Ted Gay from Erewash has died

I was really sad to hear this morning that stalwart Liberal Democrat activist from Erewash, Ted Gay, had died at the age of 92. I hadn't realised he was quite that old. He certainly didn't seem in his late 70s when he appeared in Chesterfield with a team of people to help most days during the 1997 general election.

He was a lovely man who worked really hard for the party over the years. I also remember a by-election in Sandiacre in the Erewash constituency the next year. It was held in the middle of the Euro selections and so we had loads of hopefuls, including one Nicholas Clegg, come to help out. We won, too.

There's more about him on Ashfield and Eastwood Liberal Democrats' website. He will be very much missed and fondly remembered by many in the East Midlands.

East Midlands chair slams Press Officer's call for Clegg to go

East Midlands Press Officer Mathew Hulbert called for Nick Clegg to be replaced as leader in a BBC interview today. His view will be no surprise to anyone  who has ever read what he writes on Liberal Democrat Voice in the comments threads.]

However, East Midlands Regional Chair Tony Rogers was not, shall we say, best pleased with his colleague.  He told me:

"I am very disappointed to hear that the East Midlands Press Officer has made a statment attacking Nick Clegg. I hope Mathew made it clear that this was his own personal opinion and is not the view of the East Midlands region.

We Liberal Democrats are so pleased that out of the three party leaders, Nick Clegg is ours."

Rogers added that he was very impressed with Tim Farron as President.