As a result of the May elections, Lib Dem representation on Spelthorne Council increased from two to eight and became the official opposition. So what have the new group been doing in the first 100 days?
Being an effective opposition councillor first requires that you get to know the Council's people and procedures. This is done by a combination of formal and informal learning. New members have attended up to 15 formal training sessions covering topics varying from emergency planning, via members code of conduct to affordable housing. As important as the formal sessions are, taking the opportunity to speak to Council officers or other experienced members enables a new councillor to get a sense of how things really are on the ground. It is not possible to make a difference until you understand the different parts of the Council and how they interact to provide the local services that we rely on.
The briefings give new councillors the chance to ask questions and your Lib Dem councillors have been making the most of the opportunities. It has been noticeable how few questions the new Tory councillors have been asking - either they already know everything or don't have the same level of curiosity as the new opposition councillors. Many of the questions asked have tended to challenge the status quo and so maybe this explains the balance of enquiry.
As well as getting up to speed your Lib Dem councillors have been attending the full Council (twice) and committee meetings. The committees in particular are opportunities to get directly involved with key aspects of the Council's activities, such as dealing with planning applications or reviewing the accounts. We've also submitted a motion opposing Heathrow Expansion, our first motion since May.
Your new Lib Dem councillors are committed to getting really involved in all aspects of the Council, holding the Tory administration to account, fearlessly asking the key questions and effectively representing local residents.
Following detailed consideration of the impact on Spelthorne of the proposals for Heathrow expansion, the Lib Dems put forward a motion to the Council in July proposing that the development was unsustainable and should be objected to in principle. The Tories, despite well known individual concerns, were whipped to support an amendment that kicked the issue into the long grass.
Liberal Democrats have slammed the growing inequality in our schools following the release of an Education Policy Institute (EPI) report. The report shows that it would take over 500 years to close the gap between disadvantaged secondary school pupils and their peers at its current rate.
Commenting on these alarming findings, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said "Inequality is growing in the UK and in no other place is this more apparent than in our schools. The Education Policy Institute released a report today showing that it would take over 500 years, at the current rate of change, to close the gap between disadvantaged secondary school pupil and their peers. These shocking findings show us that the Conservative Government's school spending cuts are failing our children. School budgets are not allowing our teachers the resources they need to give all children the opportunities to succeed in life. There is no better investment in this country's future than investment in education. That is why the Liberal Democrats would devote nearly £7 billion extra to our children's education. We will increase school budgets and the Pupil Premium to ensure that those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same opportunities as though from the most privileged."
The appointment of Dominic Cummings should send shivers down the spines of UK citizens.
This is a man who has peddled lies and flouted the truth for sheer, cynical political gain.
The dark arts that he proffers should have no place in Government, and no place in Downing Street.
That is why Jo Swinson have written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill calling on him to block the appointment of Dominic Cummings as an Advisor to Boris Johnson on grounds of suitability.
By Jo Swinson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Message to Members and Supporters on Election
I love this party.
I was just 17 when I became a Liberal Democrat. Honestly, if you'd have told me that I'd one day get the chance to write this post as the party's new leader I wouldn't have believed you.
The first thing I want to do is say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in this election. But special thanks must go to my good friend Ed Davey.
Lib Dems reveal extent of 'criminal' Tory police cuts
Lib Dem analysis of new Home Office figures, published this week, has revealed that the Conservative Government cut funding to Surrey Police by 5.8% in real terms between the year 2015-16 and 2019-20.
According to Lib Dem analysis, total Government funding to all 43 forces (in 2019-20 prices) fell from £8.48 billion in 2015-16 to £7.99 billion in 2019-20. 32 of the 43 forces across the country experienced cuts of 6% or more.
Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:
"Across the country, we are seeing rising crime and falling police. Far too many people now feel unsafe walking down their own streets."
"Taking 5,000 police off our streets in the last four years and cutting funding in real-terms by £490 million from 2015-16 to 2019-20 are big Tory crimes."
One of Surrey's Lib Dem Councillors, Will Forster added:
Present at the Committee were the seven County Councillors representing Spelthorne at Surrey, 4 Conservative Borough Councillors, 2 Lib Dem Borough Councillors and 1 Labour Councillor. The meetings are chaired for 2 years alternating between Richard Walsh, representing Surrey County Councillors and Ian Harvey on behalf of Spelthorne Borough Council.
All Party members for whom the Party has an email address should have received yesterday their personalised email to vote in the Leadership Election.
If you are a current Party member and have not received this email (entitled "Your chance to vote for who will lead the Liberal Democrats" from "Lib Dem Elections ", please check your spam / junk mail folders and if you can't find it contact elections@libdems.org.uk to let them know.
Lambeth Lib Dems are delighted to announce that Chuka Umunna has today joined the Liberal Democrats and will now represent Streatham constituency as a Lib Dem MP.
Chuka is the first Member of Parliament to cross the floor of the House of Commons to join the Liberal Democrats since 2001. He has been the MP for Streatham since 2010 and won 68.5 percent of the vote when re-elected in the 2017 General Election.
