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Welcome to High Peak Liberal Democrats!

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.

Lib Dems Winning

Your High Peak Liberal Democrat candidates for the 2013 Derbyshire County Council Elections thank you for your support and your votes!

We have had relative success in the elections holding both of our seats, with Elizabeth Atkins holding her New Mills seat and David Lomax being succesful in his bid to take over from Barrie Taylor (who stood down after many years of fantastic service) as County Councillor for Whaley Bridge. The executive would like to thank Barrie Taylor for his many years of fantastic service for both High Peak Liberal Democrats and the people of Whaley Bridge.

Whilst our other candidates met with less success this means that High Peak Liberal Democrats have 25% of High Peak's Derbyshire County Council seats which is a fantastic achievement.

The executive would like to thank everyone that agreed to stand in these elections, offering everyone in the High Peak the opportunity to vote Liberal Democrat is crucial and it was important that we managed to do that, along with everyone who helped in the succesful campaigns in our two target wards of New Mills and Whaley Bridge.

Finally we would like to thank everyone who voted Liberal Democrat, we are proud to recieve your votes and will as ever endevour to represent you to the best of our ability in the future.

A full summary of results can be found here http://highpeaklibdems.org.uk/en/page/high-peak-borough-election-results-2013


The Constituency Party of the High Peak Liberal Democrats is managed by an Executive Committee which is elected annually. It manages the affairs of the party within the High Peak.

The Executive consists of a Constituency President, Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Data Officer and members elected by the branches. Meetings are held regularly and move around the High Peak to make it easy for all members to come along.

We are one of the six counties which make up the East Midlands Region of the Liberal Democrats. It oversees matters like the selection of Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and is the base for our MEP, Bill Newton Dunn.

Like all constituencies of the Liberal Democrat Party we follow national policies which are voted on at conference, taking our lead from the party headquarters at Cowley Street in London.

Recent updates

  • Article: May 23, 2013

    The Local Party Executive of City of Derby Liberal Democrats invites applications for selection as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of DERBY SOUTH

    Potential applicants should contact the Returning Officer, Bill Smith, 7 Varden Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2SJ , phone 1115 925 8816

  • Article: May 23, 2013

    The Local Party Executive of City of Derby Liberal Democrats invites applications for selection as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of DERBY NORTH

    Potential applicants should contact the Returning Officer, Bill Smith, 7 Varden Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2SJ, phone 1115 925 8816, email bllsmith@virginmedia.com, for an application pack.

  • Bill Newton Dunn
    Article: May 23, 2013

    What are Electronic Cigarettes?

    The original Commission proposal was to regulate anything with a substantial nicotine content (enough to actually have an effect) as "medicinal products", for which getting approval would be costly and slow. The proposal allows e-cigs (or 'nicotine containing products') which contain nicotine under a low threshold to be sold as consumer products. People in favour of medicinal regulation argue that we don't know what are the long term effects of inhaling nicotine vapours, and that they could potentially be dangerous. Those on the other side say that, yes they should be regulated in some way to ensure that they are safe as general products, but that they are many times less dangerous than tobacco, do not cause cancer, and are not meant to act as medicines, and should not be regulated as such.

    The parliament's Environment committee has not yet taken a final position. Liberal MEPs say that if the e-cig manufacturers make a health claim and say the electronic cigarettes can get you to quit smoking, then they have to regulated as medicines. If not, they are only obliged to comply with existing EU consumer legislation, and include warnings that health may be damaged, and implement age restrictions. The Commission would be obliged to do an in-depth study on the long term effects of these products and, if necessary, propose separate legislation in future. The debate in the committee continues.

    Future EU finances, known as "MFF"

    In February, a deal about the Multilateral Future Financing for the EU was cobbled together by the 27 leaders in secret over thirty hours in Brussels. It was a very bad deal (cutting back on money-saving programmes such as fighting crime and also proposing to run the EU into deep debt). The parliament - which shares exact responsibility with the leaders for the EU finances - was not consulted. In March, MEPs pointed out the many defects of the deal and made responsible alternative proposals. It is a joint decision between parliament and the leaders. But no compromise between the two sides is in sight because the national leaders are, so far, proving incapable of presenting a united front together for the negotiations. The consequence, if there is no early solution, may be that EU payments (for farming and for the regions) will be delayed.

    Reform of the Fishing policy - slow progress

    Last week, the 27 national Fishery ministers agreed a 'final' negotiating mandate for the Irish (who currently chair meetings of the Council of Ministers) to negotiate with the European Parliament.

    The Council has moved towards the Parliament's already decided position for promoting a more sustainable approach to fisheries policy, and reducing discards to 5% of catch after 3 years. But it is not yet clear whether Ministers have accepted that aspirations to rebuild fish stocks have to be turned into legally binding commitments.

    The Irish Presidency stated that "no further movement can be expected from the Council, while on the other hand that there are no illusions as to the challenges facing us with the European Parliament."

    Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

    No progress, because the 27 national Agriculture ministers can not agree together on how to negotiate with the parliament, which took its position many weeks ago.

    Storm in an Olive Oil cup

    There was a noisy storm in a tea-cup this week when the Commission announced, using powers delegated to them by the parliament and Council, and after extensive fraud in the Olive Oil market, new rules to address the issue of honest labelling, compliance controls and to extend the scope to restaurants and bars. Their proposed amendments include the requirement that the catering industry should "be obliged to use oil bottles equipped with an opening system which cannot be resealed after the first time it is opened, together with a protection system preventing them from being reused once the contents indicated on the label have been finished". The new rules would only apply to 100% olive oils, and not mixed dressings or other condiments - and only apply to front-of-house service (ie. on the tables) not in kitchens.

    However, feeling this was way-over-the-top bureaucracy, a cross-party MEP letter was sent to Commission President Barroso. This morning, the Commission withdrew their proposal !

    The hoped-for EU-USA Free Trade deal

    Negotiations will start in July between the two sides of the Atlantic. This week MEPs set out their wishes for what it might contain. I can provide the details if you ask.

    Sir Humphreys visit the European Parliament

    In the parliament this week, we had a visit from a team of high-powered "Sir Humphreys" from different Whitehall departments. They said they want to "increase their engagement with the parliament." Not what euro-sceptics want to hear.

    Tibet - how we could protest

    This week I listened to an account of the situation in Tibet, given by the Dalai Lama's representative in Brussels, Mr Ngodup Dorjee. He said it is now "very grave". Increasing numbers of self-immolations, no freedom of expression, photos of Chinese leaders having to be displayed inside Tibetan monasteries, the Chinese now the majority population in most Tibetan towns, Mandarin now the official language, nomads rounded up and forced to live in towns. China's motive is the vast minerals and the fresh water available in Tibet.

    But there is something new and potentially powerful which you and I could do to show our support for the Tibetans. A French village (Salles Sur Garonne) decided to show its support and twinned itself with a Tibetan village. All that was required was a resolution by the local council and the money to pay for a sign at the entrance to the French village. Already fifty French towns and villages have followed this example. There is a now website called www.parrainages-villes-Tibet.org (soon to be also in English) with advice on how to do it and advice on how to choose a Tibetan village. The young French mayor, Jean Louis Halioua, speaks English and gave me his card. He is keen to see similar twinning examples in other EU countries. So why don't we set up some twinnings with Tibetan villages to show our support in the East Midlands and our disgust at the Chinese treatment of them ? A Tibetan could be invited to give a talk about the situation. By raising awareness, this might lead to an economic boycott of Chinese-manufactured goods, and might have an effect on their leaders in Beijing.

    Finally....would you like "a Suspended Coffee", a name which you might find it useful ?

    It derives from Naples after World War two when there was great poverty. Wealthier citizens of Naples in a coffee bar ordered "un caffe e un caffe sospeso". This meant they wanted one for themselves and they also paid for one for any later customer who came in but could not afford to pay. I am told there is now a Facebook page about this and that the habit is spreading across Europe including in the UK. So, if you feel hard up, try asking for "a suspended coffee, please" and see what the bartender's reaction is !

    All the best, Bill

  • Nick Clegg
    Article: May 23, 2013
    By Caron Lindsay in Liberal Democrat Voice

    Much attention has been given in the news to Nick Clegg's and David Cameron's remarks on the future of the Coalition. Both were keen to emphasise that the Government would stick together until 2015. I'm never sure it's wise to assert these things so strongly when there was never a realistic prospect of a split anyway. The attempts of some in the Conservative Party to deflect attention from their own torrid internal relations by spreading nonsense about a plot to unseat Nick Clegg, or suggesting his jacket is on a shoogly peg if the European elections don't go well are transparent mischief making.

  • Liberal Bulletin
    Article: May 23, 2013

    At the recent Council in Pula, the ALDE Party re-launced its quarterly publication which is now called "Liberal Bulletin". The first edition is about Liberals' strive to break down barriers. While a lot has been achieved in Europe since the 1950's, often with our politicians being among the vanguard, times are more challenging since. In this edition, various Liberals will argue that bold new initiatives and comprehensive reforms are needed.

  • George Smid
    Article: May 23, 2013

    On Wednesday morning (22/5/2013), during his interview on Radio 4 Today Programme, the Prime Minister declared an "Incredible unity and agreement across the country" in our relationship with the EU and carried on: "what we need is to renegotiate our relationship, get the relationship right so that Europe will help us, and then hold an in or out referendum. That is the boldest, clearest, most straightforward policy on Europe that any party leader has had for 30 or 40 years". (Full interview is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22608797)

  • Willie Rennie
    Article: May 22, 2013

    Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP has urged the Scottish Government to press ahead with its plans to introduce equal marriage. This comes as the UK bill finished its third reading in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday 21st May).

    Commenting, Mr Rennie said:

    "Modern, progressive nations are increasingly endorsing equal marriage as the change respects people who wish to commit to each other. How we treat each other is tremendously important and a mark of a nation's maturity.

  • John Moore
    Article: May 22, 2013

    Hinckley & Bosworth Conservative Deputy Group Leader and Borough Councillor for Burbage Sketchley & Stretton Ward has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrat Group.

    In his letter to Conservative officials John states:

    "After considerable thought I have made the decision to resign my membership of the Conservative Party. This has not come easy as I have supported the Party since my youth, firstly in the role of a committed Conservative voter, later as an active Conservative Trade Unionist and in more recent times as a Parish Councillor, County Councillor and currently as a Borough Councillor.

  • UKIP 7
    Article: May 22, 2013

    East Midlands Lib Dem MEP Bill Newton Dunn welcomed the commitment made by European prime ministers at today's Brussels summit to tackle tax evasion. This follows the call from the European Parliament yesterday for an EU action plan to clamp down on tax havens, fraud and evasion.

    Lib Dem MEPs have been at the forefront of efforts to introduce country-by-country reporting, a proposal which would demand that companies publicly disclose their tax arrangements in each country in which they operate, and would therefore help prevent the shunting around of profits in order to minimise tax.

  • AS, MH & JL
    Article: May 22, 2013

    Three Liberal Democrat Greater Manchester MPs have backed local newspaper week.

    Andrew Stunell, Mark Hunter and John Leech showed their support for local newspapers in Parliament recently.

    The three MPs are pictured outside Parliament reading our local newspaper, the Stockport Express.

    Andrew Stunell MP said -