Author | Lightnews

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 6d

Is it possible that their model stands up reasonably well in low turnout elections but falls when less engaged voters show up at a General Election?

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 11d

But why am I here? @baronessros.bsky.social is at @suffolksound.bsky.social, recording a show with @robdunger.bsky.social, so I’ve left them to produce a little radio magic.

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 11d

I’ve been for a walk in East Bergholt…

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 21d

I’ve been re-elected, gloriously or otherwise. One down, two to go?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...

The road to power starts with a single step

I have, mostly by dint of being too polite to say no, risen a surprisingly long way in the genteel world of Town and Parish Councils. I repr...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 24d

Am I any closer to deciding how I might vote for the Party’s Presidency and Vice-Presidency?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...

The field for President and Vice-President is set - some more thoughts…

So, with nominations closed, Babarinde vs Bray and Collins vs Hussain are the two contests at the top of the “bill”. Time, so think, to star...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · 24d

History tends to repeat itself, so why wouldn’t Labour have another go at ID cards?… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/id-c...

ID cards: so remind me, what did you vote Labour for, exactly?

Mandatory ID cards are the latest idea to come out of the Labour brains trust, something so vital that it wasn’t actually in the manifesto t...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Sep 15

Three years on Federal Council are coming towards an end so, even though I’m not running for re-election, here is a report back… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/fede...

Federal Council: not letting the door hit me on the way out...

Three years ago, when I ran for a place on the inaugural Federal Council, my aims were to: Establish the Federal Council as an effective scr...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Sep 14

My @libdemvoice.org colleague, @caronmlindsay.bsky.social, speaks for many of us in this post…

libdemvoice.org @libdemvoice.org · Sep 14

Some thoughts on Mandelson, political violence and racists in London by @caronmlindsay.bsky.social www.libdemvoice.org/carons-catch...

Caron’s catch-up – a worrying week

There has been much this week to worry us. Israel continues to shock and horrify, not jut in Gaza, worrying escalations of the Ukraine conflict in Ukraine itself and Poland make that whole situation m...

www.libdemvoice.org

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Sep 13

Good luck with that, and I’m sure that you’ll be back when you’re good and ready.

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Sep 13

It’s official, I’m not running… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/this...

This is not a manifesto...

It's that time of year when a young man's fancy turns towards getting the nominations required to run for a Federal Committee. And in each P...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Sep 11

The assassination of Charlie Kirk should be a cause for reflection, but is it likely that this outrage will be any different? I wish it would be… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/09/if-p...

If political assassinations are the answer, then I reject the question

Yesterday's murder of the American political activist, Charlie Kirk, is yet another warning to American politicians that, if you keep defini...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Aug 29

Nominations for the @libdems.org.uk Party Presidency have opened, and it’s time for a bureaucrat’s eye view of the candidates as currently declared… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/08/part...

Party Presidency: the field begins to emerge

So, the starting gun has been fired, and the process of gathering nominations is underway in earnest. As far as I can tell, we have three ca...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Aug 9

And here are our seats. Yes, they’re Adirondack chairs… possibly the most comfortable stadium seats I’ve experienced yet.

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Aug 9

Welcome to Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox, the AAA associate of the slightly more famous Boston Red Sox.

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 27

A trade deal with India has been reached, and the response has been pretty muted. I do have some thoughts though… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/07/uk-i...

UK-India trade deal: perhaps we should be a little more enthusiastic?

On Thursday, Calum Miller was quoted as saying: We support the opening of trade, which is vital in the face of the tariff wars launched by D...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 26

I know, but it is a sign of someone who does at least know how to campaign…

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 26

So, @joshbabarinde.bsky.social has thrown his hat into the ring for the Party Presidency. What does it look like from the box seats (that’s me on the left, by the way…)? liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/07/a-pr...

A Presidential campaign kicks off…

I’ll freely admit that I don’t know much about Josh Babarinde, who launched his campaign for the Presidency of the Liberal Democrats yesterd...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 10

Just make sure that you drink the caffeine and challenge the rage. Getting it the other way round might be messy!… ;)

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 7

I’ve spent the day taking a strategic view of the Town and Parish Council sector and how @nalc1947.bsky.social can support its work, alongside colleagues from across England and our professional team. The future is both challenging and laden with opportunities…

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 3

I attended Jenny Randerson’s memorial service today in Central London, and it was a rather moving affair… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/07/jenn...

Jenny Randerson - a memorial

To London, for one of my infrequent visits to the big city. And, on a mildly unpleasantly hot day, it possibly wasn’t the ideal day to don a...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 1

In theory, of course. But there are more than 4,000 parish councils or meetings with a precept of less than £10,000 per annum. How do they fit in?

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 1

So, I attended the AGM of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils today. And here’s the press release… liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com/2025/07/75-y...

75 Years of local empowerment: Suffolk Association of Local Councils celebrates milestone with film premiere and vision for the future

I don't normally print press releases here, but as I'm a member of the SALC Board, perhaps you might forgive me on this occasion... The Suff...

liberalbureaucracy.blogspot.com

Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 1

Guest speaker, @baronessros.bsky.social, speaking about the value that town and parish councils offer in terms of community and quality of life…

Baroness Ros Scott, speaking at the AGM of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils.

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 1

No, more a celebration of what SALC and the town and parish councils do. We want to encourage greater involvement as councillors and Clerks, especially salient in the context of Local Government Reform.

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Mark Valladares @honladymark.bsky.social · Jul 1

Thanks, Iain, you’ll be pleased to hear that we’ve got NALC’s President coming to speak, there’s a lunch and a film to premiere.

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