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January 21, 2010
The Liberal Democrat Party becomes electable
This blog has no association or bias towards any political party. In the matter of running public libraries the evidence is that any party can run them well or badly- mostly the latter. The well run ones do so because of the individual people involved and not the political party in control. The same uncertainties surrounf the parties at national level. Sometimes they say something good, often they don't.
However sincere congratulations and best wishes must go to Shirley Burnham. Shirley has fought relentlessly, honestly, intelligently, kindly, firmly, enthusiastically and extremely hard to keep not only her own local library in Old Town, Swindon, but all the libraries of that town. In doing so she has earned respect of journalists across the country, those of us who campaign for the same things, politicians from Swindon Town Hall to 10 Downning Street, and above all the admiration of her neighbours and friends in Swindon. She is a complete star and a very nice person.
Her contribution to the national campaign and debate is second to none. She is well informed, balanced, articulate and persistently right, much to the chagrin of those who should be responsible.
Shirley has announced that she will stand as a candidate for the council in Swindon this year as a liberal democrat. They are jolly lucky to get her-- she is as well informed on library matters as any councillor in the party- and they should use her as an authority and an advocate.
Good luck Shirley!!
Posted by Perkins at January 21, 2010 10:19 PM
Comments
That is so generous of you, Tim. Many thanks.
The excellent upshot is that today I have received a message from Don Foster,MP for Bath, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who says : "We are VERY SHORTLY to publish our policy document on Libraries which will, I hope, meet all your wishes."
Posted by: Shirley Burnham at January 22, 2010 1:04 PM