My regular blog has been disrupted by the Euro election campaign and its tumultuous, positive, aftermath as well as my decision to hand in my notice and trigger a leadership contest.

The Euro-campaign was defined, for me, by three rallies.

The launch of the campaign took place in Docklands, before the results of the local elections were known. The mood was cautiously optimistic; but there was some question about the impact of Change UK.

Today is World Environment Day, with a focus on air pollution. Air pollution is a major crisis affecting the UK and it is a crisis the Government has failed to take seriously. The Conservatives have lost numerous court cases over the failure to set plans to tackle the toxic fumes that we breathe every day - and that's not the hot air they're producing in the Brexit crisis.

Residents, road users and businesses are being asked for their views on plans to transform Tindal Square and Chelmsford High Street.

The ambitious plans would see a new public space created outside Shire Hall with paving, public seating, planting and a two-way cycle route.

The proposed scheme, which would be delivered by Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council, will be on show at two public events at High Chelmer Shopping Centre between 10am - 2pm on Saturday 8 June and 3pm - 7pm on Friday 14 June.

You can find out more information and share your views by visiting www.essex.gov.uk/tindalsquare between 4 June and 16 July.

So you've sat there wondering how that one Muslim colleague has managed to go nil by mouth, not swear, smoke or get involved in office gossip for a whole month, and now there's a conversation about some event called Eid. There are 2 Eids in the Islamic calendar and this one, Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Muslims will have made a point of rereading the Qu'ran, given at least 2.5% of excess wealth to charity and many will have fasted daily to support, what I call, the "resetting to our humble selves." Eid involves prayer, food and communities getting together. Fasting and giving charity are 2 of the 5 pillars in Islam.

YouGov and the Times released a huge new poll last night. And for the first time since 2010, they had the Liberal Democrats in first place on 24%.

That's right. We're fast becoming not only the biggest, strongest party of Remain, but the biggest, strongest party full stop.

Westminster voting intention:

LDem: 24% (+6)
Brex: 22% (+4)
Con: 19% (-5)
Lab: 19% (-5)
Grn: 8% (+2)

via @YouGov
Chgs. w/ 17 May

- Britain Elects (@britainelects) 30 May 2019

Today is Global Day of Parents - a day proclaimed by the UN to honour parents throughout the world. The birth of a child is a life-changing event. For many mothers, this will be the happiest time of their lives, but this is never the whole story. New mothers can often experience mental health problems before and after birth, cope with the trauma of pregnancy and birth, and struggle with societal expectations of motherhood.

Over 70,000 people still die every year in the UK thanks to smoking-related illnesses. Lib Dems demand better preventative care measures to prevent this.

Over fifty years on from the discovery of the true health consequences of smoking, smoking has been reduced but still costs the lives of over 70,000 people in the UK every year.

On Question Time last night, Jo Swinson announced her intention to succeed Vince Cable as Lib Dem leader. She released her manifesto today, with 3 main themes:

I'm excited to announce I'm running for leader of the @LibDems so we can:

- Build an economy that puts people and the planet first
- Harness the technological revolution for Britain's future
- Rally a liberal movement to stand up for our values

➡️ https://t.co/hMmWhyX3Dj pic.twitter.com/jzJbqDoWPo

- Jo Swinson (@joswinson) 31 May 2019

11,000. Yep, that's 5 digits.

That's how many people have joined the Liberal Democrats since the start of May. 🤯

To put that in perspective, that's enough people to fill:

🔶 Almost 86 double-decker buses 🚌

🔶 Blackpool Tower ballroom - 5 and a half times 💃🏻

🔶 Wimbledon's No.1 Court 🎾

There can be no doubt. This weekend's results - our best ever in an EU election - prove that the Liberal Democrats are back in business.

16 brilliant MEPs.

20.3% of the national voteshare.

Beating Labour and the Tories for the first time since 1906.

Seeing so many of our hard-working candidates get the amazing results they deserved this weekend was an extraordinarily special feeling. My thanks go out to them and everyone who played a part in getting them elected.