Astounded Liberal Democrat Councillors are furious that Tory and Labour Councillors ganged up to stop an urgent debate on policing at last Thursday's meeting of Woking Borough Council - the final Council meeting before the Borough Elections next Thursday (4 May).
From: Dr Anne Lee
Sir Menzies Campbell hit the campaign trail today, visiting four London boroughs - Southwark, Lambeth, Sutton and Richmond-upon-Thames - and highlighting crime prevention as a central theme in the party's local election campaign.
Months of debate came to a head today when Surrey County Council voted on the Business Delivery Review (BDR) - with the Liberal Democrat group rejecting the proposals sanctioned by the Tory-run Executive to cut staff numbers. Staff members and representatives of their trade unions listened in the public gallery and the adjoining Ashcombe Suite as Liberal Democrats fought against the proposals, which included a reduction of 561 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) jobs. A recorded vote saw 56 in favour of BDR, with 14 against and two abstentions.
PRESTON: David Cameron's attempts to reach out to voters in the north of England have come unstuck as two Conservative councillors in Preston quit the party and joined the Liberal Democrats. Councillors Sharon Riley and Marie Milne joined the Liberal Democrats yesterday. The blow for the Conservatives follows a Tory local election candidate commenting that an ethnic minority candidate "wouldn't work" in a "traditional working class seat." Joan Howarth has since issued a retraction but remains on the ballot for the May 4th local elections. Councillor Sharon Riley said:
Woking Liberal Democrats oppose Labour's plan to merge the Surrey and Sussex police forces. This merger plan was announced by the Labour Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, on the 20th March.
Woking's Tory MP Humphry Malins has been accused of caving in to the Government over the introduction of identity cards.
The Lib Dems have swept to victory in the Cheriton by-election for Folkestone Town Council this evening, with over 200 votes more than the Conservatives who came second. The result in full was:
Today, Gordon Brown delivered his tenth budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. But with more and more people feeling let down by New Labour, the Liberal Democrats are asking where all the money has gone over the years Labour has been in power.
Ed Davey remembers Ming Campbell in remarks made to the House of Commons
October has arrived, bringing with it Black History Month - a time to celebrate the Black British community and their past, present and future contributions.
Leader's Speech to Autumn Conference 2025
Women’s rights around the world are under attack, with authoritarianism on the rise and deep cuts to UK aid undermining decades of progress. Defending women's rights must be a top priority and the UK must act boldly.
Two years of brutal civil war have turned Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 30 million people in urgent need of aid. Our new policy calls for UK leadership to end the conflict - standing with the Sudanese people.
Space is no longer science fiction – it underpins our economy, security, and daily lives. Our new policy will renew the National Space Strategy, support UK spaceports and hubs, and designate space as a strategic industry.
The UK’s asylum system is failing, leaving people fleeing conflict stuck in temporary housing, unable to work, and separated from their loved ones. Our new policy gives practical solutions to clear up the broken system left by the Conservatives.
The Online Safety Act was meant to protect people, yet its flawed implementation risks undermining privacy, free expression, and secure communication. Our new policy addresses our concerns and fights for a digital future where rights are protected.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian children have found safety in the UK – but many still face uncertainty, disruption, and trauma. They deserve security, stability, and the chance to thrive.