Here are a few Good Practice Examples from Stockport, Sutton and Islington including Emails to members & Web Site Postings
Web Post from Cllr Iain Roberts, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group Stockport Council
“EU referendum: Lib Dems needed more than ever in fight for Britain’s future”
The people have spoken and the UK will now start the process of leaving the European Union. There must be no talk of delay, nor of a u-turn: the decision has been made.
I am immensely proud of the role the Liberal Democrats have played in the referendum campaign. As is so often the case, the media ignored us but where we made our voices heard on the ground, in our communities, we made a difference. Against the national trend, the people of Stockport voted to remain in the EU.
Whether a Remain campaign with more of Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and less of David Cameron would have had a different outcome we can only speculate, but I am absolutely certain it would have been a more inspiring campaign that would have better connected with the people of Britain.
So what next? The Prime Minister has failed and is resigning. The money markets are terrified. The Leave campaign has made promises to the British people they will struggle to keep. And the Liberal Democrats have never been needed more.
Never have we needed more a party that looks outward, not inward. A party that sees the best in people, not the worst. A party that believes our future lies in playing a full and active part in the world, not in retreating behind the barricades of a mythical Little England that never was.
The Liberal Democrats have an important job to do over the coming years and the fate of our country and its people relies on our success. The Referendum was not of our choice but when it came we did not shirk and we did not shrink. We fought with every fibre of our being for our positive vision for Britain and we will continue to do so.
I invite everyone who shares our vision to join us today and to get active in the fight for our country – Britain needs the Liberal Democrats like never before and the Liberal Democrats need you.
Cllr Iain Roberts – Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Stockport Council
Email from Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE, Leader, London Borough of Sutton
“Dear All
I want to thank you for your dedication and extraordinary hard work over the last few weeks and especially yesterday.
We didn’t get the result we wanted and believed in so passionately – and we’ll start seeing the consequences of that result very soon.
I am devastated by the national result – and also that Sutton was one of only 5 London boroughs to vote to Leave the EU. I’m finding it hard to reconcile this result with my view of the world we live in and my hopes for the future and our children’s future.
Maybe it’s the lack of sleep and my aching muscles but in the last few hours I have moved quickly from shock and bewilderment to frustration and anger and now to great sorrow.
There are deep divisions within our country. There are too many people who feel excluded from democracy and society and are angry that no-one seems to be listening to them. We need to understand why that is and find new ways of coming together, listening and ensuring that everyone has hope for the future.
Now is a time for unity. I am determined – more than ever – that we will hold steadfast to our liberal and democratic values. That we will find ways of healing the rifts in our society. That we will all work together to build a better, stronger, fairer world.
Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your support and determination. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the effort you put into the campaign and your resilience yesterday in the face of the most appalling weather I have ever encountered on a polling day.
It’s the beginning of a new era in British politics. Our message of hope and unity is needed today more than ever before
Cllr Ruth Dombey”
Email from Terry Stacy MBE JP, Chair of Islington Liberal Democrats
“The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and whilst I am extremely proud of the cross party campaign here in Islington that delivered a record vote of over 75% to remain in the EU that wasn’t enough. The UK will now start the process of leaving the European Union. There must be no talk of delay, nor of a u-turn: the decision has been made, the public have spoken, we might not like it, but will never be forgiven for trying to change it by the back door.
I am immensely proud of the role that Islington Liberal Democrats have played in the referendum campaign, with street stalls from Archway to Barnsbury, our members playing key roles in the stronger IN campaign across the Borough, and a street by street campaign in Highbury. As is so often the case, the media ignored us but where we made our voices heard on the ground, in our communities, we made a difference. Against the national trend, the people of Islington voted to remain in the EU.
Whether a Remain campaign with more of Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and less of David Cameron would have had a different outcome we can only speculate, but I am absolutely certain it would have been a more inspiring campaign that would have better connected with the people of Britain.
So what next? The Prime Minister has failed and is resigning and now calls for the Labour Leader to resign, the only Leader to have shown true leadership in the campaign has been our own Tim Farron
The money markets are terrified. The Leave campaign has made promises to the British people they will struggle to keep. And the Liberal Democrats have never been needed more.
Never have we needed more a party that looks outward, not inward. A party that sees the best in people, not the worst. A party that believes our future lies in playing a full and active part in the world, not in retreating behind the barricades of a mythical Little England that never was.
The Liberal Democrats have an important job to do over the coming years and the fate of our country and its people relies on our success. The Referendum was not of our choice but when it came we did not shirk and we did not shrink. We fought with every fibre of our being for our positive vision for Britain and we will continue to do so.
I invite everyone who shares our vision to join us today and to get active in the fight for our country – Britain needs the Liberal Democrats like never before and the Liberal Democrats need you. And that battle starts now with the Barnsbury by-election being called for the 14th July.
We have slected a wonderful candidate in Brandley Hillier-Smith who is studying a PhD at the London School of Economics. Bradley lives on the Caledonian Road and is a regular volunteer for Islington Mind and the Islington Foodbank. He has played an active role in helping to deliver Islington 75% Remain vote. Why don’t you join us knocking on doors and getting across our positive vision for a Liberal Islington, a tolerant Islington, a Islington where all are welcome and helping us end the “one party state” that we live under with Labour in Islington . You can help get Bradley elected onto the Council by emailing him on bradleyhilliersmith91@gmail or phone him on 07832 972270.
Again many thanks for all your hard work
Terry Stacy MBE JP
Chair
Islington Liberal Democrats