A Unite/Mori student survey carried out in January 2004 on voting intentions gives the Lib Dems a leading share of 34%, with Labour on 28% and the Tories third on 19%. Students will have a major impact in 2005, as the elections are expected during the university year, on May 5, unlike in 2001 when the elections fell during the holiday period.
Commenting on the launch of an online map to tell homeowners about flooding risks in England and Wales, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy today launched the Liberal Democrat Pre-manifesto - the first important stage in the manifesto process, which will take the Party into the General Election.
Under new Liberal Democrat proposals police chiefs would sign contracts with local communities setting out how many officers they would deploy. The "minimum policing guarantees" would set funding levels for local police for a rolling three-year period. The guarantees are part of the party's new plans to tackle crime. The plans include using money earmarked for the government's ID card plan to hire an extra 10,000 front line police and 20,000 community support officers.
Sadly, there is little evidence he would. This spring, Surrey failed its Ofsted inspection of safeguarding services for Children, which were inspected during the Joint Area Review. Safeguarding, along with provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, was found to be 'inadequate'.
Surrey County Council has approved a potentially very significant resolution proposed by Lib Dem County Councillor Stephen Cooksey (Dorking and the Holmwoods). It was agreed that, unless required to do so by law, Surrey will take no part in preparing for the government's ID Card scheme, it will refuse to participate in the national database and it will establish as Council policy that Identity Cards will not be required to obtain Surrey County Council benefits or services.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have launched a 10 point action plan to support Surrey residents and local businesses adversely affected by the economic downturn.
When the use of Wells House, Epsom for children's respite care ended in December 2006, parents were told that a replacement facility would be provided in Banstead by September 2007. This has not yet happened, and when Cllr Colin Taylor (Lib Dem) asked the Executive Member for an update it was revealed that the new unit is now expected to open two years late in September 2009.
Closely behind the disastrous inspection of its Children's Services, the County Council has now received criticism of its adult social services from CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection). As a result, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council are demanding improvements.
Following the damning Ofsted inspection of Surrey County Council's Children & Families' service in July, the government stepped in to safeguard vulnerable children who have been put at risk.
