With a new leader in Nick Clegg who represents a Yorkshire seat ( has there been another?) the Lib Dems are characteristically optimistic about 2008. In Kirklees we should hold all our seats in May and may pick up one or two. But the big year will be 2010  when there should be some major gains - if the work is done. Could we also see the return of another Lib Dem MP in West Yorkshire?

My resolution is to do all I can to bring more success for the party.

I have started the round of Christmas ‘do’s’  but the politics continues. The debate about health and social care for ex-servicemen rumbles on with stories in the Examiner and correspondence from leading Tories who seem unnerved by it. Could be an interesting budget issue!

Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year to all.

I presented a petition to council calling for action on the traffic problems in the Hollow, Meltham. The Huddersfield Examiner ran a small story suggesting that residents wanted the road closed - we shall see about that.

The council meeting on December 5th ran out of time before the motion on Honour the Covenant could be debated. However we called for an immediate vote and the motion was passed by 24 votes to 0 - with about 27 abstentions. So the council is morally committed to putting £500,000 in next year’s budget for the mental health needs of ex-servicemen.