North Somerset MP Liam Fox has reached the next stage in a race to become Director-General of the World Trade Organisation - in the event that he is successful this could lead to him resigning as a member of parliament and triggering a parliamentary by-election in the seat. If successful it is likely that he would stand down and there would have to be a by-election, this would be a great opportunity to elect a new MP (hopefully a Liberal Democrat!) to truly represent the people of North Somerset.

On Friday (18th September 2020) WTO members indicated that the five candidates who should advance are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea, Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom.

Upon hearing the news former Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said that Dr Fox "surprised everyone by getting into the second round".

The second phase of consultations will begin on 24 September and run until 6 October. During this time, members will be asked in the confidential consultations to express two preferences to the facilitators with an eye to bringing the number of candidates from five to two. Following this process, Ambassador Walker will call another Heads of Delegations meeting at which the results will be announced to the WTO membership. The timetable for the third and final round of consultations will be announced at that time.

The ultimate objective of this measured and clearly defined process is to secure a consensus decision by members on the next Director-General.

The process for selecting a new Director-General was triggered on 14 May when former Director-General Roberto Azevêdo informed WTO members he would be stepping down from his post one year before the expiry of his mandate. He subsequently left office on 31 August.  

Liam Fox, who as Minister for International Trade said a trade deal with the EU after Brexit would be "the easiest trade deal in history", oversaw the four-year gridlock in implementing a UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade Deal before being removed as a Cabinet Minister.

Liam Fox has survived the boardroom (for this round, anyway) https://t.co/ydjeSmABdN

— Steve Peers (@StevePeers) September 18, 2020

Dr Fox became infamous after the Adam Werrity International Trade Scandal, after which a report by then cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, found that Fox exposed himself and government officials to security risks by giving private businessman, Adam Werrity, access to his diary, and repeatedly leaving foreign powers with the impression that Werritty was part of the UK government, or was working for Fox in an official capacity.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Lib Dem Peer, said: “Former UK trade sec Liam Fox is expected to be announced as Britain’s official nominee to run the WTO... a Brexiter with strong connections to the US Republican party. Mr Fox is regarded as a no-hoper among many in trade circles, especially in Brussels”

With all current elections delayed until next May due to Coronavirus, this could mean a long campaign period and North Somerset being without an MP for over 6 months. There's no need to wait for a by-election though, you can get involved in campaigning with the Liberal Democrats and donate to our fighting fund today.

Interesting developments today in WTO race. EU joined with China to try knock @LiamFox out first round. Fail. Understand FCO establishment warned the centre they would be successful in this. But the opposite happened. Woopsy.

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) September 18, 2020

Author: Huw James is a North Somerset Council and an advocate for young people within the district, you can get involved in the Local Plan Consultation here: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan (Stage One Ends September 2nd) 

North Somerset Council are working on creating a new Local Plan. A policy document that provides people across North Somerset the opportunity to tackle the issues that affect us daily. The Local Plan will shape how North Somerset grows between 2023 and 2038. It’s a document that decides the future of North Somerset. The first stage of Local Plan consultation focuses on the challenges we believe we face in North Somerset and the issues the plan needs to address. You can read the full Challenges consultation document here.

This July, three young liberals from North Somerset helped shape national and international policy, eager to show no pandemic can halt democratic participation. Young Liberals, the youth and student branch of the Liberal Democrats, hosted their first online conference last week.

Congratulations to Janey Little, from Clevedon, who was named the Best Newcomer at the recent Online Conference. It is fantastic to see young people in North Somerset really getting involved in shaping policy on a national level. 

Janey Little, a 17-year-old Clevedon School pupil, achieved the first set of 13 Grade 9s - the highest possible grade - under the new GCSE marking system.

North Somerset MP Liam Fox is up for a job at the World Trade Organisation - in the event that he is successful this could lead to him resigning as a member of parliament and triggering a parliamentary by-election in the seat. If successful his new job would expect to start on 1 September and there would have to be a by-election, this would be a great opportunity to elect a new MP (hopefully a Liberal Democrat!) to truly represent the people of North Somerset.

Liam Fox, who as Minister for International Trade said a trade deal with the EU after Brexit would be "the easiest trade deal in history", oversaw the four-year gridlock in implementing a UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade Deal before being removed as a Cabinet Minister.

Dr Fox became infamous after the Adam Werrity International Trade Scandal, after which a report by then cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, found that Fox exposed himself and government officials to security risks by giving private businessman, Adam Werrity, access to his diary, and repeatedly leaving foreign powers with the impression that Werritty was part of the UK government, or was working for Fox in an official capacity.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Lib Dem Peer, said: “Former UK trade sec Liam Fox is expected to be announced as Britain’s official nominee to run the WTO... a Brexiter with strong connections to the US Republican party. Mr Fox is regarded as a no-hoper among many in trade circles, especially in Brussels”

With all current elections delayed until next May due to Coronavirus, this could mean a long campaign period and North Somerset being without an MP for over 6 months. There's no need to wait for a by-election though, you can get involved in campaigning with the Liberal Democrats and donate to our fighting fund today.

North Somerset Council has announced up to 60 affordable homes are to be built on an allocated housing site in the centre of Clevedon in North Somerset following calls from Clevedon Councillors.

Cllr Caroline Cherry said: "The best value option for Clevedon's derelict Millcross Site has always been the social value option: Social Housing. I am so glad that North Somerset Council and Alliance Homes have seized this opportunity to provide a great place to live for hard-working residents priced out of our area. Building affordable housing like this is one small way we can improve the lives of young people who are going to be so damaged by the compounding effects of Brexit and Covid-19."

The Millcross site is now to be purchased from NHS Property by the council in a back-to-back deal with Alliance Homes, who will deliver the new homes. 

READ MORE: Alliance Homes to build 65 homes on former Kwick Save Site