The Liberal Democrats are calling for all EU citizens in the UK to be given the automatic right to stay, as new figures reveal that 3,580 living in Surrey are still waiting for the Home Office to process their applications - with just five weeks to go before the Government's deadline.

The latest EU Settlement Scheme statistics show that, as of the end of March, there have been 80,8880 applications from people living in Surrey, with 77,300 of these having been concluded.

The Lib Dems gained 5 seats on Surrey County Council in the elections held on Thursday 6th May, resulting in the largest Lib Dem Group at County Hall since 1997.

After gaining 5 seats, the Lib Dems now have 14 County Councillors in Surrey. Although the Conservatives still control Surrey County Council, they have a reduced majority, notably down from before the election.

Don Whyte is standing for election to Surrey County Council for Foxhills, Thorpe and Virginia Water. Find out more about who he is and why he is standing for election in the below leaflet which was distributed to the division ahead of the elections.

Following a vote at Full Council last month, Runnymede Borough Council have increased the threshold for when planning applications are automatically heard at the Planning Committee. It has increased from 3 or more objections received to 11 or more. "Whilst I understand that 3 objections is one of the lowest in Surrey," said Cllr Sylvia Whyte "I do not agree that we should have jumped from 3 to 11 overnight. I am concerned that residents will not get the opportunity to have their views heard and, whilst some of these applications may be seen as small, for instance comparing an extension to building 10 new homes, they can have a huge consequence for the resident with an objection. This feels like another example of the Conservative Administration finding ways to suppress the voices of our residents ".

At last! Two years after the decision to pay councillors £1,000 for attending Working Group meetings, over and above the declared Members Allowances, it has been agreed by the Conservative administration that this remuneration will now be publicly declared within the Councils Constitution. Whilst this is good news, it is regrettable that it will not appear next to the general allowances, but instead hidden away in another section of the constutuion. Runnymede Liberal Democrat Leader, Don Whyte, said "This paymentt was agreed before we were elected in 2019 and whilst I am pleased that there will be more transparency about these payments, I am disappointed that it is being hidden well away from where it should be in the Scheme of Members' Allowances."