Cumbria

Yesterday afternoon when I heard that a gunman was shooting people in Whitehaven, my first thoughts were of my cousin who works in the town. As soon as I could I was checking on that first port of call in our social media age Facebook, to see if she had updated her profile to tell us she was OK. Thankfully she had, but for 12 others the news was not so great and further 25 had been injured.

After Hungerford and Dunblane our guns laws in the UK have become some of the most stringent in the world. But there are sometimes no way that even stringent guidelines for issuing licences can stop what locals say was the out of character actions of Derrick Bird yesterday.

With my uncle and cousin both involved in the Rugby world the fact that one of those killed was Garry Purdham a back row Rugby League forward for Wokington, brother of Rob the Harlequins captain and England cap, means there is someone they probably know among the dead.

The role of the dead includes Bird's twin brother, the solicitor dealing with a family will, fellow taxi drivers and then in indiscriminate drive by victims. The pensioner delivering shopping catalogues, the cyclist, the retired Sellafield security guard and others.

Coming so soon after the coach tragedy of 3 dead Keswick school children, indeed on the day of Chloe Walker's funeral, this small and beautiful corner of England is facing more mourning.

Postcard From Cumbria

I've just recieved an email from Westmorland's MP Tim Farron which I am going to share with you all.

This is what the weather's been like in my constituency in Cumbria this last week:

I'm sure you've heard about the floods which have forced hundreds of families out of their homes. A life has been lost and repairs could cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

Sadly, as the climate changes over the coming years, events like those of the last week will grow more and more frequent. The cost to society, both here and all over the world, will continue to grow. That is why I need your help to tackle climate change.

There is a big demonstration planned in London next Saturday, December 5, to help persuade the Government to go further in cutting carbon emissions.

It comes ahead of the vital United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen the following week.

Hundreds of Liberal Democrats have already signed up to come on the march. If you haven't yet said you will come - I would love you to join us. If you're one of the many who are coming along, please bring your friends as well, helping provide a real show of force and a fantastic message to both the Government and the public.

You can let us know you're coming here.

All the details of the day can be found on Act, our new social action network. On Act, you can sign up to the event - as well as talk about how to tackle climate change with other Lib Dem supporters, and much more.

Hope you can make it next Saturday.

Best wishes,

Tim Farron MP
Lib Dem Shadow Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

While I won't be making it all the way down to London for a Climate Change Rally, I'd have to fly to make all my committments and make it in time. I am attending the simultaneous one in Glasgow from Bellahouston Park to Kelvingrove Park, details can be found on Facebook. If you're Scottish based and you care see you there.