Let us pass over the irony of Brexiteers claiming their dying wish was to restore sovereignty to the 'mother of parliaments' and then conspiring to muzzle it. Let us instead call such a Brexit putsch for what it would be: an attack on democracy itself. Brexit has threatened everything from our economy to our sanity: now it is coming for British parliamentary democracy.
The East Midlands was a UKIP heartland area during the party's peak years of 2013-14, and 59% of its voters backed Leave in the Brexit referendum. UKIP topped the poll here in the last European parliament elections, but their supporters have almost all now switched to the Brexit Party. According to the latest polling, they are guaranteed two of the region's five seats. Labour and the Liberal Democrats are almost certain of a seat each. The last of the region's five seats will depend on whether the Conservatives' vote collapse can be stemmed. If not, Farage's party will likely pick it up. With voters able to cast only a single vote for a party list, the Democratic Audit team reviews likely outcomes and the main potentially electable candidates.
Why I'll vote Lib Dem for the first time in my life I hadn't expected the question but, when it came, my answer was straight from both heart and head, and I shall never regret it. On Monday night the BBC News Channel presenter, Lukwesa Burak, had invited me to discuss the withdrawal of the Conservative whip from Michael Heseltine. He's being punished by the Tories for saying he would vote Liberal Democrat in tomorrow's European elections. I voiced the admiration I feel for Lord Heseltine.
Listen to the candidates on Sunday Politics East Midlands here If you haven't got time to listen to the whole programe listen to Bill Newton Dunn and Lucy Care canvassing 13 minutes in.
Writing in the Sunday Times Michael Hesseltine says: Until the Tories see sense on a people's vote, I will give mine to the Lib Dems Brexit seeps its poison into every family, age group, class and region. Parliament is a mirror image of national disunity. None of us can escape the transcending issue of our time.
Liberal Democrats have passed new policy to stand up for bereaved families and kinship carers, so more young people can grow up in a loving, stable home.
We are committed to tackling the challenges facing our music industry head-on. By doing so, we can maintain the UK’s reputation as a global leader in music, while giving future generations the chance to share in its success.
The Liberal Democrats are committed to rebuilding the trust and compassion that the UK was once known for. We believe that our country has a responsibility to support those in need, no matter where they are in the world.
