Michael Meadowcroft?

arden forester · 09-05-2008, 10:55 AM

In this Liberal Party section it has been asked if there is a leader. Michael Meadowcroft was for a long time. Then he up sticks recently and said he was jpoining the LibDems. Did he? Is that correct? Anyone know?

Liverpool City Cllr Steve Radford is descibed as being the President.

Welcome to the Liberal Party

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Welcome to the Liberal Party
Formed in 1989 under the leadership of Michael Medowcroft by a rump who rejected the merger with the Social Democrats that formed the Liberal Democrats.
Welcome to the Liberal Party - 2k - Cached - Similar pages

Someone misspelt Meadowcroft so this could be a hindrance in the searches!

Village Idiot · 09-05-2008, 12:52 PM

Yeah, he's a Libdem now...straight from the horse's mouth:

Curriculum Vitae in English

Tom Wilde · 09-05-2008, 01:02 PM

Meadowcroft was President of the Liberal Party until 2005, though according to Wikipedia he hadn't been very actively involved for years, due to spending much of his time abroad. In 2005 he stood down from the post and Cllr Steve Radford was elected instead.

Then in 2007 Meadowcroft left the Liberal Party altogether and joined the LibDems. He published an article in The Liberator (I think) giving his reasons. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

From memory, he said it was because:
a) he thought that for a few policies where the Liberals and LibDems agreed, for example opposition to ID cards and to illegal foreign wars, it was a better use of his effort to pursue those policies through a bigger party.
b) he enthused at some length about Britain's future in EU. He didn't explicitly say "and my former colleagues in the Liberal Party don't support it, so that's another reason I'm joining the LibDems!" but that was the clear implication.

arden forester · 09-05-2008, 01:37 PM

Thank you for your response village idiot. Surely a misnomer? I saw this link on the site you gave and it gives some imprssion of his thinking.

Current Affairs

Tom, I think you are right. he was probably always pro-EU in that it was "the only horse on offer"! Personally, I'm committed to a Commonwealth of Europe so would be more appreciative of the Liberal Party on this than ever the LibDems.

09-05-2008, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,639 Party: None	Michael Meadowcroft? In this Liberal Party section it has been asked if there is a leader. Michael Meadowcroft was for a long time. Then he up sticks recently and said he was jpoining the LibDems. Did he? Is that correct? Anyone know? Liverpool City Cllr Steve Radford is descibed as being the President. Welcome to the Liberal Party Google shows - Welcome to the Liberal Party Formed in 1989 under the leadership of Michael Medowcroft by a rump who rejected the merger with the Social Democrats that formed the Liberal Democrats. Welcome to the Liberal Party - 2k - Cached - Similar pages Someone misspelt Meadowcroft so this could be a hindrance in the searches! __________________ www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

09-05-2008, 12:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Village Idiot Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	Yeah, he's a Libdem now...straight from the horse's mouth: Curriculum Vitae in English __________________ Village Idiot's blog

09-05-2008, 01:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,639 Party: None	Jumping ships! Thank you for your response village idiot. Surely a misnomer? I saw this link on the site you gave and it gives some imprssion of his thinking. Current Affairs Tom, I think you are right. he was probably always pro-EU in that it was "the only horse on offer"! Personally, I'm committed to a Commonwealth of Europe so would be more appreciative of the Liberal Party on this than ever the LibDems. __________________ www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

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09-05-2008, 01:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,750	Meadowcroft was President of the Liberal Party until 2005, though according to Wikipedia he hadn't been very actively involved for years, due to spending much of his time abroad. In 2005 he stood down from the post and Cllr Steve Radford was elected instead. Then in 2007 Meadowcroft left the Liberal Party altogether and joined the LibDems. He published an article in The Liberator (I think) giving his reasons. If I can find the link, I'll post it. From memory, he said it was because: a) he thought that for a few policies where the Liberals and LibDems agreed, for example opposition to ID cards and to illegal foreign wars, it was a better use of his effort to pursue those policies through a bigger party. b) he enthused at some length about Britain's future in EU. He didn't explicitly say "and my former colleagues in the Liberal Party don't support it, so that's another reason I'm joining the LibDems!" but that was the clear implication.