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.
Sam Green was the first openly gay politician ever elected in the UK – and possibly the world.
November 13−19 2025 marks Trans Awareness Week. It is a time to listen to and act on the voices of transgender and non-binary people, celebrate their contributions and resilience, and recognise the barriers they continue to face.
Members have elected Josh Babarinde, MP for Eastbourne, as the new President of the Liberal Democrats.
November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the experiences of Muslim communities in the UK and to stand with them against prejudice, discrimination and hatred.
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.