Deciding how and where to campaign is sometimes diffficult. The Rotherham and Barnsley Party would like to be able to actively campaign in ALL wards across the two Towns and in future this is our aim. For now your Executive has decided that fewer Wards fought would mean more activity and therefore more chance to build our vote over time. This has sadly meant many people being denied the chance to vote Liberal Democrat.

Former Chief Constable Wrong for

South Yorkshire Police

and Crime Commissioner

The announcement that Meredydd Hughes is to seek the Labour nomination for the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner election is no surprise. It is no secret that senior Labour figures have been pushing for Mr Hughes' nomination for some time, waiting for the right moment to announce his intention to stand.

It was confirmed today that Rebecca Taylor, our candidate for Rotherham in the 2010 General Election, will become Yorkshire & The Humber's newest MEP following the resignation of Diana Wallis last week.

Diana decided to step down as MEP for personal reasons after serving the region with distinction in the European Parliament for over twelve years. Rebecca was third on the party's list in the 2009 Euro Elections behind Diana and Stewart Arnold, who announced last week that he would not take over the vacant position from his wife.

Commenting on Ed Miliband's speech to Labour Party conference, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said:

"One speech can't wash away his record as a key part of the New Labour government that trampled on our civil liberties and left our economy in ruins.

"Ed Miliband was special advisor to Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor and voted for ID cards and 90 day detention without charge when he was in government.

Commenting on the IMF's report on the British economy released today, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Parliamentary Committee, Stephen Williams said:

"The IMF's strong backing of the Government's economic plans shows that the Coalition's approach to sorting out the economic mess we inherited is the right one.

Simon Hughes comments on the election of Ed Miliband as the new Labour Leader

Commenting on the election of the new Labour Leader, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said:

"I want warmly to congratulate Ed Miliband on becoming the new Labour leader.

"It is good to hear that he intends to practise a new politics of working across party boundaries in the national interest.

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole, has won MP of the Year in the Dods & Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards.

The panel of judges, which included Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of The Charity Commission and Dame Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam chose Annette because of her efforts "tirelessly lending her wisdom, position and huge skill to help hundreds of children's organisations, and by association, many thousands of children."

Today Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg launched Liberal Democrats Abroad, a network of branches for party members living outside of the UK.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

"In response to requests from our many supporters overseas and reflecting the Party's internationalist outlook, we have decided to set up a new organisation called Liberal Democrats Abroad to connect with our members and supporters living overseas.

Diana hosted a meeting in the European Parliament recently to discuss a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.

Diana was one of the speakers along with Frederic Hauge from the international environmental group Bellona and Paul Nemitz, Head of Unit, Maritime Policy for the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic and the Outermost Region in DG Mare in the European Commission. The meeting was chaired by Riikka Manner, Chair of the Arctic Subgroup in the European Parliament