I have seen a lot of commentary from members who are not happy about the Lib Dem Leadership election result.

We must be willing to accept that we may not win, however well we argue or express our views.  One of the benefits of putting forward a good case is that even if you don't win, the electorate will appreciate your arguments and demand that the winner implements some of them.

A good winner will also have taken note of the positive aspects of the loser's campaign.  If they have any sense, they and their team will learn from the experience and use what they have learnt to shape their future work and their future campaigns.

Fighting and losing need not be seen as a disaster.  By fighting a good battle, you will have sown seeds for the future - in the minds of the electorate, who will demand better of the winner, and also in the mind of the winner, who, if they have any sense, will realise that they have to do a better job.

Layla and her team ran a brilliant campaign and I am sure that Ed Davey will make sure that many of the issues raised by Layla are addressed in due course.  He would be stupid not to.

One of the toughest lessens you learn as a candidate is that you must understand and speak to your electorate and offer them a positive way forward.  Ed's team understood that. They focused on their objective... and won.

If we, as Lib Dems ever want to win, we must understand that our electorate doesn't always hold dear the same things that we do - at least not to the same extent.

That does not mean that we ditch our views or our principles. However, banging on about issues that concern us, but not the electorate, is a waste of time.
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The electorate in the Lib Dem Leadership election is very different to the electorate that we must now face in local, general, assembly and mayoral elections.

The fight for the Lib Dem Leadership is over.  A bigger fight awaits the victor - how to turn around an ailing ship and convince the electorate to trust in the Lib Dems again.
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Fight a good fight.  Be graceful whatever the result.  Sow seeds of hope for the future.  Layla has certainly done that and we must all be thankful that she has.

All around the world, fair-minded people are making their voices heard.
They are fed up of racism and intolerance, fed up of governments and leaders who refuse to act.
The time has come for positive change.
The time has come to finally accept that Black Lives Matter.

On this day of Eid ul Fitr, I would like to thank all Muslims who are following government advice to stay at home so as not to spread the COVID-19 coronavirus.

For the last 30 days, Muslims in Solihull and all over the world have been fasting, from dawn till dusk, during the Islamic month of Ramadan.  Fasting for 30 days is tough on the body at the best of times, especially on these long summer days in the UK, when fasting typically starts at 3:30am and ends at 9pm.

Another important element of Ramadan, and Eid, is spending time with friends and family.  Eid is a time when Muslims throw open their doors to family and friends, whatever their religious beliefs, to celebrate a joyous occasion.

This year, however, due to the lockdown, Muslims all across the land are quietly celebrating Eid at home.  None of the usual early morning mass gatherings for Eid prayers as everyone observes the lockdown.  Whilst this will be particularly tough on Muslim families, who are used to gathering together for such occasions, we all understand the need to protect our loved ones, and the wider community, against coronavirus.

As you all stay at home and celebrate in your own small way, I wish you a happy Eid and I look forward to when we can all meet again.  In the meantime, please stay at home and keep safe.

Eid Mubarak!

Councillor Ade Adeyemo.

For the next 30 days, Muslims here in Solihull and all over the world will fast from dawn till dusk.  Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five Pillars of Islam.  It is a time for prayer, a time for reflection and a time to think about those who are less fortunate than we are.

Fasting for me in summer is always difficult, due to the very long hours of daylight.  This year's Ramadan also coincides with the coronavirus lockdown so we will all have to practice socially-distanced Iftar at the end of each day.

I hope that you will also spare a thought for our Key Workers and those in the NHS who will continue their brilliant work whilst fasting for 30 days.

Whatever you are doing, I wish you all the best.  Keep safe, keep well and keep washing your hands.

Ramadan Kareem!  Ramadan Mubarak!

Ade Adeyemo, Councillor for Lyndon Ward
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Solihull Council

Councillor Ade Adeyemo’s speech at Full Council on the closure of Solihull Ambulance Station - Tuesday 4th February 2020.

“In November 2013, I came across for sale signs at the former Ambulance Station on Hermitage Road in Solihull.
“I immediately brought it to the attention of our then MP, Lorely Burt, who pulled out all the stops to ensure that double-crewed ambulances remained in Solihull.

“At the time, the West Midlands Ambulance Service agreed to retain ambulances and fast-responder cars at several locations within the borough.  These are now all gone and the Ambulance Station at Solihull Hospital was the last remaining facility left in the borough.

“Almost exactly 6 years later, on the 13th of November 2019, I was informed that the West Midlands Ambulance Service had made the decision to close the current Ambulance Station at Solihull Hospital, the closure date being the 30th of January 2020.

“As before, managers at West Midlands Ambulance Service tried to hide their decision, fearing a public outcry.

“Make no mistake, this was nothing to do with the general election or purdah.  They did not own up to the closure until after my article was published in the Solihull Observer, just before Christmas.

“Even then, they peddled the lie that the Ambulance Station was not due to close until the end of March 2020, whilst staff were being told otherwise.

“Solihull Ambulance Station is now closed - it was formally closed on the 30th of January, as I had been originally informed.  Staff previously based in Solihull have all now been reallocated to other bases, including Warwick and Erdington.

“To be frank, I have zero trust in the management of the West Midlands Ambulance Service.  They have been economical with the truth and deceptive throughout this shambolic closure.

“That they have closed such an essential facility, and kept everyone in the dark, including…
• The members of parliament for Solihull and Meriden,
• Solihull Council officers,
• The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, 
• Elected members and local residents,
…just shows how unaccountable they have become.

“I think you will all agree with me that their behaviour in this matter has been utterly despicable and shows disdain for the people of Solihull and its environs. 

“Since I was informed about the closure, I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Solihull and Meriden have done our upmost best to try and prevent this closure.  We have collected over 1,300 petition signatures and we have run press and social media campaigns to ‘Save Solihull Ambulance Station’. 

“Contrast this, and Lorely Burt’s actions in 2013, with those of our recently elected representatives. The response from both of our Conservative Members of Parliament has been abject, to say the least.  I believe they both wrote letters... eventually!
“This was the first test of their commitment to keeping NHS services in Solihull, and they have failed miserably!

“Managers at Solihull Hospital are not innocent in this matter.  For a long time now, they have been antagonistic towards the Ambulance Service, imposing parking charges on paramedics, not looking at the wider benefits their presence brought to Solihull and its residents. I have no doubt that this antagonism also played a part, however small, in the Ambulance Service’s decision to close Solihull Ambulance Station.

“Whilst the Ambulance Station is now closed, the fight to save it is not yet over.  I understand from the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care that the West Midlands Ambulance Service will be called to Scrutiny, where I hope that they will be properly brought to account for their disastrous decision“.