Reflections for November 2025

It is good to have good news. I was very pleased last weekend to have messages  from a Minsterworth friend (and now a West Northamptonshire Councillor) Farzana Aldridge. 

Elected last May as a Labour councillor, Farzana has joined the Liberal Democrats. Her reasons are clear. She wrote on Facebook about some of the ‘drivers’ that made her turn to us:

“The Liberal democrats share my beliefs of fairness, equality, human rights and compassion. They place real emphasis on listening to people and empowering communities to shape policies and direction that best means their needs. Liberal Democrats long standing commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice reflect the values I have always upheld.

“I am also proud to stand with a party that consistently seeks to build a tolerant, inclusive and outward looking Britain, whilst ensuring the best possible outcomes for British citizens. At a time when politics feels increasingly polarised, The Liberal Democrats’ positive and collaborative approach offers me a constructive way forward”. 

Farzana said that she was disappointed with Labour and I find that feeling is spreading despite their massive win at the last election. They then won 411 seats  and now have 405 MP’s.  As I see it, one of their problems is that their win was gained with 63% of the seats but only 34% of the votes. A disproportion of votes is a problem for all parties and makes a mockery of the aim of having a ‘democratic’ constitution. While in the House of Commons the MP’s argue and shout at each other and most party-favouring newspapers back Labour or Tory and now Reform, 66% percent of the electors are not represented.

It would take a bold move by the present Labour Government to vote for - and bring about - proportional-representation. I think there would be enough backing now from all parties (except probably the Tories who regard themselves as being a bit better that everyone else).

What I think at present is Labour’s disastrous mistake to reframe their policies and principles to make them as near as possible like Reform – to appeal to a less philosophically minded electoral base that is impressed by the braying of the Trump and Farage look-alikes and would also trust them - presumably because of their being louder (but not as clever) as Putin  and Netanyahu. 

I had always assumed that Farzana – the Head of Education in a large London Authority until retirement -was a Conservative. There were a few ‘good ones’.  Johnson drove them away.

I have welcomed Cllr Farzana Aldridge to Liberal Democrat ranks.