want an MP who looks utterly at home on his patch, who can recommend a good local beer to drink (and you know that he's tried it) and knows the area like the back of his hand, David's your man.

There is no doubt in my mind that we need to steel ourselves to get onto doorsteps wherever we are, and face the music. It might not be a comfortable process, but they'll respect us for doing it.