DENNIS IAN WRIGLEY and why I became a Liberal.

I was 14 in 1966, living in New Mills. For those who don't know it, it is at the top left corner of High Peak. Quite a bright spark for a girl from such a working-class family, daughter of a builder's labourer and part-time factory worker, who always voted Labour. I'd got a scholarship to a "posh" girls' school, but never quite learned how to be "posh". I went to the local Youth Club, that so-called "den of iniquity" that reputedly attracted yobbos and louts (mostly male, by definition). I never believed those labels. I never met any yobbos or louts there, just ordinary teenagers. Yeah, lots from the council estate. So what? I'd spent 10 years with mates from the council estate. Most of my relatives lived on council estates. Great places to be back then.

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Obituary: Dennis Wrigley

Dennis Wrigley, who died last week, was an inspirational pioneer in the rejuvenation of the Young Liberals and the Liberal Party in the Manchester region and the North West during the 1950s and 1960s. Dennis came to national prominence in the High Peak by-election in 1961, in the year before Orpington. A combination of the rising national Liberal vote, a lot of outside help including Manchester students and YLs, and Dennis's personal charisma and campaigning energy produced a Liberal vote of 30.5%, narrowly third but up by more than 10% from the General election in 1959. He contested the seat at the following three General Elections, polling well but never as well as at the by-election.

TG
18 Nov 2015
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Nick Clegg: My family are up in arms over ham but I’m raging over sugar

Eating too much red meat may mean an increased risk of cancer but it's sugar that poses a far greater threat My in-laws were not happy. Not happy at all. Last week, the World Health Organisation published a report about the link between red processed meat and cancer. What the scientists behind the report did not realise was that in Spain they had unwittingly insulted a national treasure: Iberico ham.

NCMP
6 Nov 2015
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UK Lib Dem news

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Latest UK News

Fair Votes Now!

The Liberal Democrats have long championed proportional representation, advocating for a voting system where every vote truly counts. We believe that reforming our electoral system is crucial for a fairer democracy and better governance.

LD
16 Sep 2024
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Health, Care & the NHS

Saving our NHS

We believe everyone deserves high-quality healthcare, accessible when and where it’s needed and free at the point of use.

LD
15 Sep 2024
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High Peak Liberal Democrats AGM Notice 7.30pm, 4 December 2024

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