http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Simon Hughes MP en-GB Simon Hughes MP http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Simon Hughes MP 2008-09-08T09:41+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000012/lord_russell_johnston.html Russell Johnston was a really good mentor and ever supportive political friend. Like many, I will miss Russell very much. And the things that never changed, as all agree, were his inspirational and unwavering liberalism and internationalism. After Alan Beith, Russell was the longest serving Liberal MP since the last war. Across the Highlands, Scotland, Britain and the international Liberal family, Russell will be remembered with an affection and respect that few will ever match. 2008-07-29T18:58+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000011/hughes_news__march_2008__simon_hughes_article_for_liberal_democrat_news.html Twenty-five years in Westminster certainly gives plenty of opportunity to reflect - and to say thank you. Thank you, first, to all those who encouraged me to put my name forward as a candidate and who helped me to be selected in Bermondsey in 1982. Thank you also to the thousands who helped in the Bermondsey by-election - especially Peter Bray, Ron Tindall, Andy Ellis, David Rebak but also the many others who canvassed through wet winter evenings and manned polling stations. Thanks to the thousands of local residents who were willing to see if I could do the job and who have kept their faith through six further elections. Thanks too to all those local party officers, agents and organisers over the years, to the wonderful succession of people who have worked with me in my constituency and in Westminster, and to the councillors who took us from our first council win in 1983 to being the largest party in our borough in 2002. Thanks to the many others who have helped along the way, to those who have sent their congratulations and last but not least my family and friends - without whom none of this would have been possible. Winning any election is exciting, but winning political by-elections has a particular excitement, and over twenty-five years, my thanks go to Chris Rennard and Hilary Stephenson who have ensured so many Liberal Democrat successes in elections over many years. 2008-03-05T00:00+00:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000010/priorities_for_the_next_90_days__campaigning_campaigning_campaigning__simon_hughes__january_2008.html The New Year has certainly got off to a busy and exciting political start. 2008-02-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000009/hughes_news_december_2007__an_exciting_2007__and_the_prospect_of_great_things_in_2008.html What an exciting end to what by any assessment has been a very exciting domestic political year. First we had the long build-up to the very long Tony Blair goodbye. Then we had the strong Gordon Brown start, followed by indecision about the election and serious damage to his political reputation - with the nonsense of the belated Lisbon signing just making it all look worse. And in between we had the entirely unexpected resignation of Ming and the election campaign which has resulted in Nick Clegg becoming our new Leader. As we come to the beginning of the new year, there is absolutely all to play for in British politics. 2007-12-18T18:00+00:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000008/hughes_news_november_2007.html My good and lovely mother sadly lost her struggle to recover from major heart surgery and died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on 13th November. My younger brother Jamie, who was an SDP Alliance councillor in Southwark in the 1980's, was with me and with Paddy as she died. It had been a pretty rollercoaster time since we took mother to hospital in Birmingham at the end of August. Mercifully she died peacefully and in no pain, and in the last weeks had been in no distress and always positive about the future. 2007-11-21T12:00+00:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000006/hughes_news_september_2007.html It already seems a long time since the beautifully warm party conference week in Brighton. Like you, I very much feel that we have marched ourselves up to nearly the top of the hill and have now been told we can go back down again. But that's politics - and the consequence of an unwritten constitution with no fixed terms for the UK parliament. Happily, the momentum for change on this issue is growing and all converts are welcome. We just must be careful that our well-earned reputation as the leaders in constitutional reform is not lost as others scramble on board. It is not just political party members who would benefit from regular elections - the certainty would benefit local government, business, and the voters as well. As so often, Westminster now needs to follow the lead of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 2007-09-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000005/hughes_news_august_2007.html May to August are good months for local political activity. There have been many worthwhile local events which I have attended: presenting the Volunteer Centre Southwark awards; laying flowers at the Soviet War Memorial to mark peace in Europe; celebrating ten years of Southwark Civic Awards and the end of works on the Sutton Dwellings estate in Rotherhithe; enjoying the opening of Potters Field Park and the annual Mayesta in Walworth, helping launch the new South Bank Partnership Manifesto, and attending a great production at the Blue Elephant Theatre. There was the moving but proud unveiling of the memorial to Private Lee O'Callaghan, killed in Iraq. More happily, the event in Southwark Park and the Rotherhithe Festival in July were both great - and sunny! - as were the Vibrations festival and Carnival del Pueblo in Burgess Park in August. But the more sustained political campaigns have continued. First, I have kept up all possible pressure on Prime Minster, Health Secretaries and junior ministers to get a better deal for mental health users than the government's original plans to close the Maudsley 24 hour emergency clinic and replace it with an inadequate alternative at King's. Second, we were first off the mark to protest that the Crown Post Office in Borough High Street now has an uncertain future again. Campaigning for local post offices must remain a high priority for us all from now until next spring when decisions are made. And, seasonally, I have taken an initiative in trying to persuade the council to include a heated lido and a diving pool in the plans for swimming and leisure across the borough in the days ahead. 2007-08-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000007/exciting_days__for_liberal_democrats_as_well_says_simon_hughes.html The new Prime Minister has taken over. New ministers are taking their places. A new chapter in British political history has this week begun. 2007-06-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000004/promote_the_values_of_liberalism_up_and_down_the_land.html First, thank you. Thousands of you as members and supporters have just come to the end of some of the busiest weeks of your lives. May 3rd was certainly important for all Liberal Democrats up and down Great Britain. To those who won, thanks and congratulations. To those who lost, thanks and commiserations. As I write the final political outcome in Scotland and Wales is still unclear. It was certainly frustrating in both countries that all our efforts were not rewarded by an advance in seats. But in any event in both countries we will definitely play an important role in the years ahead. 2007-05-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000003/i_nearly_canvassed_kylie_minogues_grandmother.html Easter, Passover, Vaisakhi and other seasonal greetings to you all. And above all canvassing greetings too. Hasn't it been fantastic weather for delivering, canvassing and campaigning? 2007-04-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000002/no_slacking_as_elections_approach.html My last head of office, Kris Verle, always claimed that Spring began on the 1st March. He is clearly wrong! My diary makes it quite clear that Spring begins this week and there is sun and blue sky, at least outside my window, to prove it. 2007-03-17T00:00+00:00 http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/articles/000001/new_year_resolutions.html Happy New Year! One month in and so the obvious question is, what is the success rate with your new year's resolutions? I don't mean the personal ones - thought they might be interesting, they are not my business. But I do mean the political ones. It's only 3 months until Scottish and Welsh general elections and the many local elections in England. So for those of you without elections of your own, if you have not already done so I hope you will make a renewed commitment now. 2007-02-17T16:25+00:00