150 Episodes!!!!!! To celebrate 5 members of the team got together in Marple to discuss the how the political parties are ending 2021 (North Shropshire by-election not withstanding) and what we can expect in 2022 Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive service at: www.patreon.com/libdempod Thanks for listening The Lib Dem Podcast P.s many thanks ...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 53
For 30 years the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have fought tooth and nail in Eastbourne. Josh Babarinde OBE has been selected to win it back at the next election for the LibDems John Potter chats to Josh about his background, how he got into politics, what are the main issues in Eastbourne and how everyone listening can help take the seat back. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to sup...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 52
There are 10,000 parish/town/neighbourhood councils in England and Wales alone. They provide a huge variety of services and actually invest in over £1bn in our communities. Regular panelists John Potter and Sam Al-Hamdani are joined by Bill Shannon, who set up Preston's first urban local council, and Mike Drew, Vice Chair of the National Association of Local Councils, to discuss the fantastic things parish can do. It's not all clear sailing with parish councils, we also discuss some of the pitfa...
Dec 03, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 51
Are the Tories trying to lose in North Shropshire? Could the LibDem pull off another spectacular by-election victory? We talk to LibDem candidate Helen Morgan about the campaign, how's it looking on the ground and what's it like being a by-election candidate You can follow Helen on Twitter @helenhalcrow For the latest election goings on, please visit the North Shropshire By-election HQ on Facebook Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so y...
Nov 29, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 50
This week on the podcast we discuss the Owen Paterson scandal and the huge fallout for the Conservatives at Westminster and beyond. With a by-election imminent in North Shropshire, we speak to local activists to see what they are doing and more importantly what we can all do to help. Our panel of John Potter, David McKensie, Sam Al-Hamdani and first timer guests Alison Bennett & Helen Morgan also chat about COP26 and the strange goings on with the Green Party picking a fight with Greenpeace ...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 49
The Lib Dem Podcast panel give their initial verdict of the Conservative budget. John Potter, Richard kemp and guest Michael Mullaney discuss the key talking points as well as the practical & political fallouts Keep up to date with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPod Follow our panellists: John Potter (@johnpotterLD) Richard Kemp (@cllrkemp) Michael Mullaney (@miketmullaney) Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast...
Oct 28, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 48
In 2019 the Liberal Democrats got within 629 votes of winning Wimbledon Constituency for the first time from the Conservatives. Our Next MP Series talks to Paul Kohler the man who got a 22.7 swing but narrowly missed out. Paul has been re-selected and is fighting to take the seat next time. John Potter chats to Paul about his background, how he got into politics, what are the main issues in Wimbledon and how everyone listening can help take the seat back. Paul Kohler on Twitter: @PaulKohlerSW19 ...
Oct 24, 2021•32 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Following the awful murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess we discuss whether being a politician can ever be 100% safe, does the political discourse need to change in the UK and are the LibDems right not to stand a candidate in the upcoming by-election. On the show today is John Potter (@johnpotterLD) and Hannah Kitching (@HannahK_LD) Keep up to date with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPod Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as throu...
Oct 21, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 46
We continue our series interviewing the Liberal Democrat target candidates to win seats at the next general election. In the 2019 General Election, LibDem MP Tom Brake sadly lost the seat by 629 votes, Bobby Dean has been selected to fight the seat to take it back from the Conservatives. John Potter chats to Bobby about his background, how he got into politics, what are the main issues in Carshalton and Wallington and how everyone listening can help take the seat back. Contact the Bobby and his ...
Oct 14, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 46
The Autumn conference season for the main parties is over. The General Election campaign themes are being set and the troops are getting their orders but were all the political parties talking to themselves instead of public. Sam Al-Hamdani, Claire Halliwell and John Potter round up the conference season, talk about the German elections, discuss the power of green issues and debate what this means for the 2022 elections and beyond. Keep up to date with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook &...
Oct 11, 2021•58 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Fighting a populist & nationalistic political party can be tough task, now imagine taking on two at the same time! In Scotland, with the SNP in Holyrood and the Conservative in Westminster, that is exactly what the Liberal Democrats have got to do. New Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton joins the podcast to chat with David McKensie and John Potter to talk about the challenges but also the opportunities for the Liberal Democrats. Keep up to date with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Fa...
Oct 06, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 44
The first of our series interviewing our Liberal Democrat target candidates to win seats at the next general election. In 2019 Zoe Franklin got within 3,337 votes of becoming the MP for Guildford. Zoe has been re-selected to fight the seat again John Potter chats to Zoe about her background, how she got into politics, what are the main issues in Guildford and how everyone listening can help take the seat. Contact the Zoe & the Guildford team here: Email: | zoe@guildfordlibdems.org.uk Faceboo...
Sep 30, 2021•39 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Has the Conservative government finally grasped the nettle and sorted the problem of social care in the UK? No In this weeks chat, Richard Kemp and John Potter discuss the Government's announcement, the tax rises and what impact that might have on our crumbling social care system. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive service at: www.patreon.co...
Sep 26, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 42
In the middle of last week's cabinet reshuffle, the LibDem Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP joins us on the podcast to discuss what is a modern liberal foreign policy. With the recent 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in the US, Layla Moran talks about the decrease influence of Britain on the world stage, when is foreign intervention acceptable and what the Liberal Democrats would do differently. You can follow on twitter our panelists John Potter (@johnpotterLD), Tom Mor...
Sep 21, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Remember to like & subscribe to the show through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode Having been elected as the leaders of the LibDem Local Government Association Group, Joe Harris and Bridget Smith talk to the podcast about what the LGA does, what can it do better and what is the future of local government. Our panellists today can be found on Twitter: John Potter @johnpotterLD Richard Kemp @Cllrkemp Joe Harris @joeharrispark Bridget Smith @cllrbridget You can follow everythi...
Sep 14, 2021•50 min•Season 3Ep. 40
One of the biggest struggles for both new and experienced councillors is getting the balance right between the time you spend at Town Hall and your attention to your ward. John Potter, Hannah Kitching and Sam Al-Hamdani discuss how they manage these pressures and what some of the pitfalls you should avoid. You can follow everything to do with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPod Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast ...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 39
Former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, joins David McKensie and John Potter for a wide ranging interview about his time as leader, the differences between being an MP and a MSP and why he decided to step down. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive service at: www.patreon.com/libdempod Thanks for listening The Lib Dem Po...
Sep 02, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Autumn Conference is around the corner and the LibDem Pod and the Never Mind the Barcharts podcast have joined forces to give you a preview for what to expect. John Potter, Mark Pack, Christine Jardine MP, Alex Warren, Callum Robertson, Laura Gordon and Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey discuss what policy debates, fringe events and other aspects they are looking forward to. You can follow everything to do with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPod Please like & subscrib...
Aug 27, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 37
In this episode we talk to two of the most powerful LibDems in the country but don't even have majorities in their local authorities. Responsible for a combined budget of over £2bn, Liz Leffman and Amanda Hopgood (Liberal Democrat leaders of Oxfordshire & Durham County Councils) join us on the podcast. We discuss working with other parties, the opportunities to put liberal policies into action and the threats to local democracy from the Government. Please like & subscribe to the channel ...
Aug 23, 2021•43 min•Season 3Ep. 36
The events in Afghanistan this week have reshaped politics around the globe. John Potter, Richard Kemp, David McKensie & Laura Gordon discuss the events, were we right to remove the Taliban in the first place and the political fallout in the UK and around the world. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. You can follow everything to do with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPo...
Aug 21, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 35
* Repeated episode due to fault on Apple Podcast feed* Richmond upon Thames has had some incredible success over recent years, taking over control of the council in 2018 and electing two MPs in 2019. What are they doing right and can it be replicated elsewhere? LibDem Council Leader Gareth Roberts and campaign manager Alice Bridges-Westcott discuss with John Potter the defeats, the wins and reflections on the state of the LibDems in South West London. Keep up to date with the LibDem Podcast on I...
Aug 16, 2021•56 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Richmond upon Thames has had some incredible success over recent years, taking over control of the council in 2018 and electing two MPs in 2019. What are they doing right and can it be replicated elsewhere? LibDem Council Leader Gareth Roberts and campaign manager Alice Bridges-Westcott discuss with John Potter the defeats, the wins and reflections on the state of the LibDems in South West London. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so y...
Aug 12, 2021•56 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Requested by our 1000th Twitter follower Thom Campion, this episode Richard Kemp, Laura Gordon and John Potter discuss some of the brilliant LibDems who have never become MPs We also discuss the what makes and good candidate and what difference do they make You can follow everything to do with the LibDem Podcast on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter - @LibDemPod Today's panelists are: @johnpotterLD , @LibDemLaura & @cllrkemp Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as thr...
Aug 04, 2021•43 min•Season 3Ep. 32
It's Freedom Day but what does that actually mean? John, Claire, David and Laura chat about yet another government shambles, why are the Tories are pressing ahead with it and what the political consequences might be. We also talk about the culture war backlash after the Euro 2020 England players respond to the Govt and the racist abuse they received. Finally we talk about the pensions triple lock...designed by the LibDems but is it time to go? You can follow our panel on twitter: John Potter (@j...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 31
The Green Party....ignore them, fight them, work with them? How should the Liberal Democrats across the country handle the Green Party? John Potter is joined by Hannah Kitching, Lisa Smart and Neil Fawcett to discuss when cooperation works with the Greens and when it doesn't. Do short term benefits lead to long term negative consequences? Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show wh...
Jul 15, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 30
The Thornhill review into the LibDem 2019 General Election was a brutally honest look into our party and it's structures. Just over a year has pasted and Baroness Dorothy Thornhill joins the podcast along with Party President Mark Pack to discuss what positive steps have happened and what still needs to be done. Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon excl...
Jul 06, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Another by-election with a pretty surprising result!! Batley and Spen by-election candidate Tom Gordon joins John Potter, Hannah Kitching and Sam Al-Hamdani to discuss all the fallout from the result and the campaign as a whole Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive service at: www.patreon.com/libdempod Thanks for listening The Lib Dem Podcast P...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Politics is a brutal business but what have we learned are the best ways to cope with disappointment. John Potter and Simon Lepori discuss how they have dealt with bad election results Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive service at: www.patreon.com/libdempod Thanks for listening The Lib Dem Podcast P.s many thanks to Prater Raines & Catur...
Jun 30, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Richard Maxwell, Author of the book The Science of Marketing, joins the LibDem podcast this episode to discuss the research he has collected into successful campaigning in both business and politics. What can local LibDem parties do to combat the "I don't know what the LibDems stand for" line or how can LibDems upgrade resident impressions of us from local champions to true liberal believers. We are giving away a copy of Richard's book to our exclusive Patreon subscribers. To be in with a shot o...
Jun 24, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 26
With the by-election victory covered in the previous episode, this is part two of our latest news round up. Sam, Richard and John discuss: the shocking report regarding the police failings in dealing with rape victims the latest Dominic Cummings leaks Northern Ireland, Brexit and and Australian trade deal Please like & subscribe to the channel on YouTube as well as through your podcast provider so you never miss an episode. If you want to support the show why not join our Patreon exclusive s...
Jun 20, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 25
