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.
At the County Council meeting today, Councillor Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats called for the Council to make its decisions in a more open, consultative and transparent way. In a debate the Conservative majority administration voted against the motion.
If you've signed up for leisure learning classes run by Surrey County Council this Autumn, make the most of them. From Autumn 2007 the County isn't intending to run them any more!
The Liberal Democrat Group on Surrey County Council have called on the Council's ruling Conservative administration to take urgent action to reduce Surrey's impact on climate change, publishing a plan by the end of 2006. In a lively debate held at Full Council on 25th July, members from across the chamber joined the Liberal Democrats in calling on the Executive to show leadership in formulating a plan of action to combat climate change.
There was a massive 14% swing from Conservative to Liberal Democrat in the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election. The Tories have retained what used to be their 17th safest seat by a margin of just 633. It is significant that at the same time Labour dropped from second place to fourth, behind UKIP. It is clear that as disillusioned voters turn away from Tony Blair and New Labour, it is the Liberal Democrats to whom they are turning - not David Cameron and his New Tories.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council opposed the Conservative administration's original proposals to cut funding to Surrey voluntary organisations to the tune of £838,000, because of its likely adverse impact on the most vulnerable Surrey residents. Subsequently, the Conservative administration has announced revised plans to make cuts of between £213,000 and £550,000.
The Liberal Democrat group on Surrey County Council rejected the Surrey Waste Plan when it was presented at a recent full council meeting. The group stood firmly by its position from last Autumn that the Waste Plan was a "flawed" document. Only the 10 Liberal Democrat councillors at the meeting voted against the recommendation that the Waste Plan - which sets out the County's position on suitable sites for waste treatment - should be sent forward for consideration by the government.
