Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman, has called for an overhaul of UK Drugs policy.

He said that the Government’s new Psychoactive Substances Bill “adds to the confusion and further undermines the credibility of UK drugs laws.”

His comments come during the Bill’s Second Reading in the House of Lords. Lord Paddick has branded the Bill unfit for purpose with huge unintended consequences.

“The reason why millions of people break the law by taking controlled drugs is because, quite righty, they see that our drugs laws lack credibility”, Brian Commented. This Bill further undermines the credibility of the drugs laws in this country.”

“It’s time we started treating those who misuse drugs as victims of drug dealers rather than criminals.

“It is time we confronted the fact that criminalising young people for possessing substances only as harmful, or less harmful, than alcohol or tobacco, lacks credibility.”

Bury Lib Dems will be hosting a few members meetings in the coming days:

Fundraising and Events Meeting- Thursday 18th June at 7:00pm

A group of members will be meeting at the Woodthorpe Pub (Bury Old Road, Prestwich M25 0EG). The meeting will involve discussion about how we can improve our fundraising methods as a local party and get together a list of our next round of events.

Member’s Meeting- Monday 22nd June at 7.00pm

The next meeting of Bury Lib Dem members will be taking place next Monday at the Radcliffe Civic Suite (Thomas Street, Radcliffe M26 2UH). We’ll be discussing our upcoming election campaigns and our fundraising and events programme. All members are welcome and it would be great to see another good turnout.

Human Rights Action Day- Saturday 27th June

Next Saturday, Bury Lib Dems will be running a campaigning day which will focus on raising awareness of the possible scrapping of the Human Rights Act, coinciding with the party’s national day of action on the issue. Two stalls will be set up, one running from 10am at the Prestwich Precinct until lunchtime and another one in Bury town centre (venue TBC). For this to be productive, we really do need as much help throughout the day as possible, even if it’s just for an hour so.

If you can attend any of these events or would like anymore information, please contact Michael Powell (07730 045287, organiser@burylibdems.net).

Every year, an event co-run by the Association of Lib Dem Councillors and the Lib Dem Local Government Association group moves around the country and this year, it’s down the road in Manchester. It’s always a great event featuring lots of training opportunities and this year, there’s the added bonus of a leadership hustings with Tim Farron and Norman Lamb. The conference will be running next weekend on Friday 19th to Saturday 20th June at the Mercure Hotel in Manchester city centre.

If you’d like to register for the event or would like anymore information, please click here.

Last month myself and Councillor Mary D’Albert attended Bury’s Annual Council and Mayor Making. This is the annual meeting – part business and part ceremonial – that marks the beginning of the ‘municipal year’.

It was great to be back as a Liberal Democrat ‘Group’ on the Council, even if there is only two of us this year. Mary and I have agreed that I will be the Group Leader and she will be the Deputy Group Leader.

In the formal business councillors are allocated to Committees for the year.
I will be representing you this year on the Health Scrutiny Committee (which is responsible for ‘scrutinising’ our local health services), the Prestwich Township Forum and the Council’s Standards Committee.
Mary will be representing you on the Planning Committee, the Corporate Parenting Board and the Prestwich Township Forum.

Made in Bury Awards

Made in Bury winners with last year’s Mayor Michelle Wiseman and group leaders

A highlight in recent years have been the community awards given to individuals or community groups in Bury. This year was no exception and awards were given to:
Young Persons’ Group: Early Break
Volunteer of the Year: Ann Bebbington
Outstanding Contribution to a Township: Dr Falmai Binns
Good Neighbour: Nathan Hickey
As a group leader I had the role of introducing one of the awards, to Dr Binns for her excellent work in the more ‘rural’ villages in north Bury around Broadband, buses and a new health walk.

Mayor Making

This year the Mayor of Bury will be Councillor Stella Smith. Stella is a Labour councillor who represents the East Ward in Bury. Her husband, and Mayor’s Consort John Smith is a former Mayor of Bury, so the two of them will be reversing their civic roles for the year. The Deputy Mayor is last year’s Mayor Councillor Michelle Wiseman, an independent councillor from Pilkington Park ward in Whitefield.

This Tuesday marked the sad passing of former party leader, Charles Kennedy. Charles remained highly respected and admired throughout his 32 years as an MP.

To mark the impact that he had on many lives, as well as a long and successful career in the Lib Dems, party HQ have opened a book of condolence on the party website.

If you would like to leave a message or add your name to the book, click here.

Bury Lib Dems will be running a campaigning day in Bury later this month to coincide with the party’s national day of action aimed at saving the Human Rights Rights Act.

The campaigning day on Saturday 27th June will include street stalls in the town centre, as well as door knocking and leafleting all aimed at beinging about greater awareness of the Conservative’s plans to ambolish the current Human Rights Act.

More details of the campaiging day and how you can get involved will be posted here in the following weeks.