A video introduction to Libertarianism

Have been playing around with xtranormal, and this is my first effort. Dialogue is basically cribbed from the LPUK website. Feedback greatly appreciated

Party Leader Designate Contact Details

I am trying to organise myself so I am available to as many members as possible.

I have designated Fridays as the day I will be available all day to respond on andrew.withers@lpuk.org

You can send emails any other time other than on a Sunday (unless it is a dire emergency), and they will be answered between 5pm and 6pm.

Best A

Press Release - Andrew Withers new Party Leader

The Libertarian Party annual AGM and Conference is taking place today in London. The following press release was issued at 12.00 today.

Acceptance of Party Leader of the Libertarian Party by Andrew Withers

I would like to thank the Party for the confidence that it has shown in me in electing me unopposed. It is with regret that I cannot take up the post until we have resolved the the extraordinary decision by the Secretary of State Dr Vince Cable on the 12th November 2010 that he objects to me being Party Leader, Treasurer or Tea-boy in the Libertarian Party.

In his eyes I am unfit to do so without supervision from his department. Mr Cable was given until 4pm yesterday via his solicitors Osborne Clarke, to withdraw his extraordinary objection from the Bristol District Registry, as he has no powers in Law over the Libertarian Party according to both his own Counsel and Counsel that has volunteered its time on behalf of the Party. I have to tell you no such undertaking has been received, to use a phrase.

All that was received was a letter that informed me yesterday, it was up to me to withdraw this from the Court, being a very simple person I did not understand the logic of this. I was instructed by a District Judge to include all of the organisations here,in America, in South Africa, in France that I am an executive member of. This includes charitable, political, blogs etc etc. Vince Cable's boys just objected to the lot without fear or favour on the 12th November.

Liam Fox MP, my local MP asked to be kept informed of all developments following his attempts to get Mandelson and now Vince Cable to drop this sorry saga after nearly five years. Incredibly my friends, the District Judge ordered a telephone conference to be heard on Dec 3rd to settle the issues at dispute. Vince's boys so far have objected to the telephone conference call, and refused to comply with another Court Order. As a party that believes in the supremacy of the rule of law, it is only right and proper that we await the directions of the Court on December 3rd, and that Vince Cable explains to the Court the reasons why on grounds of national security, public safety or in the interests of democracy he can overturn the will of members of the Libertarian Party and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

I will remain Leader Designate.

Why are we here, a very small band of Libertarians formed into a party that will never in my lifetime seize office under this benighted system called Parliamentary Democracy.
We are here because we are right in philosophy. In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down because  Stalinism and Communism had had its day and people wanted freedom, the banking crash built on a mountain of public debt has brought an end to bureaucratic socialism and public and private debt as a way of life.

Now is the age of Liberty, but it is going to be a long fight because vested interest from the three statist parties wish the merry go round to continue. Labour only just lost the election under a corrupt voting system, Con Demery is not going to last, and unless things change dramatically the Social Democrats are going to leave the crumpled warm bed of David Cameron into the soiled sheets of Labour, breaking promises as they go.

I am a Constitutionalist, I believe that none of us count because we have no recognition in Law as individuals because we have no Constitution. We are the neo serfs. The exchequer is broke, we are to be taxed out of recession, yet we are still fighting foreign wars and we are going to give Ireland £7Bn to save the eurozone ? Did anybody consult you ? Do you approve. Shut up- just give us the money.

How do they get away with this ? because the State has the monopoly of violence, we are all frightened of the State. Whereas the State should be frightened of us the voter.

De Menezes was a stain on our country, as was Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a Ministry of Defence not a Ministry of War ! Our troops are badly equipped, badly paid and neglected in old age and injury. The only legitimate function of the State is Defence of a free country. Politicians love being associated with the Military, it makes them look hard, the trouble is our civilian police force are playing more to the Force and less to the Civilian part of the equation. When did Dixon turn into Judge Dredd on our streets.

Libertarianism needs re-branding in the UK, the Stalinist left call us right wing, we are neither of the left or the right. David Nolan who tragically died last week put us on a different axis that of Liberty to Authoritarianism. We despise the big State who ever is running it in favour of minimal government that is local and accountable.

We have the obscenity of so called Anarchists taking part in violent demonstrations in favour of large state hand outs. These are not Anarchists, they are simple leftist thugs demanding by violence what they cannot achieve by the ballot box.

Yesterday Cameron issued his first D notice, these are issued in time of war. He is no longer an authoritarian virgin. The Libertarian Party must oppose both nationally and locally. We are small very small but perhaps history will show that we kept fanning the flames of classical Liberalism in a seventy year long downpour of bureaucratic socialism.

Ends

Notes for editors
1) The Libertarian Party was founded on November 21st 2007 and officially launched on January 1st 2008. The party’s website can be found at:
http://www.lpuk.org
2) Further details of the party’s policies can be found in our manifesto:
http://www.lpuk.org/pages/manifesto.php
3) The Libertarian Party UK is a minarchist party utilising political philosophy based on support for individual liberty.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism
Press Enquiries can be sent to media@lpuk.org or by telephone +44 845 299 7650

Press Release Relating To Electoral Commission

This afternoon the following email was received from the Electoral Commission and is their considered opinion on Vince Cable's attempt to remove Andrew Withers as Leader of the Libertarian Party through the Courts.

The current proceedings taken against you is a matter for the Courts to decide. 

If the party makes an application to appoint you as Leader, then we shall consider the application in accordance with PPERA taking account of any implications of the Court decision. If approved, we shall update the party's registered entry.

So the considered opinion of the Electoral Commission is that the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has the right to determine who shall and who shall not be the Leader or an officer of a political party.

Also that it is the Electoral Commission's considered opinion that it is up a Court to decide whether Andrew Withers will be the elected leader of a registered political party, not the members, and that the Electoral Commission will approve an 'application' from the Party, not a notification from the members that a new Leader has been elected.

Freedom of Association has been the bedrock of our Parliamentary Democracy, under the Coalition that will be decided by the Government.

Ends

LPUK Candidate Welcomes Freeze On Council Tax

PRESS RELEASE 22 November 2010:

Alex Ellis-Roswell, who will become one of the UK’s youngest city council candidates in next year’s local elections representing The Libertarian Party, has welcomed Canterbury City Council’s proposal to freeze council tax in the 2011/12 budget.

“The proposal to freeze council tax in Canterbury will be welcomed by thousands of already struggling households in the area. However a freeze is not enough in the long run. What the council need to be working towards is a reduction in council tax for all local residents. With a lower council tax more money will be in the pockets of local mums, dads, business owners and ordinary hard working people. It is a no brainer that with more money in their pocket, rather than the council coffers, more money will in turn be spent in local businesses in turn kick starting the local private economy again.

Canterbury relies heavily on public sector workers and thanks to our current Conservative – Liberal Democrat Government many locally will face uncertainty and unemployment in the near future. However rather than clinging onto the idea that we can afford an ever expanding public payroll, we should be looking at ways of encouraging growth in the local private sector. A reduction in council tax is just one way of doing that, encouraging local people to spend their money at local businesses.”

However, Alex Ellis-Roswell is concerned at some of the other council’s proposals for the budget 2011/12 including the worst case scenario of closing a further five public toilets, removing some litter and dog bins and doubling allotment charges.

“I am worried that the proposal to remove litter and dog bins will hit the rural areas the hardest, of which the ward I plan to represent comes under rural. The council has a lack of imagination and creativity when it comes to these cuts. There are ways to save bins and public toilets while still bringing down the cost of these services. We just have to look outside the box! Sponsorship is one option for funding some local services which has been proven to work in other districts and countries.”

David Nolan- Leader of US Libertarian Party Dies Aged 67

David Nolan whose 'Nolan Chart' redefined the redundant 'Left-Right' positioning of politics died on Saturday aged 67 of a stroke whilst driving.

The Libertarian Party of the United Kingdom sends its condolences to David's family and friends.

On arriving at Libertarianism from a Quaker viewpoint.

I realise that I shall probably come in for some shtick for even mentioning any form of spiritual faith in the same breath as Libertarianism, Hey Ho!

One of my readers picked up on the fact that I said that I had arrived at Libertarianism from ‘a Quaker vantage point’ and has asked me to explain further. I could have done so in a private reply, but have decided to stick my head above the parapet. (Yet again).

I should define what I mean by spiritual faith first. It may have a different meaning to that employed by others, for the simple reason that such things are not defined in any book of rules within the Quaker fellowship. We arrive at our own personal definition.

I don’t know, for I have never met anyone who has travelled outside of our physical existence, that there is definitively a God. Some people, armed with the knowledge that there is no proof that God doesn’t exist, are happy to believe that He does, and follow their chosen religion. Others, armed with the knowledge that there is no proof that God does exist, are happy to call themselves Atheist, and denounce all religion. I struggle with the notion that an absence of proof either way means that I should join either one of the opposing camps.

I simply don’t know. I hope, I trust, I put it no higher than that, that mankind is not the highest form of existence in overall control of our planetary system. If mankind is, I would venture that we are in bigger trouble than we are capable of envisioning. I live my life on the basis that I shan’t know the answer to this question until I die – and until I do, I will assume that there may well be a God.

The Quaker fellowship doesn’t demand of me that I declare emphatically one way or the other my beliefs. There are no churches, no intermediaries, or ‘middle men’ as I refer to them, to demand that I renounce all other beliefs and publicly declare my allegiance – just a fellowship of other people very privately going about their business, living in a simple manner, trying their level best to do more good than harm. That seems to me an eminently sensible ‘insurance policy’ just in case we do have to account for ourselves one day.

A Quaker meeting is primarily in silence, a quiet dedicated hour or so set aside to reflect on how we think we have succeeded in our personal goal of ‘more good than harm’. The silence is occasionally broken by someone who feels that they have something to say, some insight that might be of use to others. There is no obligation to speak, no reason not to. There is no High Priest to tell us how we should live, or which rules to adhere to, no village elder to declare that this or that action will be condemned by this God or that God. Nor is there anyone specially commissioned to offer us a ‘get out of jail’ card if we have managed to cause more harm than good by one of our actions.

My ‘spiritual faith’ is entirely a matter for my conscience, my personal responsibility.

When I first ventured into the political bear pit, I was puzzled by the devotion of the party members – Left or Right. Conferences were held every year to decide on the party line, henceforth those who disagreed with the party line were liable to be vilified. It was almost as though they had threatened the very salvation of the rest of their chosen tribe.

You ‘were’ a Labour voter or a Conservative voter, and therefore this is what you believed. People arrived at this ‘belief’ through a process called ‘democracy’, the conference vote, and if 51% of them believed that Black was White – then the other 49% were forced to mouth the same supposition – and that was democracy on a good day!

I don’t want to be told what to think or what to do based on a man in a suit, regardless of which way round his collar is, holding up a piece of paper and saying ‘henceforth, this is what we believe’. I would prefer to make my own mind up on the basis of individual choices at a personal level.

That doesn’t make me a dyed in the wool individualist, who merely wants to get on with my life without outside interference, contributing nothing to my fellow man. I don’t hold with that notion of Libertarianism, which seems nothing more than a form of institutionalised selfishness that uses a misplaced understanding of the Libertarian label to excuse their egotism.

If I have time, money, knowledge, a spare bed for the night, even a pork chop, that is surplus to my requirements, then the Quaker principle of doing ‘more good than harm’ requires that I share it with someone who is in need – someone who is more vulnerable to the vagaries of physical existence than I am at that moment. It is perfectly possible to do that on a personal level – you don’t require a government edict to demand that you share your supper with a starving neighbour; human beings have been doing it for centuries.

Sometimes you need more than one person to give effective help to someone in need. People can and do act in concert without government intervention. There are those who will refuse to offer help when asked. So what? Let them live their individualistic existence. There are plenty of people who will help.

Many of the early Friendly Societies, groups of people who banded together to provide help and assistance for any of their number who fell on hard times, were of the Quaker belief. The idea that people can live together in peace and tolerance, mutually supportive of each other, without being ordered to do so, is one that sits easily with my beliefs.

The Blogosphere is a Friendly Society – I still say that even after recent experiences! – it can be mutually supportive, it can achieve far more collectively than any of us do individually. I christened it the Blog Society as opposed to Cameron’s ‘Big Society’. It should form the backbone of the Libertarian movement, for it allows all those who subscribe to it to step up to a call for help or ignore it at will, no vote required, no orders given.

There will be those who mock and sneer; there will be others who use the Blogosphere to write lengthy philosophical treatise on why their political movement is the one you should be following - but the ungoverned blogosphere is the perfect environment for the Libertarian movement to exist unfettered and to do ‘more good than harm’.

That is why I have nominated Andrew Withers as the new Libertarian leader, for I know that he will take the movement in a new direction, one which I believe will benefit all of us. A direction closer to the philosophy of the early Friendly Societies rather than the foul mouthed, vitriolic and destructive Anarchism that we have become associated with.

If you doubt that this is what the Libertarian movement has become associated with – then read some of the reports on the recent student riots, where the phrase Anarchist/Libertarian was freely bandied about by journalists. The two words have become interchangeable in many minds, aided and abetted by a MSM that is keen to see the status quo of Left/Right maintained.

Libertarianism is in desperate need of re-branding! The solution is in our own hands – we don’t need to be told what to do, we are Libertarians after all.

Ireland: An opportunity for Free Banking?

With the current concerns over Ireland's stability, with the EU itching to turn the ratchet towards total loss of sovereignty, Dan Hannan has suggested that Ireland adopt the Pound Sterling.

I am not going to discuss if Ireland should or should not do this here, as it is really none of my business, only to say that they do risk exchanging one Tyranny with another, or should I say, one Tyranny for a Mini-Me of the same Tyranny [1].

What I will say is that if Ireland decides to leave the Euro, this could be a situation for Ireland to adopt Free Banking. The Irish Government could move itself and the Bank of Ireland to another currency, a new currency or resurrect their old currency, demanding revenues in it as well as converting its debt to it, while the rest of the economy could remain in Euros, switch to Pounds Sterling or US Dollars or Vietnamese Dong, even.

Forcing all private capital in Ireland from one currency to another new currency or new arrangement introduces risk and businesses do not like risk as it tends to make things more expensive. If companies can remain using Euros and swap by their own choice, likewise for individuals, then the validity and viability of each entity and their wealth will be more influenced by personal responsibility instead of monopolistic actions and Government Fiat.

The move to Free Banking would break the forced collectivisation of wealth caused by the monopoly over currency. This moment in Irish history is, IMHO, just the time to introduce it.

Regardless, I wish the Irish people well and hope their Government makes wise decisions.



[1] David Cameron has shown himself to be no defender of UK Sovereignty, but hankers for agreement and Compromise and, not being as practiced in the Fabian arts of incrementalism, has been bested.

Close The Website Order

APPLICATION FOR CLOSURE OF A UK BASED DOMAIN NAME

Fitwatch.org.uk - IP 69.175.66.250

To whom it may concern at Singlehop

Op Malone

In connection with our criminal investigation into registration or use of the domain name set out in this letter, we hereby confirm that:
* The domain is being used to undertake criminal activities.
Attempting to Pervert the Course of Justice, contrary to Common Law
We hereby request Singlehop to de-host this website for a minimum period of 12 months. Please note that this request will be also sent to the domain name registrar for the website. You should provide the following contact phone number, email address and reference number to the registrant: 0207 230 8100 pceu@met.pnn.police.uk

REASON FOR CLOSURE 

This website are committing offences of attempting to pervert the Course of Justice under Common Law. The website is providing explicit advice to offenders following a major demonstration in Central London. The demonstration was marred by violence and several subjects have already been arrested with a major police operation underway to identify and arrest further offenders.

The person controlling these websites has posted material held to be contrary to Common Law within the UK. Therefore to prevent the domain names from being used in crime we request that the domain name is suspended for a minimum period of 12 months (or until expiry of the domain name if earlier).

This common law offence is committed where a person or persons:-
(a) acts or embarks upon a course of conduct
(b) which has a tendency to, and
(c) is intended to pervert,
(d) the course of public justice.
Registrant Information for fitwatch.org.uk
Registrant : [DELETED]

All other personal details withheld

Registered on : 17-Nov-2008

Authority to close the website and IP address given by
Will Hodgeson, Acting Detective Inspector
Metropolitan Police
CO11 Public Order Branch

Many Thanks in Advance

Yours faithfully

DI Paul Hoare
Police Central e-crime Unit (Computer Crime Unit)
SCD6 Economic & Specialist Crime Command,
Metropolitan Police.
1st floor, Indigo Block, Cobalt Square
1 South Lambeth Road,
London
SW8 1SU
0207 230 8100
pceu@met.pnn.police.uk



No Judge involved, No Evidence presented to a Court just a Police Instruction

Vote For Change Said IDave- Another turn of the screw

UPDATE

Police Action Illegal

Further Developments In The Vince Cable Farago

Press Release


Since the arrival of the letter from Osborne Clarke Solicitors Bristol claiming to be acting on instructions from the Secretary of State Vince Cable on Friday 12th November 2009 stating his objections in the ‘ public interest’, to myself acting as Leader of the Libertarian Party or indeed any office within the party, and registering his desire that I hold no executive position in foreign companies either, it has been a busy few days.

Counsel’s initial opinion is that Vince Cable has no jurisdiction over political parties, and legal opinion in the United States where I have an ongoing representative agreement is that Vince Cable should wake up and realise that Whitehall has had no legal authority in the USA since 1780.

As has been pointed out in some very supportive emails, if Nick Griffin, Gerry Adams, and Gordon Brown, can be leaders of political parties what has brought Vince Cable to this conclusion considering I am neither racist, advocate violence or display incompetence.

This morning an email has been received from the Electoral Commission confirming that the matter is being dealt with by the Chair of the Commission Ms Jenny Watson.

A further email has been received from the office of Dr Liam Fox MP who has previously had a meeting with Ed Davey the responsible Minister in September.

Despite repeated emails chasing to set up the meeting in the last two months, the emails are now not being responded to by officials in the Department or in Ed Davey’s office.

This is an extraordinary situation, and legal advice has been to allow the Electoral Commission to establish the position under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

As repeated I see that that the leadership of a properly constituted minor party is not for the government of the day to interfere in.

Andrew P Withers


Twitter  Andrew_Withers
            UKLibertarians

Press Release From Libertarian Party Leader Designate- Vince Cable needs to get an injunction to stop Libertarian Leader Designate being confirmed as Leader

At 13.05 yesterday 12th November 2010 I received an email copy of a letter dated the 12th November 2010 from Osborne Clarke Solicitors in Bristol addressed to District Judge Watson.

Whilst much of the letter is relevant to a case that is subject to an intended appeal as a result of a Civil Servant introducing forged documents onto the public record and with holding evidence as found by the Information Commissioner, sections of the letter have profound implication for the public and personal freedoms of the citizens of the United Kingdom.

As per an earlier press release Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox MP has called this case a ‘scandal’ and has had a private meeting with the responsible Minister Mr Edward Davey MP who has ordered an internal investigation by senior officials. The last email from Ed Davey’s personal office was on the 4th November 2010-

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you on this matter. Mr Davey wishes officials in the department to look into this matter as it is so complex. Hopefully we will have some more news soon.
Kind regards

However the letter from Osborne Clarke Solicitorsto the District Judge starts-

We are instructed by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills…………

If this is not a true statement that either Vince Cable or the responsible Minister Ed Davey have not instructed this firm of solicitors to act on their his behalf this raises issues of at best public servants seeking to mislead the Court or at worst a contempt of Court.

If this letter is to be taken at face value Osborne Clarke on behalf of their client the Secretary of State have raised an objection to the Court to myself acting as Leader or holding any position in the Libertarian Party in the ‘public interest’.

Furthermore Osborne Clarke on behalf of their Client the Secretary of State have raised objections to myself holding any executive position in commercial companies that are registered in legal jurisdictions that are outside of the competence of the English and Scottish Courts. These companies are registered in the United States and outside of the European Union.

To quote from the letter-

Further no attempts have been made to provide evidence of the safeguards that Mr Withers intends to be bound by in order to protect the public……….

As these companies are not subject to the Laws of England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland nor under any treaty obligations to the European Union nor do these companies trade in this country, I am under no obligation in Law to give any undertakings to the State in respect of the ‘public interest’.

The Libertarian Party has been subject to an anonymous smear campaign against myself that the local Police believe is coming from politicised public servants, as this is not the first time this has happened, but it is how to get the proof of who is responsible before a Court is the difficulty.

Osborne Clarke on behalf of their client are also questioning the District Judge on his right to issue a direction in an earlier direction made on the 11th October 2010. Which appears to be placing undue pressure on the District Judge to ‘conform’.

The Information Commissioner on the 22nd September found that the Secretary of State had broken the Data Protection Act by withholding evidence that I required in October 2009, in relation to the involvement of Peter Mandelson the then Secretary of State, Lord Digby Jones and the British Ambassador to Paris in this case. Documentation obtained from Paris from British officials stated that this was the ‘Ministers case’ and that it was ‘sensitive’.

The Department apologised but said it held no data on myself. This was a palpable nonsense as Dr Fox supplied originals of correspondence to and from Mandelson. With the agreement of the Information Commissioners Office on the 25th October 2010, I filed an application into the Bristol Courts under section 7(9) of the Data Protection Act requiring a Court Order to release this correspondence, emails, faxes and notes.

Yesterday I also received directions from Bristol Registry that this application will be heard on the 28th January 2011 with the Secretary of State as the Defendant.


Dr Fox has suggested that I attend a meeting with officials, a meeting that I was willing to have to resolve this case. However the officials involved in this case are more intent on a cover up to protect their activities under the previous administration.

Like most British citizens I consider that I am a freeman, I do not consider that I am a danger to the public, but as a Libertarian my views are unacceptable to a bloated State bureaucracy. I saw the treatment meted out to the outgoing party leader by the BBC, which was nothing more than a continued personal attack.

This week the State found against a man who made a joke about ‘blowing up Robin Hood ‘ airport, I hope and trust that this will go to appeal as it demonstrates how despite there be in a change of Government the same intrusive public servants are still in post.

There will be a hearing after November 22nd, at which time it will be tested who is instructing Osborne Clarke, Vince Cable or anonymous public servants.

I am sure that the members of the Libertarian Party will have little problem confirming me as Party Leader despite the wishes of Vince Cable on the 27th November 2010. In which case Vince Cable will be required to take out an injunction against the Libertarian Party to prevent me being leader.

Twitter Andrew_Withers

Twitter UKlibertarians

Secretary of Business, Innovation & Skills Objects To Andrew Withers Being Leader of the Libertarian Party

++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Quote From emailed letter received from Vince Cable's Solicitors Dated 12th November 2010 to the Bristol District Registry

'Our Client does not consider that Mr Withers has currently demonstrated sufficient need for leave in respect of the (Libertarian Party)'


++++++++ ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++

Developing

You now need the permission of the Government to be a Libertarian

Are we nearly scared yet?

Tonight's documentary Britain's Trillion Pound Horror Story was a real eye opener. I knew most of the economic points it made in advance, but having them laid out so simply and clearly was shocking even for me. Still, the context in which the show was broadcast makes me awestruck and angry.

We, as an involuntarily associated collective, owe each other and the Chinese enough money to reach into space if printed on £50 notes. Simply throwing it out of the window would take 3000 years. Adults have borrowed from children and children are borrowing from the unborn and from their own future earnings. The student who climbed to the top of Millbank Tower this week in order to attempt the murder of a policeman was doing so in order that he be allowed to steal his own salary and his neighbors' salary for the rest of his life and the salary of his children for most of their lives as well. He was willing to kill at random rather than pay his own way as he goes.

Anyone who accuses a pro-liberty pro-market capitalist of being "nasty" this week is, to put it kindly, missing something.

How does this relate to the Libertarian Party? Only the Libertarian Party will abolish taxes on labour by ending income taxes and reducing state spending to year 2000 levels. Only libertarian politics and libertarian philosophies have clearly identified both do-gooding non-jobs and corporate welfare as essentially immoral. We would set the bankers free to fail, and cheer as we watch them succeed.
Only the Libertarian Party understands that by getting out the way, and then leaving people alone we'd all be a good deal better off.

About £77,000 better off, in fact.

Next Meet Up 4th December 2010 Scottish Libertarians

Last few meetings have not been well attending,  however since no Scottish meeting has been arranged in the last few months, I would like to invite LPUK members to the Cloisters   26, Brougham St, Edinburgh,EH3 9JH at 2pm, Saturday the 4th of December 2010.

This is more about pushing the party forward north of the border specially with elections coming up on May 2011, please invite your friends. If you plan to attend please call my self on 07782 148 591.

Gregg Beaman To Stand In Oldham East For Libertarian Party

Following the welcome news that Phil Woolas now ex MP has been gound guilty of electoral wrong doing

Gregg Beaman has announced his decision to run for the Libertarian Party in Oldham East.

Woolas Found Guilty

The former immigration minister's General Election win, by 103 votes, has been declared void.

Candidate Elwyn Watkins launched the legal challenge, using a rarely-used election law, in response to a pamphlets produced by the Labour team.

Mr Woolas won the seat by just 103 votes.

The specially convened election court, chaired by two High Court judges, heard he sought to "make the white folk angry" by suggesting there was a Muslim campaign to kick him out.

Mr Woolas denied the claim and argued he was right to say Mr Watkins was in a "pact with the devil" because he failed to condemn the alleged campaign.

Former Lord Chancellor Charlie Falconer told Sky News Mr Woolas had not been convicted of a criminal offence as it was an election court.

"Inevitably the consequences of there being a successful challenge in an electoral court for the first time in 100 years on the basis of fraud is bound to have ramifications right through the system," he said.

During the hearings, Mr Watkins' QC Helen Mountfield, said: "Mr Woolas' team had made an overt and, some may say, shocking decision to set out to 'make the white folk angry' by depicting an alleged campaign by those who they described generically as Asians to 'take Phil out' and then present Mr Watkins as in league with them.

She accused Mr Woolas of making "false statements as part of a series of reckless and irresponsible steps in this campaign - using doctored photographs, misrepresenting facts, stooping even to fomenting racial divisions and tensions".

Sky News

The election has to be re run, Woolas is patently not fit to hold public office. The rotting stench of the last Labour administration still hangs in the air.

A Tale Of Two Presidents And Two Poodles

Here we have two Presidents of Federal Republics, one is the Messiah who was deemed by the left to be the bringer of peace and a new dawn, Guantanamo Prison would be closed as an affront to the principle of Law and Civil Liberties. One is the most 'powerful' President in the world. One has just got a kicking from the electorate after two years for failure to live up to naive expectations of his electorate .

The other is Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Federation since January 1 2010

''The Swiss President is not the Head of State of the country: the Swiss Federal Constitution knows neither a Head of State nor a Head of Government. Both of these functions are administered by the Federal Council collectively. If a
tied vote occurs in the council (which does not happen too often, the
number of Federal Councellors being an odd number), the President, being its Chair, casts the deciding vote.

In addition to the control of their own Department, the President
carries out some of the representative duties of a Head of State. At
first this was only the case inside Switzerland: The President gives
speeches on the New Year and the Swiss National Holiday (1 August). More
recently, added foreign visits means that the President also often
travels abroad.

However, because the Swiss have no single Head of State, the country
also carries out no state visits. When traveling abroad, the President
does so only as an ordinary Minister of a government Department.

Visiting heads of state are received by the seven members of the
Federal Council together, rather than by the President of the
Confederation. Treaties are signed on behalf of the full Council, with
all Federal Council members signing letters of credence and other documents of the kind "  (wikipaedia)

Here are a couple of poodles who think that one of those Presidents is the best thing since sliced bread.

Here Come The Nutters !

This was the immortal political analysis of Adrian Chiles yesterday in relation to the grassroots Tea Party Movement in the States seizing the initiative in the midterm elections in the States.

As heard on Sky last night- an 'analyst' talked about a 'rabble' going to Washington. Another has said that for the Republican whips it'll be like herding cats.

Not for them real politics of a small low tax State, they are conservative with a small 'c' maintaining the status quo of a massive State, ruptured budgets and financial incontinence

I remember that as a founding member of the Libertarian Party three years ago we were warned that we would never get the LPUK off the ground because it would would be like herding cats. We are still here, some of the wilder ideologically pure cats have got bored and wandered off to be 'wolfie smith 'revolutionaries on their own. I wish them well

I have yet to meet anybody (other than Adrian Chiles of course) who thinks that a massive State that sucks in over sixty per cent of our personal wealth, proposes to put up VAT to 20% in January, bails out banks and cannot afford to pay for defence without recourse to the French is a good thing. So what is the difference between the States and here.

In short participation and a balanced Constitution.

In the UK we have had sixty years of Butskillism/Fabianism. The State will look after you cradle to grave. Fabianism thrives on dependency not self reliance. The Fabian experiment has failed, we all know it, but it is going to take time to turn this around. Unfortunately all three major parties are wedded to the big high spending high tax State. Our Prime Minister has gone on the record at party conference- I am not and this party is not Libertarian. The Social Democrats are wedded to an even larger State- the EU. The Labour Party at their core believe a large State is a force for good.

You are simply not going to see anything other than tinkering with the rigging as the ship goes down from any of the three parties.

Fabianism rests on the central tenet that the elite knows best for the rest of us. This is just modern feudalism, with the general population toiling in large part for the State. Do you remember being taught in schools (before Education,Education,Education) that serfs had to toil in their Lord's fields for a part of their working week, and on top of that handover a tithe to the Church.

Forgive me if I think that the peasant of the Middle Ages was actually a bit better off than this modern serfdom. At least then the State was in fear of the population as Wat Tyler,the Lollards,John Pym and Chartists proved. The State is no longer in fear of the population in this country. The individual is in fear of the State.

Our Constitutional arrangements are appalling. In the States the President is subject to checks and balances of power by Congress. This was built in to ensure that the arbitrary power of one man would not govern the country. QED the representative sent to Congress has real power and influence.

In Britain, there is absolutely nothing to fetter the Prime Minister other than a general tut tuttedness from the population. Blair started three armed conflicts by sofa government, Brown signed Lisbon in a broom cupboard, and Cameron has entered into a defence pact with France with no reference to the paymasters in Parliament at all. MP's as was proved by the expenses scandal have very little integrity, largely do not count in the corridors of power, and are largely treated with contempt by the permanent civil service.

The Tory 'Bill of Rights' is on the back burner, the best we are being offered is a non choice on AV next May as a sop to the Social Democrats.

That is not enough, it is not radical enough. A marker has been thrown down in the United States after just two years of Obamarism, we have had sixty years of Fabianism. We have a long way to go to break the mind set of dependancy. Please join us in starting a revolution by joining the Libertarian Party either as a member or a supporter.

If you cannot bring yourself to do that and consider yourself a Libertarian at heart, but change the Tory party and the Social Democrats at the grassroots level. Join any of the campaigning groups for constitutional and electoral reform.

When the history of this period is written, do not say I did not participate, I was watching East Enders at the time.

South East Branch Meetup -- November 4th

This is just a quick message to remind South East members that the monthly meet up will be this Thursday -- November 4th.

As usual it is at the Rose and Crown in Southwark and we will be there from 6:30. All are welcome and if you have not been before and cannot find us please ask the Land Lady -- she will point you in the right direction.

A map is below and we hope to see you on Thursday.

View Rose and Crown -- Southwark in a larger map