Girls, Football and Politics

The role of football mum is becoming one I am switching to more and more often, as my daughter plays football for three teams with matches almost everyday - its just a good job she's the goalie - although washing the kit is becoming a bit of a chore.

After one match this week, which I had supported rather enthusiastically from the sidelines, my daughter proudly announced that she was going to be on the school council.  My ears pricked up and seeing an opening for an election edition of a FOCUS leaflet, I was keen for more details. So I asked rather casually if, in fact, there would be an election for the positions and what things will she would like to be  responsible for.   My daughter looked at me sideways and replied "Responsible for Mum - I'm going to be the chair so I can tell everyone else what their responsibilities should be"

Some people, who know me, may say like mother like daughter but I prefer to think this exchange shows very clearly that girls are keen to get involved in politics and campaigning - the question is how do we keep them involved?

Work begins on Hesketh Park Lake

Regular users of Hesketh Park may have noticed something a little amiss with the lake this week, as work begins to repair the lower lake bank.  The work will involve lowering the lake level (retaining sufficient for wildfowl) together with closing sections of the lakeside path.  In addition the lake edge treatment will also be upgraded with some extra planting at the lake edge.
The cost of this work is being met by the contractor who undertook the original work as part of the refurbishment of the park in 2008.

Have Your Say!

As you may be aware, the North East Police Team have a meeting once a month for residents to discuss any local policing issues they may have with police officers and PCSO's.

These priority setting meetings have now been given the far snappier title of 'Have your Say.'

The next meeting is going to be held at Eton Court on Park Road West on the 14th October, starting at 7pm and will be chaired by PC Steve Keefe.

Current priorities that local police are looking at include speeding traffic in Park Avenue, Park Crescent and Fylde Road.

Please come along and let us know about any issues that you have. These meetings are a great way to air problems and to meet your local policing team!

Fish, Chips and Lib Dem diners

Your Lib Dem Team, are delighted to say that last nights Fish & Chip supper at Fylde Fish Bar was again a huge success.  So many people came that the chippy ran out of chairs but I'm happy to say not of fish or chips.

Lord Ronnie Fearn gives a helping hand with chef Banico and staff

The evening was a great opportunity for our new members to meet and chat to some of our councillors from the ward but also from across Sefton with diners including John Pugh MP, Tony Roberston, Leader of Sefton Council and the one and only Lord Fearn of Southport.

Sefton Council Leader Tony Robertson pictured with owner Banico and John Pugh MP

It was also a great opportunity to support a new and thriving local business.  Our thanks and appreciation go, as always, to Banico and his staff for the excellent food and service we received last night.

 We are planning another event here shortly so anyone who wants to have fish and chips by the sea in Southport is more than welcome to join us although given the quality of food tickets sell out fast.

Newsnight and the parallel universe

I think I must have entered some sort of parallel universe last night whilst watching Newsnight.  There I was, merrily watching Paxman doing what he does best, when up popped Conservative MP Phil Hammond  arguing the case for the removal of child benefit.  Then in response to a challenge by Polly Tonybee, Hammond moved swiftly onto the steps the government had already or planned to take to help the low paid and children in deprived areas.

Then, like one of those slow motion delays, as I began to open my mouth to shout at the telly that these were Lib Dem policies, my brain re-engaged and I realised that yes indeed these are our Lib Dem policies but we are part of the coalition government.

Now I know I know this - I was at the conference in Liverpool but even so it is still taking time to sink in and I can't believe I am the only one who keeps forgetting.

Get ready for REAL progressive politics..

I, along with Sue and a delegation from the Southport Liberal Democrats, attended a mega training day put on by Chris Davies our regional MEP. It was a great day, with lots of training events to keep us all up to date with the latest campaigning techniques and messages.

The highlight for me was listening to Andrew Stunell, MP for Hazel Grove and our party's Minister in Government for Communities and Local Government (pictured). He was also one of our negotiating MP's who helped to formulate the Coalition Government agreement.


The word 'revolutionary' is often overused in politics, but I think it can truly be applied to the localism agenda that will form a key feature of this Parliament.

Localism is all about decentralising and detaching the strangling tendrils of central Government. Its about realising that different areas have individual needs and priorities and that Whitehall diktats are not the best way to govern. One example of this was the Regional Spatial Strategies, housebuilding targets imposed from the centre on to communities. These gave no leeway to local opinion. RSS has now been abolished by the new government.

The concept of Localism is relevant to all of us. It will mean that town, parish and local Councils will all be able to have a say about local budgets and local services.

We need look no further locally than the stalemate over the Childrens Walk in Centre for Southport. Its clearly a service that local people want and need, yet nothing is happening.

There is nothing that will invoke electoral apathy than this sort of situation. You can understand why people are turned off voting if they think that they are powerless. This is even further entrenched if people also feel disillusioned with their ability to enact any change through their votes. Its not hard to see how people then think, ' well whats the point voting, I cant change anything can I?' Or, 'well, i really like that candidate and that party, but they cant win here, so my vote will just be a wasted one.'

A new and progressive politics has to challenge and eradicate the 'whats the point,' and 'why bother' attitudes that the Labour Government certainly didn't tackle. Localism and political reform in the shape of fairer votes, will truly radicalise the political system as we know it.

Next years referendum on introducing a better voting system will be an exciting opportunity, not just for Liberal Democrats, but for people who feel they dont have a voice.

Its time to shout loudly!

Musings of a football (& rugby) mum

When I first got involved in politics my children were very young and so it was easy to find a baby sitter (usually my brother) all I had to do was give them a kiss and put them to bed. Then lipstick on and away I went merrily to council, community or local party meetings.

I naively thought, that, as the children got older the need for babysitters would be reduced and things would be easier.  How wrong I was. I am now a fully fledged football (& rugby) mum and all that this role entails - coach, taxi driver, catering manager, laundry operative, provider of hugs and the teams biggest fan.




The interesting point here is that this group of women (aka as soccer or hockey mums) are recognised as a politically significant category in their own rights in the USA and now being a fully fledged member of this group I can understand why. These people are generally  the lynch pins of the family, time management is a way of life, together with diplomacy and advanced driving.  Politics for these women is very real and this should be recognised by campaigners and politicians alike.


By the way - the lipstick before meetings bit the dust many years ago now I'm lucky if I remember my reading glasses !